Online sales for retailers rose 24% to $6.96 billion this month as shoppers got an early start on their holiday purchases.
Consumers spent the most money on Tuesday Nov. 22, when revenue jumped 55% to $441 million, research firm ComScore Networks said. ComScore measured sales from Nov. 1 to Nov. 25.
Apple's new video iPods and the ultra-slim Nano were among the hotter sellers. Apple's retail partners were wiped clean of the newer items, although shoppers could still get them in Apple stores and on Apple's Web site, J.P. Morgan analyst Bill Shope said.
As of yesterday, the iPod Video was the most popular electronics item on ConsumerClub.com, a comparison-shopping Web site.
More consumers are making their purchases at work rather than at home, with Internet connections at offices accounting for 58% of all online spending the week of Nov. 14-18.
Holiday sales over the Internet are rising as retailers offer free shipping and discounts and as consumers grow more comfortable buying over the Web.
Consumers spent about $380 million last year on "Black Monday" or "Cyber Monday," their first day back in the office after the Thanksgiving weekend, ComScore said.
Consumers who have spent the weekend in stores may make purchases at work during their lunch hour, said Patti Freeman Evans, an analyst with Jupiter Research in New York.
ComScore estimates overall online shopping this year will climb 24% to $19.6 billion.
The number of consumers visiting online retailers jumped 29% on Black Friday from a year earlier, New York-based Nielsen said last Saturday.
Bloomberg News
Originally published on November 29, 2005
Shopping Online is for real and many offline malls are moving fast to design their website malls to capture the online market as well.
There is no turning back, online shopping is here to stay!
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Online Sellers
A new poll as reported here shows more than one in six Americans who go online have sold something, or tried to, most of them using Internet classified and auction sites, a new poll said Monday.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project's phone survey found that 17 percent of Internet-using adults have sold goods or services online, with about 2 percent selling something on any given day.
"I'd say these numbers were only moderately surprising," said Amanda Lenhart, the senior research specialist at Pew Internet who co-authored the survey. "It doesn't seem out of the ordinary, given the popularity of sites like eBay and Craigslist."
EBay and Craigslist are examples of the two most popular online methods Americans use to turn stuff into cash, said Lenhart: auction and classified advertisement sites.
You can read the complete article here.
The indication shows that with more sellers on the internet, there must have been an increased of shoppers online as well.
The Pew Internet & American Life Project's phone survey found that 17 percent of Internet-using adults have sold goods or services online, with about 2 percent selling something on any given day.
"I'd say these numbers were only moderately surprising," said Amanda Lenhart, the senior research specialist at Pew Internet who co-authored the survey. "It doesn't seem out of the ordinary, given the popularity of sites like eBay and Craigslist."
EBay and Craigslist are examples of the two most popular online methods Americans use to turn stuff into cash, said Lenhart: auction and classified advertisement sites.
You can read the complete article here.
The indication shows that with more sellers on the internet, there must have been an increased of shoppers online as well.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
It's All About Home Shopping
Competition for online home shopping is getting more and more vigorious. The big name shopping malls are already into it, with their websites ready and investing a huge sum of money in promoting them.
Next comes the credit card companies, competing each other for the piece of pie. Today I receive by post a very beautifully designed brochure from one of the credit card company.
The main promotion term:
"Best deal products, pre-arranged at special prices" and best of all "Enjoy 12 months 0% interest free instalment plan."
You can view nice picture of items diplay with gift ideas, from all the household items right to outdoor lifestyle. So the credit card companies are also creating their own stores for you to swipe your cards.
It's always about convenient, easy shopping at the comfort of your own home and enjoying the additional benefits!!
Your thoughts please.
Next comes the credit card companies, competing each other for the piece of pie. Today I receive by post a very beautifully designed brochure from one of the credit card company.
The main promotion term:
"Best deal products, pre-arranged at special prices" and best of all "Enjoy 12 months 0% interest free instalment plan."
You can view nice picture of items diplay with gift ideas, from all the household items right to outdoor lifestyle. So the credit card companies are also creating their own stores for you to swipe your cards.
It's always about convenient, easy shopping at the comfort of your own home and enjoying the additional benefits!!
