The Internet has changed the way we shop. Even those who do not regularly buy online have fallen into the habit of searching online for prices, product details and the availability before heading to the shops.
But when did online shopping become common place for people of the World?
The timeline below, created through the website, timelinetoast.com reveals some of the milestones of online shopping. It has come a long way since its conception in 1995 (as have I)!
The convenience of shopping these days means you can order a product and have it delivered the following day. But is this accessibility making us too dependent and how much money are online retailers taking away from physical stores?
A study conducted by Khalifa and Liu (2007) reveal that both habit and experience are significant driving forces of online shopping behaviour. Those who are continually satisfied, will be retained as customers into the future.
Whilst I will admit I was caught up in the hype of online shopping for a period of time, I have not been retained as an online consumer. The practicality of being able to walk into shops and drag my partner around as I search for the perfect dress to try on, certainly trumps browsing pages and guessing my size online.
-Caitlin
References
Instant Shift. (2010) The History of Online Shopping in Nutshell. Retrieved from: http://www.instantshift.com/2010/03/26/the-history-of-online-shopping-in-nutshell/
Khalifa, M. & Liu, V. (2007) European Journal of Information Systems. 16.6. p 780-792. Palgrave MacMillan. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/218759771?pq-origsite=summon
Purple. (2015) The history of online shopping Retrieved from: http://purple.ai/the-history-of-online-shopping/
Me&Technology 