Question
Was wondering what everyone thought on this. Do you think online sales will increase because people will hesitate to drive out and go shopping(and therefore shop more at home on the 'puter).
Or do you think online sales will drop because purse strings will be tighter?
Answer
Sales will drop and badly in my opinion. I think that people might be inclined to shop inside more than go out, but they won't be shopping for nearly as many "luxury" items, just the basics I'd imagine. Especially with winter coming up, money's going to be tight, so if you're selling iPods for example, I doubt you'll be taking many, if any sales from malls, and probably will be losing along side them.
Answer
Good question. Never even thought about that but I can't see how it would do anything other than increase online sales. Don't need to buy fuel to shop online.
Answer
I suspect it will depend on your category. Antiques and collectibles often seem one of the first categories to "bite the dust" so to speak. We'll see.
Answer
Its a ,atter of pure ecomomics. WIth gas prices skyrocketing, inflation must surely follow - and the less income available for non-essentials.
People with the foresight of a gnat will realize the enormous heating costs this coming winter, and put aside money to avoid a second mortgage to keep from freezing.
My own mom will prolly be coming to stay with me this winter just so she will not be crucified by heating bills.
But since basic travel like grocery shopping is inevitable, and places like Walmart and malls allow things to be centralized the meagre funds available for 'extras' may well go there.
Online shopping will be seen as a means to squander money, rather than save it. Unless, perhaps one is in the Alaskan hinterlands and has a secret tap into the pipeline....
Answer
I know last month I saw a bit of a decline in my store. This month sales are back to just about normal for me. My customers are people like me, when I don't have money for extras, either do they. Right now I have a bit of extra $ and having to be home more because of gas prices causes me to browse more and buy more-online. Cabin fever in a way.