The internet has fundamentally changed the way certain aspects of our economy, and our lives, operate.
It has fundamentally changed the Buy Here Pay Here business as well.
Amazon has changed forever the way books, and now, some general merchandise is sold.
The small town bookstores and retailers of books are gone or going away.
They cannot compete with Amazons...
virtually unlimited selection of new and used books, price discounts and fast shipping.
They have changed the customers mind set...
we EXPECT to find immense selection of items to purchase after visiting Amazons site.
They are also redefining the role and business model of the book publishers...
think Kindle and solely electronic reproduction of formerly printed material.
Expedia and the online travel sites have driven all but a few of the local travel agents out of business.
The rest are dead but don't know it yet.
With flights, hotels, tours and show tickets all at your finger tips, and rated by consumers like yourself, how can you go wrong? So how has our business changed due to the internet? 1) If your customer does not have any money, she will use the FREE information source...
the internet.
Think about the last time you wanted info on something...
where did you look? That's where your customers look also.
Your customer WILL use the internet to research their purchase.
Will they find your website? Does your site inform and give someone a reason to contact you? 2) Once someone has found what or who they are looking for, they will travel longer distances.
You don't need as many offices to cover a geographic area and your individual market grows dramatically.
3) There are internet "haves" and "have nots".
Amazon is a "have" on the internet.
Borders is a "have not".
Yes, Borders has a website and they do business on it.
But, they cannot compete with Amazon on the web in any real sense.
They are a dead company and don't know it yet.
Are you a "have" or "have not" in your market area? The question isn't how can I design an internet site to take advantage of the the web / internet and what it has to offer...
The question really is, "How can I change my business and how I conduct it, to maximize the new REALITY of the web / internet and what it has to offer my Buy Her Pay Here business through and with my website?" Borders has a website to sell its' products...
but...
Amazon designed the entire company and business model around the new reality of web / internet merchandising.
Who are you Borders or Amazon?