Your thoughts please.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Yahoo's Shoposphere
Yahoo has made a "social commerce" update to its site to add community feedback on products to the shopping experience.
Quote
"The Shoposphere and Pick Lists are examples of social commerce. We believe the community of shoppers is one of the best sources for product information and advice. The Shoposphere is a place to discover interesting and cool products thematically arranged into Pick Lists by other shoppers. It’s always changing. It includes new lists in a “product stream” and highest rated lists which are a fun way to explore new products and trends. The Shoposphere will continue to evolve as a hub for other types of user-generated content."
Pick Lists are lists of products on any topic, and can include any of the 90 million products available through Yahoo! Shopping. With Pick Lists, users can share their knowledge about products they've researched for the benefit of the community. More detail here.
Shoppers shopping online are now getting the full advantages of creativity and usefulness. You can participate and share your researches for the benefit of others. Very interesting, the Shoposphere is in Beta, just pop in here and have a feel of what it's like.
Quote
"The Shoposphere and Pick Lists are examples of social commerce. We believe the community of shoppers is one of the best sources for product information and advice. The Shoposphere is a place to discover interesting and cool products thematically arranged into Pick Lists by other shoppers. It’s always changing. It includes new lists in a “product stream” and highest rated lists which are a fun way to explore new products and trends. The Shoposphere will continue to evolve as a hub for other types of user-generated content."
Pick Lists are lists of products on any topic, and can include any of the 90 million products available through Yahoo! Shopping. With Pick Lists, users can share their knowledge about products they've researched for the benefit of the community. More detail here.
Shoppers shopping online are now getting the full advantages of creativity and usefulness. You can participate and share your researches for the benefit of others. Very interesting, the Shoposphere is in Beta, just pop in here and have a feel of what it's like.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Shopping Online For Delightful Food
Planning a small feast at home with your partner, send a fresh lobster birthday gift or just simply want to have a roast beef without messing up your kitchen.
Just click and order your fresh lobster, roast beef or fresh salmon, delivered right to you. Not only just the solid food, you can also order delicacies like sweet lemon mousse, bourbon butterscotch or cheesecake.
This is not like your local food delivery service where your order will be delivered within an hour or so.
The phenomenon of shopping for consumable food online is still in the infant stage but is gathering momentum in the west. The preparing and delivery usually will require at least two to three days depending on the location. So you need to schedule and place your order early.
Some sites have schedule date in place while others will try to accommodate your requested date.
I personally has yet to try the food online. Have you?
Just click and order your fresh lobster, roast beef or fresh salmon, delivered right to you. Not only just the solid food, you can also order delicacies like sweet lemon mousse, bourbon butterscotch or cheesecake.
This is not like your local food delivery service where your order will be delivered within an hour or so.
The phenomenon of shopping for consumable food online is still in the infant stage but is gathering momentum in the west. The preparing and delivery usually will require at least two to three days depending on the location. So you need to schedule and place your order early.
Some sites have schedule date in place while others will try to accommodate your requested date.
I personally has yet to try the food online. Have you?
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Is Gambling Online Part Of Online Shopping?
Is gambling online considered a part of shopping online? Yes and No depend on how you view it.
Shoppers at times deviate from their original intention of finding items they are searching for. Sometimes the search results are mix with ads from gambling sites. Bright banners, very persuasive phrases and promises of easy big wins are splash all over the sites. Tempting, very tempting, no harm taking a peek, followed by just trying that leads to addiction. All is make easier as your credit card is right with you. Gambling online is a multi-billion dollar industry which attracts million of players.
But all these need not have to happen if you as regular shoppers know where to shop. Most legitimate online shopping stores or malls will not promote gambling under their main shopping category.
Whether gambling is good or bad is up to each individual opinion. So when you are shopping online with your credit card on hand, just be careful when your search hit one of those gambling sites.
Stay on course and buy what you are searching for and not the chips on one of the online casinos.
Shoppers at times deviate from their original intention of finding items they are searching for. Sometimes the search results are mix with ads from gambling sites. Bright banners, very persuasive phrases and promises of easy big wins are splash all over the sites. Tempting, very tempting, no harm taking a peek, followed by just trying that leads to addiction. All is make easier as your credit card is right with you. Gambling online is a multi-billion dollar industry which attracts million of players.
