Justin Pinkus asked:


The virtual market has arrived and with the growing number of online stores, it seems like the trend is here to stay. Unlike real time stores, one does not need to invest heavily in virtual stores, and so even small business owners find the deal lucrative. Virtual stores are easy to create and manage, which has added immensely to their popularity. Depending upon the investment that a business owner would like to make, both in terms of time and money, one can create a virtual store for the business.

The convenience that these virtual stores offer to the online shopper cannot be matched by real time stores. The ease of begin able to compare several different manufacturers of a product and then purchase it online, along with having it delivered to your door step is indeed  magnetic. While initially buyers were skeptical of products that they saw online and not in reality, over the years, online dealers have established a gold reputation for themselves, which has added to an increase in online shoppers. Most online stores offer money back guarantees, much like real time stores, which takes away the fear of being cheated from the prospects mind. Almost all commercial ventures today understand the growing importance of E commerce, and virtual stores are the gateway of commercial activities on the internet.

Though having concluded that virtual stores are convenient to both the seller and the buyer, it is a know fact that simply setting up a virtual store is not the answer to increasing online sales. In fact, despite adopting extremely sophisticated advertising and quality products, it is a fact that for every online transaction that is completed, almost four times as many are deserted. Apparently putting up several payment gateways and adopting highly developed shopping cart software does not seem to seal the deal either. These techniques work at only drawing the prospects attention and moving towards a possible sale. However, despite these efforts, it has been estimated that on an average 75% of shopping carts are abandoned before the deal can be closed. It is no wonder then that abandoned shopping carts are considered the biggest ‘bane of ecommerce’. 

An abandoned shopping cart is an incomplete transaction, which the prospect deserts before the final deal is sealed. Since the ultimate goal of all E commerce activity is sales, of course a conversion left half way is extremely damaging to the business. Businesses that operate online spend huge sums of money to setup a commercially viable virtual stores and are then aghast at the large number of abandoned shopping carts. Therefore, one can safely conclude that as important as setting up a virtual store, is decreasing abandoned shopping carts so that the sales maybe increased.

The solution comes in a two phase package. First is, understanding the reason why the percentage of abandoned shopping carts is so high, and the second phase is ensuring that these hurdles and problems are done away with.

Reasons for shopping cart abandonment:-

1) Shipping cost – Over 72% of prospects who leave the deal half way through, do so due to the high shipping cost that the site charges. The advantage of shopping in the convenience of ones home is definitely attractive to the customer, but is marred by high cost of delivery. Also since shipping charges are as a rule not refundable, prospects are deterred from closing the deal.

2) Competition comparisons – One of the major attractions of online shopping is begin able to easily compare several manufacturers of similar products, so as to choose the most feasible deal. It has been observed that 61% prospects move on to greener pastures and abandon their shopping carts midway, when they find that the competition has more to offer.

3) Second thoughts- While initially taken in by the product and its cost, at the time of final payment, 51% of online shoppers abandon the shopping cart due to second thoughts. Wanting to think over the deal a little more, these prospects are likely to simply abandon the shopping cart and maybe come back later for the purchase. It is also a fact that 96% of browsers never return to a site even if they did buy something from that site.

4) Decide otherwise- While second thoughts do leave some room for a comeback, there are 56% prospects that choose items but give up the idea of buying them completely while going through the process of the ultimate purchase. They may decide that the item is not required or not as attractive that they had thought before.

5) Collective cost of products – While shopping, prospects tend to pick up several products and dump them in their shopping carts. On finally viewing the total cost of these products, 43% find them too high and therefore completely abandon the shopping cart that they had selected rather than go through the items again.

6) Length of check out process- 41% buyers abandon shopping carts because they find that the time required for the final check out is too lengthy. Irritated by the time that the check out process is taking, these buyers despite being committed to the deal simply abandon the shopping cart and move on.

7) Personal information for check out process- There are several website that seem to go on and on asking the prospect to give their personal information for the final deal to go through. Irritated by this, 35 % buyers tend to leave the cart and move away from the final transaction.

Registration process- There are several sites who have a pre requisite to register before the final buying process can be undertaken. 34% buyers decide that they would rather abandon the shopping cart than register for the site. 

9) Complicated check out process- Confused by complicated check out process 27% buyers decide to give up buying the product(s) online rather than try and figure out how the system works.

10) Reliability of the site- Cautious about the site’s authenticity and reliability, 31% buyers decide to not go through with the deal despite having started it. The fear of begin cheated online is much more than being cheated in the real world, since it is much easier to disappear in the virtual world.

Having nailed most of the reasons for abandoned shopping carts, the next phase involves finding solutions for these problems.

