The Pros And Cons Of Shopping Online

The benefits of online shopping are well-documented; it is convenient, quick and largely secure. The benefits of online shopping also extend to the various attractive offers and discounts that are given by the companies. The internet also offers a large choice for buyers to suit different tastes. Shoppers are no longer limited to products offered by local retailers because the vast majority of online retailers offer shipping to many different locations. This can make it easy for online shoppers to acquire hard to find items or items which are a regional specialty of a particular area. Consumers are therefore becoming used to a richer, faster, and more socially interactive shopping experience.

What they cannot do is try out products for fit, look, feel, appropriateness and ease of use before buying, or even benefit from the immediacy of collecting the item at time of purchase, which are the core benefits of buying in-store. Consumers today are now more comfortable buying products over the internet and more confident navigating online stores. Shoppers are increasingly able to find suitable the deals they want online.

Sales promotions are carried out with the main objective to increase the revenue through the website. These promotions are effectively performed to attract the attention of the targeted consumers of a company and product and the application thereof needs to accommodate the appropriate image these consumers will easily identify with.

Social interaction implies the opportunity to interact with a salesperson. Social position strongly influences individual preferences and tastes in popular culture. According to research, if we focus on the demographic characteristics of the in-home shopper, in general, the higher the level of education, income, and occupation of the head of the household, the more favourable the perception of non-store shopping.

Shoppers who avoid online shopping may not trust that it’s safe, are not confident about how to do it, and/or think it is inefficient. Or they may just enjoy the physical experience of shopping in a traditional brick-and-mortar store. At some sites you can now skip the frustration of doing battle in a dressing room with standardized sizes that don’t fit exactly, thanks to new shopping tools and technology that offer custom-tailoring of clothing online. And shoppers response to customization suggests these two retailers could be at the top of a trend.

Identity theft is one of the most frequent concerns that consumers have about shopping online. This is a very real concern because Identity theft can do some real damage to your credit store or financial situation. Identity theft appears to be the biggest concern.

The evolution of technology has had its impact on virtually every business or private aspect of our lives. From privacy to liability issues, the impact of technology on business is only limited to imagination. Security in general create an entirely new concern in addition to the traditional issues. The mere evolution of technology including the World Wide Web have created rather newly businesses which are subject to potential danger in terms of liability and for consumer in terms of privacy and data security.

Nevertheless the main topic of security is not new. It is rather a universal topic that concerns virtually everyone. Before the evolution of technology physical and employee access to hard collected data such as consumer credit card numbers were equally of great concern. Hence it is fair to say that the evolution of technology has simply added new issues. Consumers can shop online, by catalog or through call centers, and pay for their purchases at their bank, credit union, or bill pay portal, with the security and convenience of online banking.

Shopping in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv really is a shopper’s paradise. The pure multitude of retail therapy available might even surprise you at first.

So, where to start? Well, it all depends on your budget and what you’re looking for, of course. What might prove useful to know is that Tel Aviv has streets devoted to one particular item: spices, jewellery, clothing, furniture, gift items, etc. It might seem a little odd, but it certainly makes it easier for shoppers!

For example, if you’re looking for some authentic Israeli furniture you could try Herzl Street, or even the Jaffa Flea Market for some real bargains. If you’re looking for cheap quality jewellery go to the Hatikva neighbourhood in south Tel Aviv. And if you’re on the hunt for some stylish boutique shops and the latest trends, you should probably shoot for Sheinkin Street (Fridays in Sheinkin are usually absolutely steaming, just be warned) or the rejuvenated Gan HaHashmal.

In addition to these special streets, there are some very stylish shopping malls, such as Dizengoff and Azrieli (yes, that complex of 3 skyscrapers in the middle of the city), where you’ll find everything you need. But these are so Westernized I’m not sure you’d really want to travel all the way to Israel to spend your quality shopping time in these…you could also try the upmarket Kikar Medina, Israel’s original upmarket shopping area where international designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Gucci still hang out, or even the Ramat Aviv mall in north Tel Aviv.

Instead, you might want to try something a little more unique. How about Nahalat Binyamin in the centre of the city, where there are bi-weekly art fairs? Highly recommended, but come on Tuesday, rather than the very busy Friday. You could also shoot for the bazaars with designer clothes and crafts that are often held in the exhibition grounds in the north of Tel Aviv, or the port area where some trendy little shops have sprung up recently.

Don’t forget the legendary Carmel Market in the centre of the city if you want a genuine Israel experience and are looking for cheap clothing/food.

And, just in case you were wondering, Israeli shopkeepers will be happy to take Israeli Shekels, U.S. dollars or Euros.

OPENING HOURS: Most stores open from Sunday to Thursday between 9:00am and 7:00pm, though these hours may get extended during peak holiday times, especially in the malls. Stores usually close at noon on Friday and open again on Sunday morning (don’t forget the working week in Israel starts on Sunday). Shopping malls that do not cater to the religious population may open on Saturdays and others open on Saturday night or holiday nights. Coffee shops and restaurants that do not serve kosher food often remain open on Saturdays.

Note: If you want a VAT refund on your purchases, hold tight to your receipts and when leaving Israel you should be able to get it all refunded, as long as the shop you purchased from is part of the VAT refund program.

Unique Shopping Opportunities in the Cotswolds

Although pages and pages could be written about the multitude of shopping opportunities available in the Cotswolds – from the small boutiques up to big name retailers – in this article I’ll cover some of the more colorful and cultural places to shop.

Vinegar Hill gift shop and flower store is in the lovely village of Stratford on Avon. This quirky shop shared the name of a hill in Ireland, hence there are usually curious Irish tourists shopping here. This store is owned by the Austen sisters, and sells many hand-crafted gift items.

Bennettís Fine Wine Merchants in Chipping Campden is housed in a building that was built in 1727! They are specialists in older vintages, often purchased from private cellars, and they also specialize in new releases that are offered in limited quantities. They are specialists in fine and rare Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Vintage Port, Italy and top end New World Wines.

The Salt Gallery in Burford is located in the beautiful stone courtyard of Bear Court. They sell UK studio pottery and glass. This store has something to offer the serious collector and the browsing tourist. They have a huge selection of salt glaze pottery.

The Cotswold Perfumery at Bourton on the Water is in an 18th century traditional stone building, complete with oak beams and crooked floors. This company has manufactured scents for world-famous perfume houses. Owner John Stephen will spend a day taking visitors step by step through the process of creating their own unique scent.

Watling Goldsmiths is located in the well-preserved medieval village of Lacock. All the pieces displayed in the store are handmade in the workshop in the cobbled courtyard. By appointment only, they make individual pieces for customers, who can choose from diamonds, all color sapphires, emeralds, rubies and cultured pearls.

Black Ink antique shop in Stow-on-the-Wold is just one of many antique shops throughout the Cotswolds. Available are artistís originals, etchings, lithographs and woodcuts. They also specialize in the Impressionists, with Renoir, Pissarro, Manet, Guaguin and Degas usually in stock. This region is renowned for its antiquing opportunities; antique shops can be found in every town and village.

You’ll never run out of shopping opportunities in the Cotswolds! Next time you visit, be sure to seek out some of the more highly unique shops and boutiques like the ones I’ve covered here!