OUR FUTURE

   Online shopping can feel like being in a tornado, with the search button unleashing a whirlwind of countless results, endless information, and lack of control. Online shoppers are tossed in every direction, overwhelmed, and confused, feeling like a tornado that tossed everything where they shouldn't be, making shopping hard to navigate.

  Dorothy's unplanned landing on the Wicked Witch of the East, Evanora, exposes the underbelly of the e-commerce world filled with bad players, scammers, and advantage takers who are focused on bettering themselves regardless of the trouble it causes for others. Not all players are bad, but it is hard to tell the good from the bad. 

  While attempting to navigate the whirlwind of the internet while online shopping, we are then hit with an abundance of pop-up ads, tracking tags, and endless follow-up messages best described as 'flying monkeys.' While advertising has its role in the market, it becomes a nuisance when it clutters our space like uninvited guests. 

  Oscar or Oz as most of us know him, represents the power and wizardry of the search engine.  We have come to rely on the all-powerful and all-knowing search for our shopping needs. Technology has taken the lead telling us where we need to go and not allowing us to use our own instinct to make our buying decisions and navigation.

  While the yellow brick road sets a new gold standard for online shopping, the ruby red slippers represent a new standard in online products and services.  We call it a red standard representing quality, value and trustworthiness. The internet should never be a place to trick, bait & switch or dishonesty and it is now time to set a new benchmark.

  Munchkin Land represents the innovative spirit of those who love to invent, create, and manufacture products for others. From the garage to the garden and from the cottage to the warehouse, it takes a village of brands, makers and creators working together to meet the needs of the land, offering options and provide alternative choices to make many happy munchkins.

  Oz is very much like the world of social media that is not rooted in reality presented. Magical, yet lacking in reality, peddling poor products, building fake relationships, and using influence to gain sales and followers that is not reciprocal. Social media does have the benefit of reaching new customers, launching products, and creating community.  

  The yellow brick road leads to a new way to shop online we call e-shopping.  The  Online Shopping District (OSD) is a magical online shopping marketplace of shops that welcome shoppers to choose how they want to shop, sets a gold standard in transparency, trust, and entertainment, and where ideas, inspiration and innovation are overflowing. 

  A modern shopper knows what they want and is not afraid to work hard to get it.  This online shopper profile is best described as the 'Social Shopper.'   Shopping with friends and love to share the good news about what she found Definitely trendy, always enjoys shopping even when it is necessary, and willing to help others find what they need.

Shoppers that know what they want, this online shopper is best described as the 'Loyal Shopper.' On a mission and never wavering with a strong desire to buy without delay. Zeroing in on what they want, this shopper will ignore everything else around them. They are the first to find the latest Smart gadget, stylish bowl, or indestructible dog toy.

This shopper leads with their brain, heading straight for the search bar to learn everything they can before making a purchase, sometimes researching for days. Best be described as the 'Research Shopper' we all tend to shop this way when making major purchases, doing enough research to help them make the right decision without buyer's remorse.

A heartfelt shopper, making buying decisions with emotion and relying on others to help guide the way. Often described as an 'Emotion Shopper.' They love an expert that tells them what to do. Swayed to buy based on how they feel, they love to make people's day with the perfect gift and tend to buy things they don't need or even want in the moment.

Confident in life, but not when shopping, often described as the 'Encouraged Shopper.' Often hesitating before making a buying decision without an authoritative figure, relying on validation or instructions from trusted sources helps in combatting the fear of being misled or facing the unpredictability of their choices. Fixing buyer's remorse before they buy.

  This 'Seasoned Shopper' comes across as confident, knowing exactly what they want, and buying everything need. They don’t worry about cost and do not spare any expense. This shopper looks at shopping as a hobby and often shops for the enjoyment and stress reliever aspects. They are even willing to allow others to shop for them, quick with the credit card.

For some shoppers, the act of shopping can be a nightmare, unnecessary, or a sheer necessity.  Minimalists, shoppers who need nothing, or those who truly hate to shop fall into this 'Minimalist Profile.'  They often allow others to shop for them.  When the do shop  they prefer a no-fuss experience that is simple and allows the ‘to do’ list to be checked.

Budget leads this 'Traditional Shopper,' to buy out of necessity.  Groceries, school supplies, or  replacement part fall into this shopping profile.  They do enjoy filling the cart with wish items, browsing, and checking out the latest gadgets, but they don't often execute the purchase unless they save up, have room on their card, or have the option to pay later.