Solutions for shopping cart abandonment:-

1) Quick downloads- It is crucial for the sale to meet its final transaction that the web page does not take too long to download. On an average the shopper will not give your site more than 10 seconds to download. It is therefore important that the web page is not filled with images and that the graphics if any, are compressed for easy downloads.

2) Easy navigation – If the buyer wanted to solve a jig saw puzzle, a games site is what he/she would be visiting. Keep navigation and links of the website clear and simple. Golden rules like a right hand index, links to the buy tab and home page on all sub pages and pastels backgrounds should never be overlooked. Over decades people have come to expect certain tabs at certain spots on a website and not finding them there, tends to make the prospect move on.

3) Short sale routine – There are many sites that go on forcing a sales pitch on the prospect despite the customer already begin sold to the idea. Allow the client to buy the product as soon as he/she is convinced. Close the deal quickly, so as to not allow time to the prospect to rethink. For this it is important that the journey between the sales pitch and the payment gateway be as short as possible.

4) Lay down facts – Do not allow grey area to creep into your sales pitch. State the facts about the product in clear black and white terms. The price, the shipping cost, the availability and other such facts must be laid down in simple and clear terms to the prospect, so that it does not come as a shock later.

5) Offer attractions – If you find that the customer is leaving the site without purchasing what was placed in the shopping cart, step in with an attractive offer, which may be introduced via a pop up window. This works very well in cases where the prospect is half sold to the idea and just needs a bit more cajoling to undertake the final transaction.

6) Avoid distractions – Do not place banner ads or other similar distractions on your shopping cart. While the prospect is having a look at the product(s) you do not want to distract him/her. It is therefore very important that you do not fall into the trap of allowing other sites to take your prospect away by letting a small blinking advertisement break the shopper’s concentration.

While there are several other tips that help increase conversion rates for commercial websites, the basic essence of each trick is to add to the shopping experience of the customer. It is imperative that problems and solutions both be figured out from the client’s point of view. Be it a real time store or a virtual one, the customer is the final and most crucial link of the sales process and therefore must be kept happy at all given times.



CARROL

Online Shopping asked:


If you prefer to shop online locally, finding plus size clothing could be a challenging ordeal. Particularly if you are residing in the smaller towns and cities, plus size apparel could be hard to buy locally.

A lot of the local department stores carry a couple of plus size pieces, but they are not usually new stock and therefore, not very stylish and up-to-date. Sometimes, they are not very flattering and have poor quality. So, how would you be able to successfully find plus size items online?

With a search engine, try to do an online search for plus size clothing. You could also try plus size apparel. You would surely be generating thousand and thousands of results that you would need to sort through. You could just end up frustrated and not able to find what you need. It could be a waste of time especially if you are just looking for a simple black dress to purchase. So here are some tips to make your online shopping experience somehow easier.

Make sure that you are as specific as possible as you search online. Try to search for black dress plus size or plus size discount swimsuits.

You might also want to do an advanced search and place the search terms or words in quotes like “plus size swimsuits”. With the use of quotes in your online search, the search engine would be able to filter through the results and give you exactly what you want and need.

Also if you want an item in a specific color, try to include that in the search term that you would be typing. That would also be able to narrow down the results and make your shopping a lot easier.



DEAN

D asked:


what are the different stages of a shopping mall development, from planning, designing, to construction to managing?

CARSON

jeff o asked:


In general what is the busiest shopping day of the week? I am not talking about the busiest shopping day of the year, just in general, what day of the week sees the most sales/activity?

BRETT

Online Shopping asked:


Having a good pair of sunglasses can easily add style, a hint of mystique, as well as make yourself a fashion statement that would truly stand out. But, are these all a pair of sunglasses could do? Your eyewear could do a lot more aside from just making you look trendy - they are used to protect your eyes from harmful elements, as well. Because of this, it is imperative to make sure that you will be buying a pair that would really suit you.

The lenses of sunglasses are usually made of plastic or glass, which typically undergoes a couple of special treatments. The color, as well as the degree of the darkness of the lens would be important factors as you decide which UV protection for your sunglasses you would be getting. You would have to make sure that your sunglasses would be able to block out at least 99 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays. The UV protection factor is usually printed on the label.

With all the available designs and styles of sunglasses in the market, you would have to make sure that you would be selecting a pair that would flatter your look and protect your eyes at the same time. Sunglasses trends today are inspired from street fashion to retro looks to elegant and chic.