But all these need not have to happen if you as regular shoppers know where to shop. Most legitimate online shopping stores or malls will not promote gambling under their main shopping category.
Whether gambling is good or bad is up to each individual opinion. So when you are shopping online with your credit card on hand, just be careful when your search hit one of those gambling sites.
Stay on course and buy what you are searching for and not the chips on one of the online casinos.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Special Lady Promotion
Good news for the ladies. Get your best offer shopping online for your inside wears.
Freshpair is currently offering a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale on Bras from famous names such as Bali, Vanity Fair, Lily of France, Warner's, and Olga until the beginning of January.
Our Buy 3 Get 1 Free Sale on Panties from Bali and Barely There expires January 4th.
Shop Women's sales on bras, panties, shapewear, sleepwear, camisoles, socks, and full figure at Freshpair.com!
We recently added an Women's - Oprah's Picks page containing products seen on "The Oprah Show" and in O, The Oprah Magazine. Oprah's favorite bras and shapewear by Le Mystere, Wacoal, Chantelle, and Spanx can be found here.
Receive Free Shipping on all orders at Freshpair.com featuring Calvin Klein, Wacoal, 2xist, Donna Karan and more.
So ladies get it when it's hot and save.
Please visit store for more info and order.
I am posting these offers as I received them. If you are looking for certain items which may come with offers, sales or coupons that you like, just post your request here and I will help to search for you.
Freshpair is currently offering a Buy 2 Get 1 Free Sale on Bras from famous names such as Bali, Vanity Fair, Lily of France, Warner's, and Olga until the beginning of January.
Our Buy 3 Get 1 Free Sale on Panties from Bali and Barely There expires January 4th.
Shop Women's sales on bras, panties, shapewear, sleepwear, camisoles, socks, and full figure at Freshpair.com!
We recently added an Women's - Oprah's Picks page containing products seen on "The Oprah Show" and in O, The Oprah Magazine. Oprah's favorite bras and shapewear by Le Mystere, Wacoal, Chantelle, and Spanx can be found here.
Receive Free Shipping on all orders at Freshpair.com featuring Calvin Klein, Wacoal, 2xist, Donna Karan and more.
So ladies get it when it's hot and save.
Please visit store for more info and order.
I am posting these offers as I received them. If you are looking for certain items which may come with offers, sales or coupons that you like, just post your request here and I will help to search for you.
Shopping Online Promotions
My earlier post regarding shopping online coupons can contribute to the fact that the internet is catching up with the real world. Everything or almost anything that you want can be found on the internet. Shopping online is no different, small item to big item, sophisticated items to any general household tools are all easily available online. Just the click of the mouse from anywhere in the world with internet access.
You must have being receiving lots of email with images and promotions from retailers and merchants. Merchants having their stores online are no different from the conventional shopping stores. They need to promote their products as well. The best way is by email through their collection of mailing lists. Many are also using offline advertisement to promote. Competition among online merchant stores are getting hotter and hotter by the day, especially the holiday season.
From now till the holiday seasons are over I will try to provide reliable merchant shopping online promotions and coupons as I come by it. This is to convenient those who have not much time to do their own searching or not that familiar as how to.
Price war among retailers and merchants, irrespective of conventional shopping malls or online shopping stores will always benefit the consumers. So always be on the lookout for great promotions or coupon offers to take the advantage for greater saving.
You can view the stores with coupons and promotion here.
Look out for more coupons and promotions on this blog.
You must have being receiving lots of email with images and promotions from retailers and merchants. Merchants having their stores online are no different from the conventional shopping stores. They need to promote their products as well. The best way is by email through their collection of mailing lists. Many are also using offline advertisement to promote. Competition among online merchant stores are getting hotter and hotter by the day, especially the holiday season.
From now till the holiday seasons are over I will try to provide reliable merchant shopping online promotions and coupons as I come by it. This is to convenient those who have not much time to do their own searching or not that familiar as how to.
Price war among retailers and merchants, irrespective of conventional shopping malls or online shopping stores will always benefit the consumers. So always be on the lookout for great promotions or coupon offers to take the advantage for greater saving.
You can view the stores with coupons and promotion here.
