It’s only been as of relatively recently that the concept of the online ladies fashion store has really started to take off as the new standard. They’ve been around for a fair few years to say the least, but it’s been a slow and steady revolution in the making where High Street retail is on its way out and online shopping is taking over as the new norm. Of course there will always be those who prefer the old-school approach to clothes shopping, but for a new-generation of fashionistas, web retail is literally the only way to go.
In terms of why web-based fashion retail is taking over in a big way, it all comes down to the way in which web shoppers are privy to an array of benefits that would be otherwise unavailable. So whether you’re proud to remain one of the subject’s cynics or have been giving genuine thought to at least giving the new-gen approach to shopping a try, here’s a quick overview of the six key benefits you can expect to gain access to:
1 – Convenience
First of all, shopping on the High Street can be a pleasure to say the least, but in terms of sheer convenience online shopping is in a different league. Any time of day or night with no store closing times to worry about, tens of thousands of incredible stores are right there at your fingertips. There’s no queuing, no crowds to worry about and barely any need to lift a finger. After all, why make the extra effort to head out when everything you could ever wish for is technically right there in your home?
2 – Mobile Madness
That being said, it’s not actually just in your home either. These days, shopping from mobile devices is slowly but surely becoming the new norm for the vast majority of consumers, who prefer to use their smartphones and tablet PCs to pick up pretty much anything and everything they need. Mobile-optimised sites and specially designed apps make shopping on-the-go as easy as hitting a few buttons. From the morning commute to that otherwise boring wait in the dentist’s waiting room, just a couple of spare minutes are all that’s needed to browse the latest collections, find incredible designs and score exclusive bargains.
3 – Exclusive Collections
Speaking of exclusives, it’s also worth bearing in mind that a great many retailers, designers and brands in general are right now creating products and collections that are exclusively available online. Web retail is such a Godsend for most retailers across the board and so it’s little surprise that so many are doing all they can to encourage folk to make the switch. In the case of fashion retail, this means larger and often more exclusive collections to browse through than could ever be found on the High Street.
4 – Buyer Feedback
Another interesting bonus of online fashion retail is that of being able to tap into essential feedback and advice from other buyers prior to picking up anything of interest. Wondering how well that dress washes? Whether those jeans still look good after a month? Perhaps the general manufacturing quality of that designer handbag? When shopping online, you can take into account the feedback and thoughts of others when making your decisions, instead of just going with blind faith and assuming all is as it appears to be.
5 – More Imagery
It’s all well and good to see a garment or accessory on a mannequin or hanger, but how does it look when worn by a human being out in the real world? It’s not like you’ve got the time to try on literally everything that catches your eye in the average fashion store, which is why it can be a bonus to shop online where there’s often a whole lot more imagery to show you how the items look when worn for real.
6 – Lower Prices
Last but not least, the very nature of online retail is such that the stores and indeed the brands behind the clothing for sale make huge savings in comparison to the costs of running a High Street store. Generally speaking, all or most of these savings will be passed directly onto the customer by way of lower prices and special deals – the very reason why the same items are often cheaper online than they are in stores. There are no gimmicks, no tricks and no strings attached – online retail is simply cheaper than the conventional approach and so it stands to reason that prices should be lower, which they are.