Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The industry has experienced exceptionally rapid growth since the beginning of the decade, outperforming most retail sectors. As internet use becomes more commonplace, consumers are more comfortable with making purchases online. In particular, internet payment systems like PayPal have made buying online easier and more secure, helping retailers sway security-minded consumers and attract repeat buyers... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Locations Chapter
Because of inherent characteristics of the E-Commerce and Online Auctions industry, the geographic spread of establishments is not proportional to the population distribution. While largely populated regions are the most important to the industry, the number of establishments per capita varies considerably across the country. This is dissimilar to the rest of the retail industry, where it is necessary for physical stores to be near customers. Online retailers require only a warehouse space to store goods, which are then delivered via mail to the customer.
Major hubs for online shopping include the West, Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. These are the most-populated regions in the United States, but the Southeast has fewer industry establishments per person than the West... purchase to read more