Frames would be a very important aspect of the sunglasses as well. You can get aviators, shields, wraps, clip-ons and a whole lot of other styles. Make sure that you would be choosing a pair, which would suit your face shape perfectly. For instance, women with round faces could carry off ovals and geometric shapes. For those with angular faces, rounder frames would work best. And for those with oval faces, almost any frame style could work.



DARON

Tυвlєt Too™ asked:


I’ve seen this several times, lately….and elephant just standing in the parking lot of a shopping mall wearing a “50% Off” sign, or something like that.

DAMIAN

sltrib asked:

Hundreds of people in Salt Lake City set out to begin their Christmas shopping.

FORREST

daveclark asked:


1. Thrift Shops and Surplus Stores

You may not think much of thrift shops and surplus stores, but may be you are not aware that these places sell branded stuff for very cheap. In fact, these establishments are full of top quality goods. If you are used to the convenience of big stores, then you may find the going a bit tough in these establishments because of the effort involved in finding the right stuff you need. You may have to spend some extra time, but you do get the stuff you require at very cheap prices. The saving you make is worth all the trouble. If you are looking for some outstanding bargains, you are in for a surprise.

Look around for such a store and chances are that you will find one near your locality. If you do not know where to begin, take the help of an online search engine. Go through the list of thrift shops and surplus stores provided by the search engine. Most likely, you will find a store near your home. Can you imagine that you will find big labels going for as cheap as under $6.00 or under $20.00? Designer clothes, which you may only dream of owning, can be yours for next to nothing.

2. Clearance Sales

If you have the patience and time, then wait for clearance sales that are normally announced with much fanfare. Clearance sales are places where you can find great bargains. It is true that some times you do have to make that extra effort to find the goodies that you are looking for, but it is worth all your time and effort.

The savings that you make on such deals are fantastic. You come home satisfied on two accounts. One, that you got the stuff you wanted; two, you did not have to dig deep into your pocket. The money you save on such deals can go to your bank or help you buy goods you have been waiting to buy for long.

3. Reusable Goods

When you go shopping, be conscious of buying goods that can be reused over and over again. If you are looking for batteries for your radio or alarm clock, go for the rechargeable kind. They may cost you a bit extra initially, but the savings you make subsequently are substantial. Rechargeable batteries have a very long life and serve you for years together in comparison to ordinary batteries that have a life span of a few months only.

Christmas trees are another area where you can save heavily. Artificial Christmas trees do look real and have a long life. Apart from saving money, you will do a great service by helping a tree from being chopped down. Can you imagine the number of trees that can be saved every year?

4. Bulk Buying

You tend to save a lot if you go for buying in bulk. Shopping at warehouses or at wholesalers make you save money because they sell cheap on bulk. You can tie up with your family or friends and avail of reduced prices on bulk buying.

5. Use Coupons

Coupons are great money savers. If you have coupons with you, do not hesitate in exchanging them for goods purchased at stores, grocery stores, or retail chain stores, where these are accepted. Keep in touch with the bulletin boards of the stores for double coupon days. Plan your shopping on days when a store offers double coupons.

Using coupons, you can save from 5% up to 15%. This leads to a substantial saving of a few hundred dollars every year.

6. Don’t Get Lured

We generally tend to spend money over things because we get lured into buying them, whether or not we require them. You may be tempted into buying something, which has great appeal for you. It is best to avoid going to that particular store where it is available, or be strong enough not to get tempted. That is how you can save money.

7. Being Patient

Being patient is the keyword to avoiding impulsive buying. If you are an impulsive buyer, you need to exercise patience. Impulsive buyers tend to buy things even when they do not really need them. When you feel the urge to buy something, be patient and tell yourself to follow the budget you planned. Do not resort to any unplanned buying. If you have planned to buy a particular shirt when it will be available on sales prices, patiently wait until then.

8. Identifying Triggers

If you are the kind who suddenly feels the urge to buy something not required, then you may need to identify what triggers you into getting in buying mode.

You might be feeling sad, lonely, anxious, depressed or happy. These could be one of the reasons that trigger the urge of buying in you.

Once you identify the trigger, exercise restraint. Look for other ways to get relief from your moodiness. All you need is to discipline yourself.

9. Barter Your Services

Float the idea of bartering services among your friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family. If some one needs help at lawn mowing, offer your services in exchange for spring-cleaning your house. If a family needs babysitting services, do it in exchange for some other chore where you need help. Such bartering of services will save a substantial amount of money for all concerned.

10. Avoid Competition

Live life on your own terms. Do not let others dictate what you should buy and what you should not. If you care to be introspective, you may find that many times you had to buy things just because your neighbors had it and you did not. This sense of competition leads to wasteful buying. At times people tend to buy things just to be one up on their friends or neighbors. The consideration at such moments is neither need nor affordability. They just buy to have a competitive edge over others. Such wasteful expenditure can cause a severe dent on their saving.

