Online retailing is far and away the fastest growing retail sector in the United States. The growth is being fed by two (1) traditional retailers are getting their “Internet acts” together, and (2) “pure play” retailers are becoming increasingly innovative.
The authors studied two online retailers selling popular-brand consumables for the home, such as laundry detergent, pet supplies and diapers (represented by Netgrocer.com and Diapers.com); and online retailers selling specialty items, including fashion eyeglasses and apparel for men (represented by WarbyParker.com and Bonobos.com). They came up with a set of findings that may have important implications not just for pure-play Internet retailers but for more traditional retailers, too.