The last decade has seen a huge surge in online shopping. Even though the economy has not been doing well, online shopping has continued to grow. Why has online shopping become so popular than the brick and mortar stores at the local shopping mall?

Below is the answer to this question:

1. When you visit the local shopping mall, you cannot avoid the crowds. Many times you will not be able to reach the product that you want to buy due to the pushy crowds. When you shop online, you avoid these crowds and shopping is more enjoyable and relaxing.

2. Travelling to the traditional shopping mall can be an additional expense as well as a waste of time. To travel, you will need to spend on fuel, wait in traffic signals and look for a parking spot. And once you are through with it, the packet with the purchased goods will have to be carried to the car and then again a drive back home. When you shop online, there is no travel, no fuel cost and no waste of time. Once you shop online, the products shopped is delivered right to your doorstep.

3. To shop at the local shopping mall means having to get ready (dressing up, make-up and hair etc) and driving all the way to the mall. Whereas shopping online is as simple as switching on your computer and getting connected online. Visit the online store where you wish to shop from and buy what you need from the comfort of your home.

4. Online shopping can save you lots of money. Since the overheads or operational expenses are lesser for online stores as compared to local stores, the prices of the products are kept low. Apart from cheap pricing, online stores also offer free coupons or discount codes as special offers and deals. Some stores also ship the products for free.

5. Generally, people like to shop during the weekends. Visiting the local traditional mall can take up a major part of the day. Whereas when you shop online, you save time and have more time for yourself to enjoy the weekend. Furthermore, you can shop during the weekday itself as online shopping has no closing or opening timings. Online stores are open all the time.

6. Online shopping helps the environment. Online stores have their products stocked at a huge central warehouse from where it’s shipped. The use of energy in these warehouses is far lower than consumed in local shops where there is more lights use. Local stores also have to keep air conditioners on during the summers and heaters on during the winter for the comfort of the customers. This takes up a lot of energy.

7. There are a limited number of products for sale in a local store as they do not have the facility to stock much whereas Online stores have more products listed then in any local traditional stores due the one-point storage warehouse facility. If you are looking for a product in a local store and it is not available, then there is a very high chance of you getting it online. Online shopping has continuously grown in the past few years and there seems to be no stopping. With more advancement of security in terms of payment processing, low prices and excellent service, it won’t be long when everyone will indulge in only online shopping.