Look out for more coupons and promotions on this blog.
Shopping Online Coupons
Purchasing a quality product and at the right price. Many shoppers tend to search for shopping coupons to get the best deal for items they intend to buy. Shopping coupons as you can see it everywhere, behind receipts and distributed widely by retailers can sometimes offer great savings.
Online shopping is no different, you can also obtain coupons on available items. Usually a banner is display on the page informing customers of coupons available for certain products or they are in the item detail descriptions giving you the coupon code which you will have to enter when you check out.
Examples of shopping online coupon offers:
15% Off Any ABC Shoes Purchase. expires 12/22/05
$30 Off Any $150 TYN Purchase. expires 1/31/06
Free Shipping With Any $60 Purchase. expires 12/20/05
$40 Off Any $200 Purchase. expires 10/30/05
You will be provided with instructions and coupon code when you click on the selection as shown here:
Coupon Code: 62580128
Enter this coupon code at checkout to receive $30 Off Any $150 Purchase.
The value of the coupon usually comes in the form of free shipping, percentage discount or cash rebates and always with an expiry date.
Many big retailers are providing printable coupons for use on offline purchases as well.
When shopping online and just before you check out, take a look around the site page and see if there is any coupon offers. You should be able to find a few especially when it is near the holiday season or year end promotion. You have all the time to look around as there is no closing time for online shopping.
You can take a look at the real online coupon offers by several top online stores here and here.
Online shopping is no different, you can also obtain coupons on available items. Usually a banner is display on the page informing customers of coupons available for certain products or they are in the item detail descriptions giving you the coupon code which you will have to enter when you check out.
Examples of shopping online coupon offers:
15% Off Any ABC Shoes Purchase. expires 12/22/05
$30 Off Any $150 TYN Purchase. expires 1/31/06
Free Shipping With Any $60 Purchase. expires 12/20/05
$40 Off Any $200 Purchase. expires 10/30/05
You will be provided with instructions and coupon code when you click on the selection as shown here:
Coupon Code: 62580128
Enter this coupon code at checkout to receive $30 Off Any $150 Purchase.
The value of the coupon usually comes in the form of free shipping, percentage discount or cash rebates and always with an expiry date.
Many big retailers are providing printable coupons for use on offline purchases as well.
When shopping online and just before you check out, take a look around the site page and see if there is any coupon offers. You should be able to find a few especially when it is near the holiday season or year end promotion. You have all the time to look around as there is no closing time for online shopping.
You can take a look at the real online coupon offers by several top online stores here and here.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Almost There
Some of you may have notice that my blog keeps on changing every few days. Yes, you are right.
Since I started this blog on the 27th October 2005, I keep on making changes, adding and removing links. I am fairly new to blogging and have been toying the blogger control panel almost everyday to get things right. Now it is almost done and hopefully I can create a community of bloggers and viewers to talk about the present and the future of shopping online.
The feed to my blog is all set to go, you can subscribe now.
My thanks and appreciation to all viewers for the past weeks.
Please provide your comments and let me know what you think.
Since I started this blog on the 27th October 2005, I keep on making changes, adding and removing links. I am fairly new to blogging and have been toying the blogger control panel almost everyday to get things right. Now it is almost done and hopefully I can create a community of bloggers and viewers to talk about the present and the future of shopping online.
The feed to my blog is all set to go, you can subscribe now.
My thanks and appreciation to all viewers for the past weeks.
Please provide your comments and let me know what you think.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Innovative Digital Book Programs
Inexpensively purchase and read online just the pages you need from any of your favorite books.
Amazon.com Announces Plans for Innovative Digital Book Programs That Will Enable Customers to Purchase Online Access to Any Page, Section, or Chapter of a Book, as Well as the Book in Its Entirety.
Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today announced two innovative programs to benefit readers, authors and publishers.
The first program, Amazon Pages, will "un-bundle" the physical-world experience of buying and reading a book so that customers can simply and inexpensively purchase and read online just the pages they need. For example, an entrepreneur interested in marketing his or her business could purchase the relevant chapters from several best-selling business books.
