Online Shopping – Easier Than It Looks

By Fatima D. Lora, Associate Editor

Connecting with brands and stores via online channels has never been as easy as it is today, however the actual shopping aspect can get a bit tricky with the many options available online as well as showrooming tendencies.

Although I prefer shopping at a brick-and-mortar store (as mentioned in a previous post), there are certain items I’m comfortable buying online, such as one-size-fits-all items such as hats, scarves and gloves. 

There are numerous apps dedicated to helping consumers find the best deals and share their latest purchases, whether made online or in physical stores.

I’ve become intrigued with fashion bloggers, so much so that there are several I follow religiously. Upon reading one of these blogger’s latest posts, I discovered a new mobile app, Snapette. This app enables fashionistas to find the latest trends in neighboring stores and share them with other members.

Similarly, there are retail mobile tools like the Forever 21 app that enables consumers to browse through products from a specific store and make a purchase within the app.

Retail TouchPoints recently featured other retailers that are enhancing their e-Commerce engagement through the use of mobile apps:

Verizon Partners With Square To Offer Mobile Payment For Small Businesses
Sephora Sees 167% Boost In Mobile Orders During 2012
Fashion Execs Discuss Mobile And Social Best Practices

Mobile apps like these help blur the lines between online and brick-and-mortar stores that can make it easier for consumers to engage with local and preferred retailers.

Follow Fatima on Twitter: @FatimaDLora