How+e-commerce+is+changing+people’s+shopping+habits



Even though **e-commerce** has been around for a long time only 5% of all **goods** produced are bought online. But e-commerce is still growing. It is **breaking into** **traditional** markets more than ever before. Not just books, CDs and holiday trips are bought online, but all sort of other products and **services** that were **unimaginable** in the past. Today, more and more online shops get their **customers** from **social networks** like [|Facebook] and **mobile phones**. In the past going shopping was fun, something that you did with your friends or relatives. It was a **social** event. Today, Facebook and other **social media networks** are the driving **force** behind online shopping. Companies **target** **potential** customers and **online communities**. If they **[|advertise]**[| their][|**brands**] and products in the right way people will talk about them, and news **spreads** throughout the online world much quicker than in the real world. Over 75% of all customers buy products after they have read reviews about them on the [|Internet]. They ask their friends about **quality** and design of **certain** products. An American-based cosmetics company, for example, has asked **female** customers to **exchange** beauty tips **via** the Internet. Companies also **encourage** online shoppers to play games that **focus** around their products. A British **based** **firm** lets users play a game with play money in which they can go and buy **virtual** versions of products and have their friends comment on them. The new **smartphone** generation is likely to have an even greater **impact** on online shopping. While in a real store, customers often get **reviews** and price **comparisons** directly on their mobile. In many cases, when they see something they want to buy they leave the shop and buy online or go to a nearby place where they get it for a lower price. There are even **apps** which show you if there is a **certain** product **on sale** within a short **distance** of your location. E-commerce is only at the beginning, with many more new shopping **experiences** to come.