You need to be conscious of the fact that you are not in any competition with anyone. Your life is yours and hence, your needs need not be dictated by others. Before buying anything, see whether it fits the criteria of need and affordability.

11. When to Shop

It is important not to indulge in anytime shopping. A person may go for shopping when he/she is anxious, depressed, sad, or hungry. It has been found that under such state of mind a person tends to overspend on shopping. If you happen to be in a melancholic state, avoid shopping. Wait until you get over the feeling and feel normal. It is better if you eat at home before shopping. A little bit of discipline will ensure considerable saving.

12. Avoid Sales Talk

When you are trying out new dresses at a dress store, you are bound to get rave compliments from the sales persons about how beautiful you look in a particular dress, how well it fits you, or how a particular dress enhances your persona. You may in fact look all that and more, but do not get taken in into buying a dress by sales talk. Sales persons are paid to make sales, and they may even be getting a commission on each sale they make. They, for these reasons, are making a kill.

So, be prudent in your approach, keep your budget in mind, and go for a dress that you think suits you the best. Taking a friend along on such occasions is of great help.

13. Compare Prices

When you go out shopping, it is a good idea to compare prices at various establishments. You may find a significant difference in prices at different places for the same product or substitute product. Some goods might be offered at sales price, which can make you save good money.

14. Saving Money for Shopping

A number of financial institutions and banks offer a Christmas fund, an extra ordinary opportunity for you to save money for your holiday shopping. You put some money aside in the fund and enjoy a peaceful holiday, not spending beyond your means.

15. Keep an Eye on Shopping-rebates

Prior to going for shopping, keep an eye on shopping-rebates. There may be some specific days and dates when rebates are offered. Plan your shopping accordingly, and ensure a good amount of saving.

Try out the prices for assembled goods and unassembled goods. Unassembled items certainly come cheaper than fully finished and ready-to-use products. If you find the difference to be substantial, which it usually is, assembling at home is a good option and fun if you involve your kids in the exercise.

16. Save While Making Seasonal Purchases

Many stores offer holiday items on heavy discounts for a few days after a holiday. This is the time to store some stuff for the next season. You can store clothes, accessories, decorations for Christmas and more. This is a great way to save good money.

17. Buying at Dollar/Pound Stores

There was a time when dollar stores were known for storing poor quality goods, and offering off brand items. Now, things are not the same anymore. Dollar stores continue to sell cheap, but they are selling the same brand goods that you find at other stores. Daily use products can be had for a fraction of what they are sold elsewhere. You stand to make considerable saving from purchases made at your dollar store. So, look around for a dollar store near your home and start building up your saving.

18. Look to Save on Your Purchases

There are other sources for your daily needs items other than your neighborhood store. Packed edible stuff work out to be expensive, and they may come straight out of the cold storage. If you like eating fresh fruit and vegetables, head to the nearest farmer’s market. These items are cheaper and devoid of preservatives, besides being fresh. Your local bakery thrift store can offer you a variety of freshly baked stuff and breads. You can be sure of quality and freshness both at real cool prices.

Neighborhood garage sales and auctions offer you great stuff at highly discounted prices. Online auctions too are great bargains. You can get great quality stuff at highly reduced prices.

19. Utilize the Sale

Many times, we see that some or other products are on sale at a discount price. For Instance, the discount price of a deodorant may be $ 3.50 and its original price $ 7.50. If you are a regular deodorant user then do not give a second thought and purchase a couple of deodorants. You must take care before stocking things up, that you are a regular user of this product. Thus, it is a nice way of saving money.

20. Mix and Match

While shopping for clothes, take care not to purchase a matched suit. The cost of matched suits is higher than separate pieces. Thus, you may go for separate mixed pieces. Your work is to match those pieces and enjoy the savings. Moreover, you can enjoy the variety that mix and matched pieces offer. You can make four dresses out of just two pieces. This is interesting! One can enjoy the variety along with savings.

21. Sensible Shopping

Shopping in a mall is nothing but wastage of money. Always try to avoid purchasing from malls, as the product prices are too high. It would be nice to buy from a small shop rather than the malls. You can get the same quality product through online shopping or any other small shop and that too at a much lower price.

22. Shopping on the Web

Popularity of Internet is really growing very fast, as it offers every kind of information. Apart from information, you can also save your money through internet. Online shopping has brought a considerable change in the field of shopping. You can order the product online, that too at a discount price. They also offer instant delivery with added warranty. Moreover, you can go through the online catalogue and check out the wide varieties offered. For instance, there are several websites that offer a great variety of books, clothes or other appliances online and that at too at huge discount. So, take care not to waste your time and money, as both of them are precious.

