Is Online shopping affecting retail business ?

[GoFlyKiteNow]

Online shopping has become the trend and the new mode
of purchasing. There are literally 1000s of online marketing
enterprises selling goods from cosmetics, clothing, shoes,
hand phone accessories, vitamin supplements, used items
and so on. Literally the entire range of consumer items.

These services have little overheads, no rentals to
worry about and no staff wages to pay out, unlike their
physical counterparts who are at a great disadvantage.

Ebay and other well known online marketing platforms have
good and healthy growth in their local trade volumes.

Similarly, the postal department and local courier business
is experiencing healthy demand and business.

This pops a question. While there is growth in these
sectors, obviously the usual retail sector shrinks. Shops
do not get their sales volumes and are closing down.

The trend is very clear. Retal shop demand will fall and even
shrink. Other than for the service side , such as hair saloons,
clinics and so on.

Online shopping is indeed having an adverse impact on the retail sector.

 

[Watchman]

No this is an excuse online shopping has
been around for many years .

This is the effect of hiring FTs in Singapore .

The policy of no support of businesses and
companies that hire new FTs is working .

We will make ghost towns and business owners
sell their cars and homes as planned .

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

No this is an excuse online shopping has
been around for many years .

This is the effect of hiring FTs in Singapore .

The policy of no support of businesses and
companies that hire new FTs is working .

We will make ghost towns and business owners
sell their cars and homes as planned .

Yes, it has been around for years.
But it has been growing rapidly and is now wide spread.
That is really having an impact.
.

 

[no_faith]

online shopping is gd for those who are lazy and reluctant to squeeze wif the FT.

why would i squeeze wif the FT and grabbing stuff, behaving like them?

futhermore, why retail worried? dey have more FT patrons than SG wor.

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

online shopping is gd for those who are lazy and reluctant to squeeze wif the FT.

why would i squeeze wif the FT and grabbing stuff, behaving like them?

futhermore, why retail worried? dey have more FT patrons than SG wor.

What I am trying to point out is that, this online trade business
affects the conventional retail shops and business. Their business
will fall because the online business offer cheaper alternative -
due to relatively very low or NIL overheads.

Example: The other day I got an email offering online purchase
of business cards. The service provides easy selection, design and
choices aplenty - delivery by courier ( 5 dollars).
The whole price is only half what one must pay a regular shop
offering the same. Plus time and effort saved going down to the shop.
They also sell other stationary items.

Similarly other examples are used phones , accessories, consumer goods etc
sale and purchase on Ebay, which effectively takes away the market
from the physical shops. ( They provide livelihood to many thousands
across Singapore)

Considering the large number of trade shops operating all over
Singapore, this fast spreading online trading culture will
affect several thousand families who traditionally have been
existing and surviving as small time shop owners and traders.

How will all these 1000s of families survive in the future ?
The social and economic impact can be big.
.

 

[hahaho]

online shopping is gd for those who are lazy and reluctant to squeeze wif the FT.

why would i squeeze wif the FT and grabbing stuff, behaving like them?

futhermore, why retail worried? dey have more FT patrons than SG wor.

many shops in hdb estates, splitting into smaller sub units.
2 and even 3 shutters.
is this the reason ?

 

[no_faith]

What I am trying to point out is that, this online trade business
affects the conventional retail shops and business. Their business
will fall because the online business offer cheaper alternative -
due to relatively very low or NIL overheads.
...........

imho, those neighbourhood or small time shop owners and traders have been around for years. still there will be ppl going down to neighbourhood to get things dey need.
if online really killing their business and almost everyting is abt internet.
dey shd upgrade themselves to embrace the fast moving world.
and perhaps also switch their business to online.

many shops in hdb estates, splitting into smaller sub units.
2 and even 3 shutters.
is this the reason ?

maybe. govt also happy. smaller shops but same rental fee.

 

[GoFlyKiteNow]

imho, those neighbourhood or small time shop owners and traders have been around for years. still there will be ppl going down to neighbourhood to get things dey need.
if online really killing their business and almost everyting is abt internet.
dey shd upgrade themselves to embrace the fast moving world.
and perhaps also switch their business to online.

It means..there is no growth potential for the traditional business
done through shops..while online business expands and takes over
more and more trade activities.

