Ecommerce Expert Sees Online Stores Opening Physical Outlets as Rents Fall

The distinction between online retailers and bricks-and-mortar stores is slowly being erased due to the falling rates of rentals in Australia.

Ecommerce expert Brady Gunn, who runs an online iPod speaker dock store, said that on one hand many ecommerce sites actually want to have a high street presence, but back off upon discovering rental costs. On the other hand, regular retail outlets also want to join the online bandwagon to boost their sales.

"There is a place for both. We love the convenience of online shopping, but we still love going shopping on a Saturday!... Products still need to be stored. Customers prefer to try things on, see and test products in the flesh. Online stores know that. But they also know that customers love to save money," Mr Gunn said in a statement.

When rents go down, shoppers will finally see online retailers. At the same time, traditional stores will also attempt to catch up with technology as they make put in place interactive terminals which would also be cost-effective for retailers.

These futuristic stores actually exist, Mr Gunn said. He cited Argos stores in Britain where customers view items on computer terminals first, then pay with a card and wait for the item they ordered to be released from the nearby warehouse.

"Fear not, retail shopaholics - your shopping experience is about to get better!" Mr Gunn said.

However, the seamless integration between online and bricks-and-mortar stores may also cause higher spending among Aussies.

Among these items or services which eat up budgets, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, are bottled waters which cost Aussies half a billion dollars annually, latest models of tablet computers and smartphones, and personal trainers.

Traveling, too, has become an annual event for many Australians which will necessitate buying expensive shoes. For those who opt to stay at home, expenses are boosted by $100-monthly cable TV subscriptions and pricey liquid soaps instead of the traditional bars.

Article author Michael Pascoe added to the list the $100 billion a year that Aussies spend on cigarettes or cancer sticks.

"Yes, genuinely stupid - there's a strong correlation between smoking and lower IQ, lower educational attainment, lower income and a generally more miserable life, never mind that it's a shorter one," Mr Pascoe said.