Are Brick and Mortar Retail Stores A Thing of the Past?

More and More Physical Stores Are Closing

Brick and mortar stores have certainly had to adapt to the fact that online shopping is more popular than ever. There was a time when people feared the online shopping process. Horror stories about identity theft and credit card fraud prevented many consumers from having the courage to go through the online checkout.

Today, most consumers are convinced that the millions of dollars that are spent on online security are enough to protect them. Combine that with the great deals that can be found online, and the convenience of shopping without leaving home, and online shopping has become a winner in the eyes of consumers worldwide.

Retail stores, which often have higher overhead costs than online only retailers, have struggled to find a way to remain competitive. Some have managed to do this by taking what was once a brick and mortar store only, online. Others have simply lost the battle, and been forced to either downsize or close.

What may seem bad on the surface may not be so bad when you consider all factors. There may be less retail positions available to brick and mortar stores, but there are new job opportunities created for those who work with Internet retailers. There will always be the need for item pickers, packagers, and shippers.

New Job Market Created For Online Stores

Additionally, there is now a booming market for web designers, security specialists, programmers, and more. Those who are trained in these fields should find it quite easy to remain gainfully employed both now and well into the future. There is no way to truly no if the number of jobs lost and the number of jobs gained even out, or may tip the scale one way or another. We may not know this for several more years.

Jobs aside, those who refuse to shop online may find that their options are limited. Less stores means less products, and the products that are available may cost more, as the struggle to stay afloat will be necessary. For those who love nothing more that perusing a physical store, the future will be quite uncertain.

All things considered, there is both a bright and dark side to the increasing trend of online shopping. Those who love to shop online will quickly tell you that the Internet is the best thing that has ever happened to the retail world. Those who do not care for it may tell you online shopping is the enemy. Regardless of what side you are on, there is no denying that the way we shop for products has been forever changed, and will continue to evolve in the coming years.

Footnote

This article will be a work in progress, new statistics and information will be added daily. Very interesting and complex topic with the numbers still pouring in. Without question, having an online presence is key to success for any business. Please add your comments with any suggestions and avenues to explore. Thank You