With the craziness of Thanksgiving (in the US) and the hype of Black Friday sales behind us, let’s talk about the shopping experience. Over the last five years, holiday sales in November and December have averaged about 19% of the total annual retail sales (see NRF – Winter Holidays FAQs) which helps explain why we consumers are so inundated by ads.
Phrases like “before the pandemic” and “since COVID” are now commonly sprinkled throughout our conversations about how the shopping experience has changed in the past couple of years. And yet, I find that many of those recent changes are for the better as opposed to the worse. Online shopping interfaces have vastly improved and the expanded offerings for curbside pickup are great for anyone who doesn’t want to wait several days for delivery but can’t or won’t go into the store.
While it might have taken a worldwide health crisis to speed up the timeline for those types of improvements, the shopping experience of consumers has been changing and evolving for much longer. Among my first posts after I started this blog, was a three-part series called Am I Repeating Myself?. In that series, I share what I’d found to be a frustrating online shopping experience which expanded my awareness of the brick-and-mortar versus e-commerce conflict that goes beyond the one between traditional retailers and those that are solely internet-based.
As a boomer, I can recall the days when the only virtual shopping was through mail-order. The history of mail-order catalogs is said to go back to 1498 with many notable ones popping up in Europe during the centuries that followed as postal routes were established and expanded. The first one of note in the US was Tiffany’s Blue Book published in 1845. Wanting to reach those who lived in rural areas with limited nearby retailers, merchants like Aaron Montgomery Ward and Richard Warren Sears established their eponymous catalogs in 1872 and 1888 respectively (source: History.com). In 1933, Sears, Roebuck and Co. produced the first of its famous Christmas catalogs known as the “Sears Wishbook”, a catalog featuring toys and gifts that was separate from its annual Christmas catalog.
Ah, the days before the internet. When a day of shopping might have been nothing more than a reconnaissance mission. Checking out what was new on the racks (or recently marked down). Taking note of the displays for styling ideas. I can’t tell you the number of times I would be greeted by puzzlement when I’d come home from “shopping” empty-handed and yet I had thoroughly enjoyed myself. But the shopping experience was already changing some twenty years ago even before the rise of e-commerce as major department store chains were being bought out and their numbers dwindled down to but a few.
And this leads us to this month’s survey. Back in August, I introduced a new post format which you can read about in Tell Me About Yourself. TL;DR? In a nutshell, once a month I’m seeking out my readers’ opinions via a short survey. It’ll be a different topic each month and the results will be included in a post on a related subject in the following month. Later this week I’ll be sharing the results of last month’s survey regarding Instagram.
The sole purpose of these surveys is to satisfy my personal interest (and perhaps yours). Responses are provided anonymously and I won’t be sharing/selling them to anyone else other than as summary data in a follow-up post. I have no intentions of developing any type of marketing tool or online course or selling you anything based on your answers. I’m a mostly left-brained stats-nerd kind of person and I thought it would be cool to be able to include my own researched information in some of the blog posts that I write. You don’t know how thrilled I am each time the count increases as I monitored each month’s submissions. I do hope that you’ll take a few minutes and complete this month’s survey.
Outfit details: Cardigan, Old Navy; OTK Boots, Lucky Brand; Skirt, thrifted; Purse, thrifted
Fun little tidbit about my look in these photos. I’m not wearing a top under my cardigan which The Husband noticed right off and found quite appealing. Who knew that a rather unassuming button-up sweater could get his motor running like that?
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. Today’s featured post from the last link-up was added by Valerie over at Maple Leopard. Her post highlights some of the fun and fabulous things to do in Las Vegas during the holiday season. I’ve been there during this time of the year on a few ocassions and it is truly magical.
It probably did not escape your notice that I’d skipped the last two week’s link-up posts and that I did so without any notice. My apologies if I caused any concern. But rest assured, all is well. My former employer hired me to help out with a special project which I’ve been working on for the last month or so leaving me little time for anything else. That’s winding down now so I can get back to pleasures like blogging and shopping.
