Whether you call it an online shop, e-shop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store or virtual store, online shopping means one thing – convenience. A recent report by The Nielsen Company’s Global online shopping Report of 2008 statistics indicates that more and more people are swapping cashiers for screens and crowds for their home computer. According to the survey, a staggering 875 million people (or 40% of the world’s population) have made purchases over the internet – a 30% increase from 2007.  

According to International President of Nielsen Online, the internet is no longer a niche technology, but a mass media. It’s no wonder that consumers are turning to the ‘unrivalled convenience’ of online shopping, as a result of cluttered lives.  

The process of purchasing products over the internet, is a burgeoning consumer trend because of it’s undeniable advantages. Not only for its convenience, online shopping is massively popular because of it’s wider selection of goods, competitive pricing and greater access to information.  

Available 24-hours a day from the comfort and safety of your own home and direct to-your-door delivery, online shopping is the ultimate convenience, while also providing a wealth of information. Providing information and reviews (some customer reviews) of products, consumers can make informed decisions as to the best product for their needs instead of being limited to the choices available on 0.5 m X 1 m shelf dedicated to related products. Because of the diversity of products in similar categories and the number of webstores available, prices are more competitive online.