Five years ago, people would have laughed at the idea of buying furniture online. Books, movies, music – all these are physically defined products, and you can’t go wrong with buying them online. But with furniture, there’s so much to think of. Today, however, more and more Aussies are logging on to hunt down the best deals from the hottest brands. It, therefore, makes sense to get yourself ready for the exciting world of eCommerce. You may soon have to furnish your own house, and the internet may offer a better marketplace than physical brick-and-mortar shops.
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The e-Commerce boom
E-Commerce adoption and online banking have both facilitated a boom in online furniture sales.
The market has massive potential, and growth in online shopping for household furniture is anticipated to soon reach $297.5 million, much faster than the physical furniture stores.
Consumers have increasingly begun to enjoy the freedom of comparing products, and prices, and hunting for great deals. The growth in mobile smartphones and tablets, which in turn has also led to apps for shopping, has enabled this trend.
While the prices are often really low, it is not because the products themselves use substandard material, but because an online storefront doesn’t have to deal with high operating costs, supply chain logistics, and other traditional costs. The lack of floor space rent to showcase products, or the need to pay sales staff makes these prices possible. It is anticipated that online retailers can soon pose a threat to traditional retailers.
According to marketing company Quantium’s director Tony Davis, online shopping is increasing, not only for the young tech-savvy generation but across demographics. “For specialty retailers, most online transactions are made by people living far from bricks and mortar retail centers.” Specialty retail includes furniture includes retail, and he suggests that that might be the next big frontier in eCommerce.
Know the company
Read up about the company you’re buying from. Often, the retailer has nothing to do with the furniture and is just a reseller, a middleman. If this is the case, look into its reviews, especially when it comes to facilitating customer service and the overall after-sales experiences. Even their website will give you an idea of what the company is about. Look for the latest deals and a professional and slick interface. Avoid a company with vague links that are “dead” – i.e. don’t take you anywhere.
The type of furniture
Know what type of furniture you want. It could be the shiny, modular lines of contemporary furniture, or the resilient, slightly worn antique appeal. Know the kind of furniture at all home decors you’re looking for, otherwise, you’ll get distracted by the number of options available at these shops. You’ll jump from site to site, making massive lists based on prices and sizes, instead of looking for aesthetic relevant based on your home.
Consider the specific requirements you have at the moment. For instance, if you have children, you will need furniture that is strong, resistant to stains, and built of either wood or metal rather than glass so that there is less of a chance that it would accidentally break.
Know about wood
Before transferring their attention to the item’s overall aesthetic value, the individual who has never bought furniture before and has no prior understanding of wood will probably only give the description a cursory scan before shifting their focus to the specifics of the piece’s aesthetic value. However, there is a possibility that constructing wooden furniture may be challenging. Read up on Casain decor about the qualities of different kinds of wood, addressing things like colour, shine, durability, etc.