Internet Evolution — “Online Retail Trumps Bricks & Mortar”
Ten years ago, the Internet was regarded by most major retailers as an e-channel that augmented brick-and-mortar stores. Now, the Internet is the centerpiece in most retailers’ stables.
A pre-holiday survey from November 2008’s Internet Retailer (published in print only) reports 81.1 percent of U.S. retailers expect their holiday Web sales to increase this year, despite a faltering economy. The magazine cites Jupiter Research’s director and senior research analyst Patti Freeman: “The Web has a certain degree of immunity from tough times. Consumer perception is you can get things cheaper online. And there’s a much more affluent consumer buying online.”