23. Smart Shopping

You are saving money to buy your favorite car for a long time. Now, the time to purchase has arrived. You are eager to have the keys of your dream car. Wait! Do not act in haste. It may be possible that in a hurry, you will end up in wasting your long time saving. Check out the rates of the car in other cities. You will be astonished to find considerable difference among the rates. Thus, your little patience and intelligence can save you good money. Now, you can do anything with this saved amount.

We hope the above tips are helpful in saving you money, in the current climate around the world we all can do with saving some money !



BERRY

Wolfgang Jaegel asked:


One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Bangkok is also the most fabulous shopping destination in Asia. In fact, shopping in Bangkok is truly fun as well as a great experience, with an array of shopping locations, ranging from glitzy modern shopping malls to traditional bustling street markets selling antiquities and designer and traditional jewelry.

In short, Bangkok is a mecca for shopping enthusiasts, and everything including electronic items, computer software and hardware, art and craft items, Chinese specialties, textiles, jewelry, and much more can be shopped here.

Perhaps most popular among the shopping highlights in Bangkok is the Siam Square, which is strategically positioned at Central Station on the BTS Sky Train route. This area is dotted with hundreds of high-end shopping malls, among which one of the most sought after is Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center, within which one can find a number of shops selling branded items.

There is also an elegant cinema complex on the top floor of Siam Discovery Center, with comfortable seats. This is a great place to relax after a day of tired shopping. Located just ten minutes walk from the Siam Square is another much famed shopping spot in Bangkok, namely, Mahboonkrong Shopping Center, dotted with a large number of shops selling quality clothing and electronic items at knock-down prices.

One can also find a couple of shopping malls and department stores, close to the Chit Lom BTS Sky Train station. Among which, perhaps the most significant is the eight-storied World Trade Center, attached with a number of duty free shops. Found on the top floor of the World Trade Center is an ice skating rink. The Central Group’s flagship store, Central Chit Lom Department Store, is also located here. Such shopping centers as Gaysorn Plaza, Maneya Centre, Sogo, and Narayana Phand, a great spot to shop handicraft items, are also situated in this area.

For those who want to shop computer-related items and peripherals at cheap prices, a great way would be to head to Pantip Plaza on the Phetburi Road. This is a paradise for shopping computer items. Every floor within the plaza has a number of shops selling both original and pirated software and hardware items. One could buy copy of VCD movies for a price as low as 100 baht.

A good number of small as well as large shopping malls can also be found along the Ploenchit Road and Sukhumvit Road, such as, Robinson, Ploenchit Plaza, Times Square, Emporium, and Landmark.

Popular shopping areas in Bangkok also include Silom Road, located to the south of the Siam Square. Just few among the shopping malls in this area are Silom Center, Central department stores, Silom Plaza, Thaniya Plaza, Silom Village, and Holiday Inn Crown Plaza.

Shopping at Bangkok would not be complete without taking a tour to Chatuchak market, which becomes alive in the city every weekend. Located near the Mo Chit BTS Sky Train station, Chatuchak market is an incredible outdoor market, from where everything from handicraft items and livestock items could be shopped and that too at bargain prices. Further, you can also find a large number of food stalls in the market, selling delicious Thai food items such as fried noodles, noodle curry, and barbequed satays.

Other popular shopping areas in the city are Bangrak Market, a bustling area which is famed for its flower stalls, engage in selling enormous variety of cut flowers, jasmines, and orchids; China Town, with alleys packed with outlets dealing in almost all types of goods; Pratunam Market, which is a great place to relish hygiene as well as delicious food items; Woeng Nakhon Kasem - a popular spot to shop items such as brassware, old fashioned furniture, industrial items, antiques, and Chinese porcelains.

Above all, for a unique shopping experience, take a tour to some of the most fabulous night markets in the area. Most prominent among the night markets in the city are the Suan Luam Night Bazaar, whose specialty is stalls that sell products brought from every corner of the country.

Pratunam Market Complex, which is a great spot to shop fashion accessories such as handbags, purses, trendy apparels, and designer accessories; Patpong Night Market, which is not only popular for stalls selling designer good at cheap prices but also for night clubs and other establishments conducting *** shows; Buanglamphu Market, a descent place to shop clothing and food items; and the Memorial Bridge Night Market.



BRADLY

Piwatpol K asked:


I want to find the best shopping cart that doesn’t require you to buy their hosting or package. A cart with lots of features and stuff.

CLEMENTE