A quick search for the definition of “shopping” on dictionary.com has given me this: “to visit shops and stores for purchasing or examining goods.”

Sure, I shop at the mall, stores and shops. Hold on, rephrase: I window-shop at malls, shops and stores. Living in China has redefined shopping for me. I frequently found myself pulling out a measuring tape to check my size in order to make a purchase on Taobao, a Chinese online-shopping site. Shopping has been taken onto a whole new level in China.

Online shopping offers one value proposition regular malls and stores don’t – convenience. There may be other value propositions – like personal assistance – that physical stores offer and online shopping doesn’t, but the benefits of being able to purchase an item without spending over an hour travelling greatly outweighs the cost and risk of the item not fitting. Moreover, flexible return policies have been put in place to address this concern.

As e-commerce continues to develop, and as future generations of children become more dependent on technology, the virtual substitute is undoubtedly a large threat to physical stores and malls. Will we end up in an era of complete-online-shopping? Probably not. But it will probably be a bumpy road ahead for physical stores.

Images from:

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