The second program, Amazon Upgrade, will allow customers to "upgrade" their purchase of a physical book on Amazon.com to include complete online access. For example, a software developer who buys a Java programming book will not only get the physical book delivered to his or her home, but will also get 24x7 Web access to the complete interior text of the book. Buy a cookbook and you will not only have it on your shelf, but also be able to access it anywhere via the Web.
Read the full news announcement at Amazon.com News Releases.
Check out Amazon.com available Books.
As I continue blogging on the issue of Shopping Online, it seems that the day is getting closer that shopping online will be the first priority for shoppers over the conventional way.
What will be next, can it be a possiblity that you can take a complete medical test online?
Amazon.com Announces Plans for Innovative Digital Book Programs That Will Enable Customers to Purchase Online Access to Any Page, Section, or Chapter of a Book, as Well as the Book in Its Entirety.
Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) today announced two innovative programs to benefit readers, authors and publishers.
The first program, Amazon Pages, will "un-bundle" the physical-world experience of buying and reading a book so that customers can simply and inexpensively purchase and read online just the pages they need. For example, an entrepreneur interested in marketing his or her business could purchase the relevant chapters from several best-selling business books.
The second program, Amazon Upgrade, will allow customers to "upgrade" their purchase of a physical book on Amazon.com to include complete online access. For example, a software developer who buys a Java programming book will not only get the physical book delivered to his or her home, but will also get 24x7 Web access to the complete interior text of the book. Buy a cookbook and you will not only have it on your shelf, but also be able to access it anywhere via the Web.
Read the full news announcement at Amazon.com News Releases.
Check out Amazon.com available Books.
As I continue blogging on the issue of Shopping Online, it seems that the day is getting closer that shopping online will be the first priority for shoppers over the conventional way.
What will be next, can it be a possiblity that you can take a complete medical test online?
Thanksgiving Shopping
It's time of the year again and this year 24th of November is Thanksgiving Day. What do you plan to do on on Thanksgiving Day, a real stupid question. Of course the day is spend with families and relatives with turkey being the main course.
Update or improve on your home decorations, old items become trash and replace with new ones. Since Christmas is just one month away from Thanksgiving, most people will plan for both the occasions.
Household items, gifts and decorations, what a fuss to go shopping, driving in the cold to the mall. Sometimes you have to go back again because you forget to purchase the most important items. Time wasted, money wasted on the increasing fuel cost and getting your feet wet.
These will soon be in the past but for some who now have the internet connection will do their Thanksgiving and Christmas Shopping online. Save time, save money and just shop at your most convenient time with the click of the mouse.
Here are some guides to the most frequent online shopping outlets for those who are not that familiar with online shopping. Just select the items that you want and click away.
Familiar with the name Amazon.com
Looking to brighten your house with Designer Linens.
Requires additional Furnitures and
Home Appliances.
Without forgetting the Outdoors needs and preparing for any Mountain Sports.
And of course the most important thing are the Personalization Gifts, Toy Gifts and Flowers.
There are many other outlets for Bags, Family Christian Store, Home Decorator Collections, Clothings, Lamp Plus and Shoes.
If you feel lazy to drive to the shopping mall or the weather are bad, why not shop online and see how easy it can be.
Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your shopping online and Happy Holiday.
Update or improve on your home decorations, old items become trash and replace with new ones. Since Christmas is just one month away from Thanksgiving, most people will plan for both the occasions.
Household items, gifts and decorations, what a fuss to go shopping, driving in the cold to the mall. Sometimes you have to go back again because you forget to purchase the most important items. Time wasted, money wasted on the increasing fuel cost and getting your feet wet.
These will soon be in the past but for some who now have the internet connection will do their Thanksgiving and Christmas Shopping online. Save time, save money and just shop at your most convenient time with the click of the mouse.
Here are some guides to the most frequent online shopping outlets for those who are not that familiar with online shopping. Just select the items that you want and click away.
Familiar with the name Amazon.com
Looking to brighten your house with Designer Linens.
Requires additional Furnitures and
Home Appliances.
Without forgetting the Outdoors needs and preparing for any Mountain Sports.
And of course the most important thing are the Personalization Gifts, Toy Gifts and Flowers.
There are many other outlets for Bags, Family Christian Store, Home Decorator Collections, Clothings, Lamp Plus and Shoes.
