By Vicki Day

After a long career in actual bricks and mortar retailing I now see the future as online as consumers love the flexibility and the fact they can shop without leaving the sofa.

I think retailers need to “grasp the nettle” and see the Internet as an enhancement to their business and giving their business an extra dimension taking them relatively low cost into new countries or new areas not as competition for their retail estate.

Consumers are going to be shopping online for convenience and to check out product. So when they go to do their actual shopping on the High Street it will be more of a leisure pursuit so people will taking in shopping along with eating and meeting friends.

Retailers should be looking to enhance their retail estate so people have a real retailing experience when they step into a shop to buy something.

Online retailing isn’t a passing fad it will grow and become more sophisticated and soon consumer’s expectations will be higher so just a basic site will no longer suffice – so my view is it’s better to invest in your online presence now than arrive at the party too late.

By Vicki Day of Retail PR Pure Sauce