The Power of Retail

Social shopping is really making online retailers sit up and take notice. The concept of social shopping is a combination of social networking and shopping. A new type of shopper is emerging, someone who is looking to interact more with other customers, these shoppers are being called “social gatherer” different from the “solo hunter” that most online shoppers were earlier and online merchants are focusing on how to attract more of these shoppers.

Social shoppers don’t usually have a list from which they shop, they are looking more for an experience and a connection to a retailer, and once this is established they will purchase products from them. According to research firm Gartner, the difference between the two is the intention, as a solo hunter will come prepared to buy an item and will just buy that item, while social gatherers will look for what they originally came for but might spend their money on something entirely different.