If you feel lazy to drive to the shopping mall or the weather are bad, why not shop online and see how easy it can be.
Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy your shopping online and Happy Holiday.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Google A Threat To Large Retailers?
Many signs are indicating that shopping online is here to stay, at least for now. Technology is advancing so fast and it caught many large retailers by surprise.
Google's recent moves have stirred concern in industries from book publishing to telecommunications. Businesses already feeling the Google effect include advertising, software and the news media. Apart from retailing, Google's disruptive presence may soon be felt in real estate and auto sales.
Google, the reigning giant of Web search, could extend its economic reach in the next few years as more people get high-speed Internet service and cellphones become full-fledged search tools, according to analysts. And ever-smarter software, they say, will cull and organize larger and larger digital storehouses of news, images, real estate listings and traffic reports, delivering results that are more like the advice of a trusted human expert.
Such advances, predicts Esther Dyson, a technology consultant, will bring "a huge reduction in inefficiency everywhere." That, in turn, would be an unsettling force for all sorts of industries and workers. But it would also reward consumers with lower prices and open up opportunities for new companies.
Google, then, may turn out to have a more far-reaching impact than earlier Web winners like Amazon and eBay. "Google is the realization of everything that we thought the Internet was going to be about but really wasn't until Google," said David B. Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School.
Google, to be sure, is but one company at the forefront of the continuing spread of Internet technology. It has many competitors, and it could stumble. In the search market alone, Google faces formidable rivals like Microsoft and Yahoo.
Microsoft, in particular, is pushing hard to catch Google in Internet search. "This is hyper-competition, make no mistake," said Bill Gates, Microsoft's chief executive. "The magic moment will come when our search is demonstrably better than Google's," he said, suggesting that this could happen in a year or so.
Still, apart from its front-runner status, Google is also remarkable for its pace of innovation and for how broadly it seems to interpret its mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."
Read the complete article By STEVE LOHR Published: November 6, 2005 The New York Times.
Google's recent moves have stirred concern in industries from book publishing to telecommunications. Businesses already feeling the Google effect include advertising, software and the news media. Apart from retailing, Google's disruptive presence may soon be felt in real estate and auto sales.
Google, the reigning giant of Web search, could extend its economic reach in the next few years as more people get high-speed Internet service and cellphones become full-fledged search tools, according to analysts. And ever-smarter software, they say, will cull and organize larger and larger digital storehouses of news, images, real estate listings and traffic reports, delivering results that are more like the advice of a trusted human expert.
Such advances, predicts Esther Dyson, a technology consultant, will bring "a huge reduction in inefficiency everywhere." That, in turn, would be an unsettling force for all sorts of industries and workers. But it would also reward consumers with lower prices and open up opportunities for new companies.
Google, then, may turn out to have a more far-reaching impact than earlier Web winners like Amazon and eBay. "Google is the realization of everything that we thought the Internet was going to be about but really wasn't until Google," said David B. Yoffie, a professor at Harvard Business School.
Google, to be sure, is but one company at the forefront of the continuing spread of Internet technology. It has many competitors, and it could stumble. In the search market alone, Google faces formidable rivals like Microsoft and Yahoo.
Microsoft, in particular, is pushing hard to catch Google in Internet search. "This is hyper-competition, make no mistake," said Bill Gates, Microsoft's chief executive. "The magic moment will come when our search is demonstrably better than Google's," he said, suggesting that this could happen in a year or so.
Still, apart from its front-runner status, Google is also remarkable for its pace of innovation and for how broadly it seems to interpret its mission to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."
Read the complete article By STEVE LOHR Published: November 6, 2005 The New York Times.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Feeling Clothes Through Your Computer Screens.
My earlier post "How sustainable is shopping online" is more or less answered with this latest news.
Online shoppers to 'feel' clothes
Internet shoppers could soon be feeling clothes through their computer screens, according to researchers.
Software using a series of interactive virtual reality animations has been developed by a fashion student at Nottingham Trent University.
Nicola Davison designed the programme, called Click 2 Touch, "to make shopping online fun and rewarding," she said.
The development comes as figures show almost 40% of products bought online are returned by dissatisfied customers.
Hairiness
She says the system provides realistic sensations for 10 feelings.
