In the space of fifteen years, retailing has blown away the centuries old notion that shopping should be confined to the hours of 9 to 5, six days a week. If you were lucky, there were some retailers who offered late night shopping until 8 or 9 on a Thursday (and I do mean lucky!).
Incredibly, some smaller retailers closed half day on a Wednesday and at least one major department store (John Lewis) closed all day Monday because their staff worked Saturdays.
As for Sunday, you didn't even think about it.
In the space of fifteen years, the retailing landscape has changed beyond recognition. Today, only the sleepiest of village shops would dream of closing half day Wednesday and most retailers now have extended opening hours, with Sunday trading almost standard amongst the supermarkets.
Take a trip into town on a Sunday and you'd be hard pushed to find any differences in the number of shops open for business to those open of a weekday or Saturday.
Clearly retailing has come a very long way in the last fifteen years, but if you think traditional bricks and mortar trading has changed, take a look at Catalogue and Home Shopping.
Put simply: The Internet has revolutionised retailing.
The discerning shopper can now choose when they want to shop, and is certainly not constrained by strictly observed opening hours. 24 hour shopping means exactly that. The internet never sleeps and it is now possible to buy (virtually) anything online and have it delivered to your door (if you so desire).
It's not too dramatic to say that Home shopping has come of age in the 21st century, with massive wins to be had for those of us who lead very busy lifestyles and work long hours. The crazy rush and congestion that occurred every Saturday on every high street in the land, has thankfully, if only partially, been alleviated by the two pronged attack of extended trading hours and days, and the online transition and development of Catalogue and Home Shopping.
21st century shopping has become an increasingly sophisticated experience with customers demanding a better quality of service than ever before. Having more choice and more retailers to choose from, means that Catalogue and Home Shopping businesses have to stay on their toes and ahead of the game, in their bid to convert browsing customers (from the comfort of their armchair) into buying customers.
The slow and painful decline in Catalogue and Home Shopping has forced many such retailers to really focus on what they offer and almost without exception there is a dawning realisation that the internet presents an opportunity to spectacularly reverse this trend.
With the right vision and creative approach Catalogue and Home Shopping retailers have the opportunity to reinvent themselves online while retaining their core strengths. Addressing fashion trends, niche markets and busy 24 hour lifestyles is the key to online success, and like never before, fortune really does favour the brave.
In short, you and I can expect more choice, better service and even more convenience from those retailers who decide to join the online shopping revolution.
As always, Happy shopping.
Copyright (c) 2007 Sam Benton
If you're smart this year, you'll be out of your blocks on the ‘B' of ‘Bang' to get your Christmas shopping campaign under way. Keep your eyes peeled though and you might just catch sight of a jolly old guy in a red suit, who'll run you a good race for the early rich pickings.
This year though, if you and Santa are really smart, you won't be breaking sweat on the high street, where you'll both go head to head with frenzied Christmas shoppers, oh no, if you're really smart, you'll be browsing through Catalogues for ideas and you'll be ordering online from the comfort of your own armchair.
Shopping online is the absolute best way to keep both your dignity and your sanity, and it's by far the best way to keep your stress levels in check. For those of you who really must indulge in the Christmas rush first hand, you have the option to order or reserve from your favourite bricks and clicks retailer then collect it yourself.
For me, the split between online and high street shopping will be ninety/ten. I have no intention whatsoever of lugging any more Christmas presents around town, rather, I'll be ticking and clicking my way through my Christmas list online and only venturing into town for gift wrap and some casual browsing for stocking fillers, and of course, there'll probably be plenty of coffee and muffin breaks in there somewhere as well.
Has it always been this easy? Well no, it hasn't, and I'd have to say that my view of Christmas past has been a little jaded as a result. I'm sure there are shopaholics aplenty, it's just that I'm not one of them. The advent of the Internet has made shopping and Christmas shopping in particular a darn sight easier as far as I'm concerned and it's done something I never thought it would, and that is to remove the only dark cloud on the run up to Christmas, allowing me to enjoy the whole festive period from start to finish.
To just quickly remind you of how easy online shopping can be, let me just recap some of the benefits as I see them: You can browse a printed catalogue for ideas (requested online of course), You can browse online where retailers have even greater ranges than catalogue only or bricks and mortar only retailers can display. You can take advantage of web only exclusives. You can pay cash or take advantage of any number of pay now or next year options. You can sort and view the best bargains, by price, by brand, by model etc. You can hunt down those popular, but scarce hot sellers and know for sure that you're one of the lucky few, once your order is confirmed. You can choose a delivery time or day. Are you tempted yet?
One final point: At least one (major) online catalogue retailer offers the following: Order by 3.pm on the 22nd of December and still have your things delivered for Christmas. So if you really want a stress free shopping experience right up to the last minute, Catalogue, Home Shopping & the Internet really are your best option. Even Santa's gotta be tempted by that!
Sam Benton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Debts Loans, Massage and Site Promotion. Sam Benton urges you to be among the first to take advantage of some of the best seasonal sales ? without the hassle, from the most respected and innovative names in Catalogue and Home Shopping. For up to 20% off first orders and our pre-sale notification. Sam Benton's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.