Online Shopping Hurting Retailers

I don’t normally blog about current issues as I would have too many things to whine about to noone in particular, however I felt it necessary to make a post about the recent blowup over online shopping hurting retailers as it’s related to the digital industry.

I am an avid online shopper, for all the typical reasons people state – cheaper, better range, better quality, convenience, etc. The ‘digital economy’ concept has been around for a long time, and one of technology’s biggest benefits was supposed to be that it would break down worldwide borders and allow for open trade. And frankly, as other economics like the States are suffering, I am happy to boost it back through retail sales – that’s my charitable contribution!

Gerry Harvey, owner of Harvey Norman, has been banging on and on about how shopping online will cost Australian jobs, and I have to say that I seriously disagree. YES, it will cost them a retail job in a shop going around asking people if they need help. However, even online shops need warehouses, and not every warehouse has an automatic retreival and packing system. Therefore, they will need staff. Any online retailer will also need online support staff (best job ever) which includes managers and lackeys. Why is it so hard to think that perhaps while one TYPE of job might be lost, they could be rerouted into a different area? And while I am sure that some people will be put out of work permanently, I don’t think we will see unemployment rise to 25% permanently simply because bricks and mortar retailers have shut down.

In addition to that, Gerry needs to realise that some things cannot ever be bought online. For example, I would never buy a couch online. That is one of those things (that Gerry sells by the way) that you need to test out first and can’t just take a gamble on and send back via return post if it’s no good. So if I was Gerry, I’d get rid of all my small appliances and ‘brown goods’ and start importing a better range of large, bulky, heavy items that need testing out. OR, buy a car factory, because you will never buy one of those online…

Let’s face it – most bricks and mortar retail stores are on their way out. And good riddance I say! I look forward to more entertainment places opening up as the backlash over online socialising begins.