Softness, fullness, smoothness, hairiness, prickliness, drape, thickness, elasticity, rigidity and warmth are all conveyed using 3D animations.
For example, hairiness shows a close-up image of the garment's surface.
By moving the mouse up and down it, the user can "stroke" the fibres and watch them ripple.
To test thickness a shopper can lift up the edge of a garment and drop it back down.
Elasticity is simulated by "stretching" the garment and watching it return to its original shape.
Using the mouse the images can be rotated and the user can zoom in to get a closer look at necklines, patterns and seams.
Clothing interaction
Miss Davison watched people shopping to see how they interacted with garments.
She said: "The internet only appeals to two of our five senses - sight and sound - but clothing requires the sense of touch.
"Almost half of all garments bought online are returned, but less than 3% of items such as CDs, DVDs and books are sent back."
She said potential customers were deterred by the inability to feel garments.
"In the future I plan to develop the software to include home furnishings such as carpets, curtains and sofas," she added.
The product is being developed with the help of a Department of Trade and Industry grant at Nottingham Trent's enterprise development centre, The Hive.
Miss Davison is in talks with high street chains about the software.
She expects a completed version to be ready next year.
"I plan to develop the software to include carpets, curtains and sofas"
Nicola Davison
Online shoppers to 'feel' clothes
Internet shoppers could soon be feeling clothes through their computer screens, according to researchers.
Software using a series of interactive virtual reality animations has been developed by a fashion student at Nottingham Trent University.
Nicola Davison designed the programme, called Click 2 Touch, "to make shopping online fun and rewarding," she said.
The development comes as figures show almost 40% of products bought online are returned by dissatisfied customers.
Hairiness
She says the system provides realistic sensations for 10 feelings.
Softness, fullness, smoothness, hairiness, prickliness, drape, thickness, elasticity, rigidity and warmth are all conveyed using 3D animations.
For example, hairiness shows a close-up image of the garment's surface.
By moving the mouse up and down it, the user can "stroke" the fibres and watch them ripple.
To test thickness a shopper can lift up the edge of a garment and drop it back down.
Elasticity is simulated by "stretching" the garment and watching it return to its original shape.
Using the mouse the images can be rotated and the user can zoom in to get a closer look at necklines, patterns and seams.
Clothing interaction
Miss Davison watched people shopping to see how they interacted with garments.
She said: "The internet only appeals to two of our five senses - sight and sound - but clothing requires the sense of touch.
"Almost half of all garments bought online are returned, but less than 3% of items such as CDs, DVDs and books are sent back."
She said potential customers were deterred by the inability to feel garments.
"In the future I plan to develop the software to include home furnishings such as carpets, curtains and sofas," she added.
The product is being developed with the help of a Department of Trade and Industry grant at Nottingham Trent's enterprise development centre, The Hive.
Miss Davison is in talks with high street chains about the software.
She expects a completed version to be ready next year.
"I plan to develop the software to include carpets, curtains and sofas"
Nicola Davison
Choco-Pollution
An interesting news emerging from Chicago. The sweet smell of chocolate wafting through downtown Chicago.... complained about the aroma of burnt chocolate.
Read the story from the Chicago Tribune.
Read the story from the Chicago Tribune.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
How sustainable is shopping online
I recall the early days when the shopping malls and supermarket complexes are still not in existence. The small sundry shops around the corner of every streets were having a fill day with customers. Although the sundry shops were small in comparision to todays supermarkets, you can find almost all the normal household items that you need. The best part is, if you are local and had being buying for a while, you can get credit for your purchases and settle your dues at end of the month.
Slowly as the giant coperations started to build the shopping malls and supermarkets at every town, the small sundry shops start to dwindle and most of them close shop. Everyone seems to be happy especially the kids as they enjoy the new style of shopping in malls and supermarkets. No one seems to care about the extra expences incur and time lost for the trip to the supermarket or shopping mall.
Now you can do your shopping online right at your home or if you prefer make your purchase from the office before leaving for home. You can buy practically anything online and have it delivered right to your doorstep.
So my thinking is, will the malls and supermarkets suffer the same fate as the small local sundry shops?
