The move of eBay Australia to strike a partnership with premier clothing brands and launch a dedicated fashion gallery has opened up more options for consumers across the country.

The alliance will display and promote high-quality products from several prominent apparel brands.

Traditional retailers face another setback as online retail is expected to grow at 20 percent yearly.

In recent years, eBay has aggressively promoted its "Buy It Now" feature to retailers over the traditional auction format, with smaller retailers also being encouraged to link to the site as an extension of their own online stores, Smart Company disclosed in a report.

The shift to online shopping rides on various benefits which include:

  • Convenience of shopping 24/7: One does not have to go through the hassles of looking for parking space, saving on precious time and avoiding crowds.
  • Variety of items: Consumers can select from among different brands and commodities from several vendors without having to travel to distant places and spend on airfare.
  • Better Comparison of Prices: In online shopping, there are more opportunities to compare and research products and prices. Online shops afford customers the chance to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have direct experience with a product or retailer.
  • Cautious Purchasing: Online retail outlets let potential buyers purchase clothes or undergarments without causing any embarrassment.
  • Acquiring old or unused stuff at low prices: Online stores make it possible for everyone to buy old or unused products at very low prices.

There are other advantages that consumers can get from doing their shopping through the internet and this is what eBay is capitalizing on.

Many of the brands offering apparel through the site will use free shipping, eBay declared.

The shift to a dedicated fashion gallery is eBay's response to a number of trends, including the swing to offshore retailing - dominated by the apparel sector - and the company's decision to adopt a dedicated retail offering.

These online stores have been amazingly successful such as DealsDirect, which began as an eBay store and still operates one as the divisions of its main site.