Internet store markets with respect to time, location and socio-economic characteristics of consumers

ISSN： 1748-1252

Source： International Journal of Enterprise Network Management, Vol.1, Iss.2, 2006-12, pp. : 147-165

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Abstract

This study explores factors affecting consumers' choices between internet shopping and conventional store shopping by considering their socioeconomic characteristics, shopping time, locations and the impact of goods delivery cycles and lead time. A choice model, which determines consumer optimal shopping channel choices with respect to time, location and socioeconomic characteristics, is constructed to capture dynamic characteristics of internet shopping behaviour. The results show that consumer demand of internet shopping increases with a decreased lead time and service cycles. The results show that consumers will choose internet shopping when benefits of internet shopping offset the negative perception resulting from delay in receiving ordered goods. The results also show that there is a large demand for internet shopping if consumers are less sensitive to delay in receiving ordered goods than to access time to retail stores. Finally, this study has demonstrated how variations in consumer socio-economic, temporal and spatial distribution and their interaction influence consumer demand of internet shopping.