| In recent years, the number of consumers | | | | making many purchases online. |
| shopping online has steadily increased. Online | | | | Consumers now have favorite websites they |
| shopping is one area that has not been negatively | | | | shop at so online shopping has become a normal |
| impacted by the troubled economy. When online | | | | part of their routine. If they need to search for |
| shopping first emerged, it catered mostly to | | | | product, search engines can effectively bring up |
| wealthier consumers. At that time, computers | | | | the link to the searched product. They are now |
| were seen as more of a luxury. As the prices of | | | | online malls, manufacturer websites, and specialty |
| computers have decreased, more middle and | | | | sites catering to any type of product. As well, the |
| lower income people purchased computers. Now, | | | | evolution of easy to use transaction methods |
| almost every home has a computer and access | | | | with a simple check out process using credit |
| to the internet. If they don't, there is no shortage | | | | cards, debit cards, and online accounts such as |
| of public access computers. | | | | PayPal have made it easy to shop. |
| In 1990 Tim Berners-Lee created the first World | | | | It has not just been online security that has been |
| Wide Web server and browser. In 1992, Charles | | | | improved. The availability of so many different |
| Stack created the first online book store, Book | | | | products online, improvements in shipping services, |
| Stacks Unlimited. In 1994, online banking and the | | | | the use of customer loyalty programs such as |
| opening of an online pizza shop by Pizza Hut took | | | | reward cards, discounts, and coupons, have made |
| place. As well, Netscape introduced SSL | | | | shopping for deals much easier. As well, the |
| encryption of data transferred online which has | | | | convenience of shopping online has resulted in an |
| become essential for secure online shopping. In | | | | increase in online shoppers. Over the years, |
| 1995, Amazon expanded its online shopping, and in | | | | consumers have become busier with a lot more |
| 1996, eBay emerged on the web. | | | | stress in their daily lives. Online shopping allows |
| Shopping has evolved along with the growth of | | | | people the ability to shop 24 hours a day/ 365 |
| technology. As more people become skilled at | | | | days a year. As well, they have access to online |
| using the computer and its technology, the more | | | | shopping from home and at work. |
| likely they are to use it for all sorts of functions. | | | | Advancements in technology have made |
| As well, the increase in effective security | | | | significant changes in online shopping which has |
| technology and education tips for consumers on | | | | made it a much more appealing method of |
| how to shop safely online has resulted in more | | | | shopping. For example, consumers have access to |
| consumers making online purchases. Online | | | | 'shopbots' which are search robots that help online |
| shopping retailers have expanded their marketing | | | | customers find low priced products. They also |
| practices to target both men and women. For | | | | allow consumers to comparison shop by searching |
| instance, in the early years of the Internet in the | | | | a number of online stores according to the |
| USA, there were very few women online, but by | | | | keywords that they type. |
| 2001 women were made up a little of over half | | | | With new technology emerging and more |
| of the online population. Due to the convenience | | | | products available at great prices, online shopping |
| and quickness of online shipping, men are now | | | | is not showing any signs of slowing down. |