Shopping online, cheaper, quicker and more choice

"Shares in retailer David Jones have slumped by 11 per cent after the company warned of a full year profit drop of up to 40 per cent. David Jones shares were down 30 cents, or 11 per cent, at $2.43 on Wednesday.

DJ's  - The retailer will expand its chain and also improve its online store. And  Kathmandu shares were down 16.1 per cent, or 24 cents, at $1.25."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/national/13224053/retailers-shares-plunge-on-lower-profits/

Retailers everywhere are seriously starting to feel the pinch of online shopping for those inclined to wait just a bit longer to receive their goods in the post from an online store that can shave, in some instances, up to 65% off the same goods purchased in a local Australian retail outlet.

And why not.

Why would anyone in their right mind spent up to 65% more for goods in the name of supporting who, the retailer, local jobs or goods manufacturers.

 

Even magazines are feeling the pinch with sales of the likes of FHM dropping from just over 26,000  to 20,000 in a matter of months. It was quoted as saying "FHM is a picture magazine and the type of pictures here can be accessed for free on the internet, so why pay for something that is free. And instead of pictures in a magazine of 80 pages, try 80 million images for nothing. " Very hard to convince advertisers to stick around when the readers are not buying.

So, will there be a time in the future when retail outlets cease to exist; is it a distinct possibility that the legacy of ladies going out shopping together will be a thing of the past, what will they do...have online shopping parties at a friends house!

And it's not just in Australia this is effecting.

The headline reads "Small shops disappearing in Poland: Around 50,000 small retail units have closed down in the last two years, according to a new report."

http://www.thenews.pl/1/12/Artykul/93046,Small-shops-disappearing-in-Poland

Mary Portas: high streets destined to 'disappear forever'

Britain's high streets have reached a "crisis point" and will "disappear forever" as shopping destinations unless they are urgently regenerated, Mary Portas has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8951411/Mary-Portas-high-streets-destined-to-disappear-forever.html

And as for books, in June 2011, The Minister for Small Business (Australia) Mr Nick Sherry enraged book retailers by forecasting the imminent demise of bookstores stating they will all be closed in five years.

What do you think will happen to the likes of bookstores and general retailers? 

The dumb things people say...

I sometimes wonder and marvel at the ability if technology to move  message so quickly into cyberspace that before you know it, the quick quip or lose statement made has gone into the big wide world of viral!

Take for instance, someone I know made a dumb-arse statement, on Facebook about his mate having more girlfriends that Kony has children.

Friends know he's a twit, but does he realise that this type of statement can bring down the reputation of many a young person, especially has he starts to grow in his career and who knows when this is still around to haunt him in his future life. A drunken update from phone to Facebook at 2:00am is still no excuse.

What are some of the rules then governing the use of updating your world in cyberspace:

1. Don't put anything online that your mother, grandmother or recruitment agency would not approve of (maybe there should be an app that sits on said parental phones for approval and confirmation first)

2. Another app perhaps that 'de-links' any person between the ages of 18-28 and after midnight uploading any messages, harmful statements of the such like into their Facebook and Twitter accounts. This is switched on with a password by your friend and expires at 6:00am the next morning. 

Then if you wish to update post-party pictures then do so with a reasonable clear head.

3. Make sure auto-correct is switched off as soon as you step out the front door on route to the club/party. This has spawned a whole generation of new dumb-arse sites that you don't want to be seen on either.

4. If you think your privacy policy is good, safe and private, think again, ITS NOT. Always have the mindset that somewhere someone can see, hear and find you, especially future recruitment agencies.

and last but not least;

5. Common sense is a trait that perhaps builds with mother time and I am talking here about becoming a mature and respectable citizen of the community. Find a good mentor, and if you trust them, then listen to them and understand why they say the things that you should do and shouldn't be doing, they call this using common sense.

Take care out there...I'm watching you!