The landscape of shopping has been evolving for decades and dramatically so in the last few years. How have the changes affected you and your shopping experiences? Which developments in the retail environment do like and which ones do you hate? What improvements would you like to see made?
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photo credit: MMPerez
22 Comments
Great topic, Rena! The landscape change that I’ve loved is the restaurants from Taco Bell to Michelin starred restaurants now put their menu online. It’s so great to figure out the nutrition on items! Your questions make me think of the Myers-Briggs. I’m an INFJ. (And I love your pink crossbody!)
Wendy
Can’t wait to hear about the results with the survey. Love the pretty skirts and laughing about your husband’s reaction to the only cardigan situation. Lol! Thanks for the link up!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
I remember the days when we couldn’t wait to get the Sears catalog in the mail and start circling everything we wanted! I do most of my shopping online, unless I’m with a friend. Then I like to go to an actual store. Love your cute outfit and your husbands reaction to your cardigan!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Oh, my goodness…how much time do you have? I sorely miss the days of the mom/pop ladies apparel stores. We had several in the area where I lived (northeast Indiana…close to Fort Wayne). They carried all kinds of different clothing and brands. I bought my wedding dress at a delightful store called Fischmann’s. I remember exactly where it was in the mall then and even the layout of the store! The last time I was there, a LensCrafters store was there. Most all of those stores closed at the same time. I worked in downtown Ft Wayne and had an hour off for lunch. We would go shopping at the stores. There was even a Woolworth’s down there. I really miss the hometown touch of those kinds of stores. Now, we have to settle for places like Macy’s…don’t get me wrong, I like Macy’s well enough…but they are either stuffed to the gills and hard to move in or full of things no one wants. Maybe it’s just this area, but they just look so rundown.
While I miss the Sears Wishbook, I wouldn’t want to go back to catalog ordering because of the time it took. One of my fondest memories was when Mom would order from the storefront. The lady filling out the order pad had the best handwriting and made a true production from filling it out!
My mom was widowed at 42. When my kids were born, we began several years of dining out on Saturday nights, then going to the mall to just window shop. My mom was not a shopper by any means, but she loved to walk the mall and people watch. I think malls are truly suffering from online shopping. A couple of the malls near me…I wouldn’t go there after dark! They are filled with little “boutiques” that may be gone in the next week. And, there have been altercations and even gun fire at some of them. The trend seems to be large outdoor malls. I don’t mind those in mild weather, but I don’t like them when it’s hot and humid (most of the summer) and cold and windy (most of the winter). So, there’s just this small window of opportunity when they actually appeal to me!
I love your surveys, but this one had me stumped a couple of times because my answers were combinations of some of the selections. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the results.
I bet you weren’t expecting a book, right? And, thanks for the link party! Please come visit for a link up for Songful Style!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Great to read and I find myself not loving shopping as much as I used to. Hardly anything in the shops that are still around. Thanks for hosting the linkup too. Jacqui x
Interesting survey! We saw some research in the UK last week that said Black Friday is a bit of a con, so I don’t take any notice of it. I’ve just started getting online food shopping deliveries again, which I stopped inmthe summer. I love your bright skirt and bag.
Love that bright bag with the floral print! I remember the days when I’d spend my weekends in various shopping areas with my friends – it was only when I decided to do my 6 months of no shopping I realised how much of a habit it had been to meet people at the shops! So we meet in parks or playgrounds now, better for the wallet! 🙂
Thanks for the link up! Hope you are having a good day.
This is a great topic and I enjoy answering the questions. You look amazing and thank you for the link up.
https://www.melodyjacob.com/
Thanks so much for hosting. I linked up with 38 and 39. I did your survey. I do all my shopping online. If I happen to go in a store, I refuse to use self checkout. The more we use them the less the stores will hire cashiers so those that need those jobs the jobs won’t be available. Plus, I don’t work for the store and they don’t give me a discount for checking myself out. I have two friends that love self checkout. It’s weird but they feel pride in themselves when they checkout themselves, kinda like they’ve accomplished a great deed or something…and let me tell you, it takes them f-o-r-e-v-e-r to to checkout!!
