Retail sales are moving online. And then being used in retail stores? Huh?
That’s the Groupon model. You buy online, and spend in person. It’s a purchase reversal, and may be responsible for a huge growth in ecommerce over the next 5 years, according to eMarketer. How big? Well, the predictions are for a 13.7% rise in online retail sales this year, and a 43.4% rise in the next 5.
As shoppers become more tech savvy and mobile becomes more popular, online sales may end up replacing retail sales altogether. But those numbers may just end up deceiving people. After all, the money’s still ending up in the same cash register. Except now, Groupon’s just happening to get a little piece of it.