Internet Shopping

Most shops such as Marks and Spencer, Topshop, New Look and Sainsburys have websites where customers can buy online. Goods are then delievered online. Through websites stores have a wider customer base meaning they make more money as their products can be bought from remote places or in different countries.

Here is how a typical store works. Hollister is a good example to use as although there are a few stores in the UK some of their products are not. Therefore you are using the site for the purpose they were made.

• You can browse through the products
• Change the colour of priducts
• Select your size
• View size charts
• Add items to bag which is where the running total cost of the goods is displayed
• Then go on to pay
• When you pay you will be asked to fill in your details so they know how you are paying, your name and where to deliever your items to.
• Once payment has been approved (normally by credit or debit card), the order is transmitted to the order fulfillment warehouse or local store where pickers pack your order ready for delivery in the agreed time slot.

When a business wants to sell using ecommerce they will need:

• A domain name e.g. Amazon.co.uk
• A website or webshop with all of their products displayed
• A secure way of taking payment from their customers
• An automatic way of sending an order confirmation by email
• A way of sending orders to the customers

When a customer wants to buy products using ecommerce they will need:

• A computer
• Access to the Internet
• Find the website / webshop they are interested in
• Choose the item they want to buy
• Add it to the 'shopping cart'
• Continue shopping or proceed to the 'checkout'
• Enter their personal details such as name, address and account number
• Enter their payment method e.g. credit card, paypal, cheque
• Confirm their order
• Wait for their item to arrive