Until fairly recently, we did most of our shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, where consumers could get a feel for products before buying them. But as online shopping has become more seamless—with many companies offering fast, free shipping—Americans are increasingly buying online. And that shift has accelerated rapidly during the pandemic, experts say.
“We were sitting in our houses and couldn’t go to stores, so we went shopping online with a vengeance,” says Hitendra Chaturvedi, a professor and supply chain management expert at Arizona State University.
Until fairly recently, we did most of our shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. While shopping in person, people could get a feel for products before buying them. But online shopping has become much easier. In fact, many companies now offer fast, free shipping. As a result, Americans are increasingly buying online. And that shift has sped up during the pandemic, experts say.
“We were sitting in our houses and couldn’t go to stores, so we went shopping online with a vengeance,” says Hitendra Chaturvedi, a professor and supply chain management expert at Arizona State University.