True..the veggy seller and the provision , groceries fruits,seller
will be there.
But I mean the rest 0f the trading activities.

Put it another way...if online shops are not there, lot of
new shops with new products would have sprung up and the
there will be demand for shops to rent.

Now one can already see many shops closed with FOR RENT
notices pasted on the closed shutters.

 

[no_faith]

It means..there is no growth potential for the traditional business
done through shops..while online business expands and takes over
more and more trade activities.

True..the veggy seller and the provision , groceries fruits,seller
will be there.
But I mean the rest 0f the trading activities.

Put it another way...if online shops are not there, lot of
new shops with new products would have sprung up and the
there will be demand for shops to rent.

Now one can already see many shops closed with FOR RENT
notices pasted on the closed shutters.

imho, there is a risk buying online. u might not buy wat u get, faulty goods etc. no security.

u go retail shop, u check, see, trial before you buy. u buy wat u get.

traditionl bussiness, growth i will not say but dey will still have their customers.

 

[congo9]

Brick and mortar business just have to change the way to do business. With web shopping , it easier to do business.

 

[KNNBCCB]

imho, there is a risk buying online. u might not buy wat u get, faulty goods etc. no security.

u go retail shop, u check, see, trial before you buy. u buy wat u get.

traditionl bussiness, growth i will not say but dey will still have their customers.

yes. the risk is there.
normally i will try 1 or 2 of their products to see the quality first . it depend also what products you order.

i tried their online florist before. not bad. cheaper than outside, many custom designs to choose, and they will sms you once your order arrive to the recipients. good service.
you can take your time to choose unlike outside.

 

[popdod]

Online shops have more variety.
24hrs open....and no need to squeeze with crowd/

but cons....sometimes delay in delivery...
or delivery fees can be very expensive.
or they sent wrong size/model....
then returning process will be a hassle.

:( :o :(

 

[hahaho]

Online shops have more variety.
24hrs open....and no need to squeeze with crowd/

but cons....sometimes delay in delivery...
or delivery fees can be very expensive.
or they sent wrong size/model....
then returning process will be a hassle.

:( :o :(

I think, this thread is not discussing the difference or advanatge between online and the other shops.
The issue is - will the retail sector ( ordinary mom and pop traders and their shops ) face a bleak future due to online shopping steadily taking away business from them.

It appears , there is no level playing field here. One has no overheads like rental and electric and other charges while the other has many, including rental contracts to worry about.

 

[silverfox@]

I like to buy books to read. An avg for a book costs around $30-$50 in local bookstores like Kinokuniya and Times Bookshops. I have discount privilege card giving me at 10% discount.

However I realised that Amazon n other online stores sell the same book at least 30% less than what I bought in local bookstores(after discounts).

If its couple of dollars more, I don't mind buying in local bookstores, but its at least 30% off. And there are a few more purchases which I compared with the internet and I could get 50% off for a new book. Not used ones.

Not only books. Recently I realised that besides apparels where obviously you got to try it. Many of those gifts and toys can be bought at cheaper prices online. Inclusive shipping still at least 30% cheaper. Not helped by the low US rate. :p

 

[hahaho]

I like to buy books to read. An avg for a book costs around $30-$50 in local bookstores like Kinokuniya and Times Bookshops. I have discount privilege card giving me at 10% discount.

However I realised that Amazon n other online stores sell the same book at least 30% less than what I bought in local bookstores(after discounts).

If its couple of dollars more, I don't mind buying in local bookstores, but its at least 30% off. And there are a few more purchases which I compared with the internet and I could get 50% off for a new book. Not used ones.

Not only books. Recently I realised that besides apparels where obviously you got to try it. Many of those gifts and toys can be bought at cheaper prices online. Inclusive shipping still at least 30% cheaper. Not helped by the low US rate. :p

have u tried ebay.sg ?
there are so many local online stores catering to many products.

 

[silverfox@]

have u tried ebay.sg ?
there are so many local online stores catering to many products.

Ebay works a bit different. You buy from other sellers who may have different policies and conditions of goods. But buying from a store like Amazon, you are buying directly from them.

Actually a lot of local online stores buy direct from overseas too. So we just go without a middleman.

 

[EraSeidenberg]

The retail sector plays a key role in the economy, not only because consumer demand is an indication of a healthy financial system, but also because retailers serve as large employers.