Advantages

We all know what it's like during the Holidays or
even on a given Saturday! Statistics show that
a great percentage of people prefer not to be
caught up in that "rat race", and playing musical
chairs with the parking lots. People are getting
savvy to this convenience, and the 24 hours a
day, seven days a week advantages that an
online shopping Mall offers.

An online merchant's shopping mall usually
offers you more of a selection on there
merchandise vs. visiting the merchant's local
store. This is simply because online stores don't
have the overhead expenses like there physical
location has such as utilities, rent, display
costs, sales reps. etc.

For that very reason, they can offer you more
products and could probably offer you a better
online deal. Let's face it we have all
experienced when you walk into a store, and
you only see what the store has in inventory at
that moment. Shopping online will save you
that wasted trip and hassle.

No more disappointments when the shelf is
empty or when minutes ago, they just sold your
last size or item.

Ok, let's take a look at some of the additional
expenses that are involved with shopping at a
physical location.

Gas & traffic- You will need to get there right?
Guess what? Everyone else is trying to get there
as well so you may experience some traffic.

Food- You've worked up an appetite and now you
have to stop off at the food court or a restaurant.
This is an additional expense to shopping.

Online shopping is becoming more and more commonplace. It has been predicted that US
online shoppers will double to 132 million in the next five years.* With today's hectic
schedules, people need a way to save time and shopping online is a way to do this. In a
recent study, it was found that 19% of Internet users shop online once per week and this
number is expected to continue to grow.

Selling on the Internet is a viable option to starting a home based business or enhancing an
existing business because of the relatively low costs (if you do it smartly) and the wide
geographical target market. The possibilities are endless.

When deciding what to sell online, keep a few points in mind:

- 63% of people who shop online are women**

- By 2003, female Internet surfers are expected to outnumber male Internet surfers 3 to 2.**

- People with children are more likely to shop online than people without children**

- Your profit margin can be increased if your customers can receive your product or service
electronically (i.e. software, information, consulting services, ebooks, etc.). People are also
more likely to purchase a product on the Internet if they can get it right away.

- You will save time and money if you do not have to keep inventory or ship items. This can
be achieved through affiliate programs and most multi-level marketing plans. Have someone
else keep the inventory and do the shipping for you, if possible.

- Try to offer something unique that is not readily available online. This may decrease your
target market but will increase your chances of making the sale. If not many other sites are
offering what you sell, people will come to you.

*source: iconocast.com
**source: peoplesupport.com