RETAILING AND SHOPPING ON THE INTERNET

Examines the challenges that shopping and other commercial transaction s on the Internet pose for the retail industry. An increasing number o f shopping malls, selling an ever-widening selection of products, are becoming available on the Internet. There are, however, still a number of challenges facing the Internet retailer and shopper. These include : locating the shops, comparison shopping, security, especially in rel ation to financial transactions, the customer base and profile, the na ture of the shopping experience, and legal and marketplace control or lack of them. It is possible to make money on the Internet without sel ling, but by using the Internet to support other business processes. C urrently, many retailers are exploring the potential of the Internet, but the market is still in its infancy. Retailers do, however, report increasing sales and a positive contribution to marketing from visibil ity on the Internet.