Shopping: Online vs In-Store

We so often hear about the huge shift away from in-store shopping towards the convenience of online shopping, but that’s not to say that the more traditional approach doesn’t still have its loyal supporters. In the ongoing debate over which is best, the people at SwiftMoney.com have put together a handy infographic that compiles some key consumer opinions, based on the findings of a survey of 1000 members of the British public. 

The first and perhaps most interesting revelation is that, though it was a pretty close call, in-store shopping proved to still be the favoured method of the majority of people, with 54% choosing it over the digital alternative. This proves that for all its ease and modern sensibilities, online shopping isn’t necessarily the unstoppable craze set to wipe out our highstreets that it was once feared by some to be. 

Another interesting takeaway from the survey was that the method we choose is often very much dependant on what we’re buying. Goods that we use in our everyday lives – like electrical gadgets and clothing – are the kinds we’re most likely to order at the simple click of a button. Goods where comfort, price and longevity are major factors to consider – like cars, furniture and shoes – are the ones we still prefer to purchase in the flesh, proving that many of us do indeed still like to try before we buy. 

However, even if you prefer e-tail, for the added ease in hunting out the best deals across the web and avoiding unwanted impulse buys, over retail, for the greater assurance of quality and reliability in the products you’re buying, it’s clear that brand power is still very much alive, with nearly 66% of us only shopping on the sites of names we already know and trust. 

For a full breakdown of the survey’s interesting findings, check out the infographic below. 

from Finance Girl http://www.financegirl.co.uk/shopping-online-vs-in-store/