Shopping is an exciting part of British culture whether you like shopping or not. We all have a preference to how we shop. If, like me, you enjoy being out in the crowds, exploring the High Street shops then traditional shopping is for you. Perhaps you’d rather take a hot cup of tea, a comfy couch and your ‘tablet’. Both types of transactions coexist with one another, yet window-shopping is a distinctly different experience from Internet shopping.

Shopping is no longer as simple as it used to be, especially if we have too much choice and find it difficult to decide. Whether it’s internet shopping or face-to-face transactions, there are some benefits and downfalls to both methods that differentiate the two, even though they each accomplish a common goal.

There is a new breed of shopper. He or she visits their High Street shop where they can touch the item, check out the price and availability. Then they return home, find the same item online and buy direct from the manufacturer.

When shopping traditionally there is a limitation to some extent, whether it’s a variety of size, colour, brand, or availability. High Street shopping can be convenient, yet frustrating. Finding what you need takes patience and sometimes a little help. Also, depending on the demand, a shop may not always have a product in stock. That’s why internet shopping is so appealing.

When shopping on the Internet, there are endless options and variety to choose from.

Online customers can search for any product; browse by category, colour or size – all in a matter of minutes. Additionally, a benefit from buying from huge online retailers is that pricing may be more competitive because it is coming from the direct or discount supplier, which minimizes the middlemen. Lastly, and most obviously, customers shopping over the web have no geographic limits. A person can enjoy shopping around the world without having to go the distance to retrieve it, which makes Internet shopping so unique.

Despite the fascination with online shopping, there is only so much an Internet connection and domain can do for you. The High Street offers inspiration. The problem ‘Auntie’ present can still be found by in our traditional shops. You can still find the perfect present in the High Street – the one that you haven’t managed to find online.

End commerce is the big new thing. Transactions made on tablets/mobile phones predict a shopping revolution. The future will be mobile technology driving the pace of shopping. In the not too distant future there will be ‘virtual changing rooms’ where you will be able to try on thousands of outfits from the safety of your arm chair. You will be able to see what outfits looks like, take a photo of yourself and email it to a friend for a second opinion.

High Street stores are making sure they have both the traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ store and an ‘online’ presence. It seems to me therefore that the shops who embrace technology and move with the times will be successful.

Hint/Tip : before you shop online, pop down to your local High Street and check out their product options