Today, in-between my lectures, I decided to
have a quick look at my inbox and there it was, a 75% off on select products
from H&M. Thanks to that, I spent the next 30 minutes doing online
window-shopping rather than listening to my lecturer. Online window-shopping
can be a lucrative stress reliever for an over-worked, marginalized poor student
like me, and also a motivation to work even harder to afford the clothes. With
various sales and offers around, January could seemingly be an extremely hard
month on the bank account.
In the past I have bought some products
online, but only because of the big discounts that were offered. It's a wonder
how the email marketing of my regular brand has made me spend money without
even leaving my seat. It is noticeable that for most brands, the online retail
works independently to their high street ones. For this, the brand can provided
lucrative deals online to consumers as they can cut down on costs like rents,
labour, distribution, among others. As for the customers, they are spared of
the commute to the store along with queuing up for trial and payment.
I must say I am surprised by the increasing
trends of online shopping in Asia. According to a McKinsey, China's revenue
from online retail was $210 billion in 2012, making it the second largest
e-tail market in the world. According to PwC, 50% of apparel shopping in India
is done online. While more and more people are turning to the internet to fulfill
their shopping needs and it seems like a trend that'll stay, I am still quite
traditional when it comes to buying clothes and accessories because I prefer to
touch, try and feel.
