Don't fight online shopping, just embrace it, says expert
ISLAND businesses must 'embrace and not fight' the evolution into online shopping, a retail expert has said.
The message to local retailers came from John Hollis, who said that the digital age was here to stay – whether they liked it or not – for people of all ages, including silver surfers.
His comments came as online shopping fans said it was cheaper and more convenient to go on the net and Guernsey Post hailed the continued growth of internet buying in its annual report and accounts.
Mr Hollis said there were many local businesses that had already realised it was a once-in-a-generation shift in retail economics and a chance to exploit the online trend where shoppers browse, compare, rate and share.
'It is just a completely different retail landscape out there and that will increasingly be the case,' he said.
'That will continue to come in waves. But local retailers can exploit that. They may, for example, have a unique range of products that could be made known and available to other groups of people.'
Mr Hollis said shop owners would have to offer something unique to rely on a 'bricks and mortar' based business.