We cannot predict how advance the internet is going to be but if the technology can advance to a stage whereby you can feel confidence in purchasing online without any questions about security, theft, reliable merchants and quality products, will it kill the offline malls and supermarkets?
Slowly as the giant coperations started to build the shopping malls and supermarkets at every town, the small sundry shops start to dwindle and most of them close shop. Everyone seems to be happy especially the kids as they enjoy the new style of shopping in malls and supermarkets. No one seems to care about the extra expences incur and time lost for the trip to the supermarket or shopping mall.
Now you can do your shopping online right at your home or if you prefer make your purchase from the office before leaving for home. You can buy practically anything online and have it delivered right to your doorstep.
So my thinking is, will the malls and supermarkets suffer the same fate as the small local sundry shops?
We cannot predict how advance the internet is going to be but if the technology can advance to a stage whereby you can feel confidence in purchasing online without any questions about security, theft, reliable merchants and quality products, will it kill the offline malls and supermarkets?
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Search Before Buying
To reach for a product you need to make a search for it, i.e shopping online, the next best thing although you cannot exactly try or feel it before buying.
Majority of consumers rely on search engines to identify and investigate products before purchasing them. First time shoppers normally conduct at least a bit of online research before clicking the Buy button.
A write-up by Susan Kuchinskas on the Harris Interactive Study:
Harris Interactive conducted the study, "How America Searches: Online Shopping," and icrossing, an independent search engine marketing agency, commissioned it.
The study affirms icrossing's business model, of course, but it also confirms just how important searching is to buying. A full 88 percent of respondents conduct at least a bit of online research before clicking the Buy button.
Moreover, 67 percent of online adult shoppers who research products online before making a purchase decision use search engines to conduct that research; 40 percent of them visit search engines first.
Those searchers are looking not only for product information, but for online retailers where they can buy the product. After search engines, fifty-seven percent of the respondents turn to retailers' Web sites to find product information.
Comparison-shopping service Shopping.com reports regular pre-holiday spikes in traffic, with the winter holiday gift season being the busiest time. The back-to-school period is second in terms of traffic to the site.
Those shoppers aged 55 and over who use search engines to conduct research are more likely to click on sponsored links, as well. While 56 percent of their younger counterparts clicked on sponsored links, that proportion rose to 75 percent for the mature shoppers.
In the icrossing study, the reliance on the Web was more pronounced when it came to travel, with 72 percent of online adults who buy airline tickets, hotel rooms or other travel products online said they made travel arrangements online more often than offline.
Search Engines like Google and Yahoo are providing their best and accurate services for shoppers tending to shop online. Can we forsee what will it be like in the near future for the offline shopping malls when online shopping gain momemtum?
Majority of consumers rely on search engines to identify and investigate products before purchasing them. First time shoppers normally conduct at least a bit of online research before clicking the Buy button.
A write-up by Susan Kuchinskas on the Harris Interactive Study:
Harris Interactive conducted the study, "How America Searches: Online Shopping," and icrossing, an independent search engine marketing agency, commissioned it.
The study affirms icrossing's business model, of course, but it also confirms just how important searching is to buying. A full 88 percent of respondents conduct at least a bit of online research before clicking the Buy button.
Moreover, 67 percent of online adult shoppers who research products online before making a purchase decision use search engines to conduct that research; 40 percent of them visit search engines first.
Those searchers are looking not only for product information, but for online retailers where they can buy the product. After search engines, fifty-seven percent of the respondents turn to retailers' Web sites to find product information.
Comparison-shopping service Shopping.com reports regular pre-holiday spikes in traffic, with the winter holiday gift season being the busiest time. The back-to-school period is second in terms of traffic to the site.
Those shoppers aged 55 and over who use search engines to conduct research are more likely to click on sponsored links, as well. While 56 percent of their younger counterparts clicked on sponsored links, that proportion rose to 75 percent for the mature shoppers.
In the icrossing study, the reliance on the Web was more pronounced when it came to travel, with 72 percent of online adults who buy airline tickets, hotel rooms or other travel products online said they made travel arrangements online more often than offline.
Search Engines like Google and Yahoo are providing their best and accurate services for shoppers tending to shop online. Can we forsee what will it be like in the near future for the offline shopping malls when online shopping gain momemtum?
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