I remember the days of catalogue shopping. There was one called Freemans and I used to get so excited with the prospect of spending a couple of hours browsing through it lol! I rarely bought anything though because it was such hassle if the items didn’t fit! I love online shopping these days, but given the chance I’d much rather spend a few hours (or all day lol) wandering round the shops and soaking up the atmosphere!
I hadn’t noticed you missed the link-up the past two weeks because I was in Switzerland celebrating my husband’s 50th birthday!! Happy to be back now though…and happy to be reading your posts again.
Big hugs
Suzy xx
There are so few shops around these days that online shopping is a must. Can’t say that I enjoy the experience of the delivery van coming and then picking up again a couple of days later, unfortunately, good purchases are few and far between. All you can do is persevere to find a brand, fit etc. that works for you and stick to it but it makes for very unadventurous styling!
Fun post! When I was a teenager, I used to like going to the mall, but I think that was more about pretending to be grown up rather than shopping. Now I much prefer to shop online as a rule with some exceptions. It’s still a treat to go into a local boutique or second hand store that has no online presence. But I really have to be in the mood for that.
Also? This is a fabulous outfit. I see why your husband likes it.
Michelle
https://funkyfashionstyle.com
Love that floral print it’s so fun and chic. I think I do a lot of shopping online. But if it’s something specific I go in person. I think in person is still wanted because you can touch and feel the product and see it in person. And people still desire that I think. Thanks for sharing.
https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2022/11/now-trending-dazzling-disco-party-edit.html?m=1
Fun post.
Your husband…..ha, that’s great. 🙂
I like acquiring new things but I don’t like the experience of shopping which is why online shopping appeals to me. My size has not varied in years. I remember buying my first professional outfit from a catalog called the working woman. I wore the heck out of that suit.
Can’t wait to hear the survey results.
Also good for you for having a consulting gig; that speaks well of your work and may lead to other opportunities but at least its on your schedule.
Your husband’s cardigan reaction is hilarious! I wondered if it was a dress or skirt underneath myself. Love the bright print skirt and pink bag with this black outfit – such a great way to wear color in winter!
Rena, this was a fun post! This survey had me stumped because a few of the questions either didn’t apply to me or had three or four choices that had equal weight with me. But I did my best! I have done zero in-person shopping in the past three years and will likely not be doing any clothing shopping, in-person or online, until March. I’ll need a few pieces for Spring and will hit a few locally owned small shops that always have entirely different stuff than the chains.
Fun topic, Rena, and your look fabulous as always! My husband also finds buttoned up cardigans rather appealing when worn as the only layer! As for shopping, as much as I love in store shopping, I am really glad that I don’t really enjoy online shopping. I need to touch and feel and smell the things I buy before I buy them! I do shop online because some things just can’t even be found in stores anymore but I think I will always prefer brick and mortar stores. I miss the department stores of days of yore, too! They always had the best clearance sales, but now most department stores in my area have all closed.
Shelbee
Can’t wait to read the results of the survey. Love the outfit: I bought a cardigan a couple months ago that I wear in a similar fashion.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Looking nice and great knowledge there. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
It is interesting the way that shopping has changed so much since I was a teenager. I do a lot of online shopping for others for convenience and time-saving. I am pretty busy as a mom but do love to browse for myself if I have the time/opportunity!
Yes, I remember the early days of perusing a print catalog and then ordering clothing items over the phone. I do like to try on clothes in a store before making a decision to buy something. Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 43.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
I loved browsing mail order catalogues as a kid – especially the autumn/winter edition that had lots of toys in it! My mum used to buy almost all of our clothes from a catalogue, and she still uses them. I guess they are still popular with people of my mum’s generation who don’t like shopping online. I like shopping in store every now and then but shop mostly online for convenience.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com