Businesses might shut down their physical stores eventually because of
the rise in online shopping. I cannot entirely agree with this statement
for reasons ranging from the lack of visual presentation and personal
interaction to missing out on the excitements of shopping. However,
there are some arguments to be made in favour of this, therefore I would
like to elaborate my views in this essay with relevant examples.
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I think being able to inspect the product before purchasing it, is a pivotal
part of the shopping experience. Though some online shops allow
customers to return their products provided they do not match the
advert, it is still quite limited compared to physical stores. Furthermore,
many customers form a brand loyalty over time as they frequent the
same outlets. As a result, business is more likely to retain customers
over a longer a period of time. The same cannot be said for virtual shops.
Needless to say, many shoppers nd it thrilling to visit large physical
stores searching for a bargain. Take Walmart and Costco, for example,
whose motto “everyday low price” indicates their commitment to their
bargain-hunting customers and whose quarterly turnover validates this
strategy.
On the other hand, it is generally assumed that without all the overhead
costs, online shops must be more pro table. Actual research into this
notion has proven that when we factor in advertisement fees, domain
fees, cost of professional photoshoots, cost of delivery and extensive
competition in the online landscape, businesses can barely eke out a
pro t. Another point to be considered is the seemingly never-ending
choice of products. While it is true that consumers bene t from variety,
ironically, the more we scroll, the more we get confused and the worse
our choices become.
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To conclude, I see the appeal of online shopping and I recognise the
opportunities. Nevertheless, I would like to restate my contradiction to
the claim that online shopping might force retailers out of business.