More Comfort in Web Purchasing? Trends...

I've noticed people are becoming more and more comfortable with purchasing items on the web. It looks like within a few months, SLBoutique will be breaking even on a monthly basis (then its time to start recouping investment!).

I've promised numbers for a while, and thought this would make an interesting discussion. Here is, by month, the number of transactions SLBoutique has had:

+----------+---------+
|       37 | 01-2005 |
|      228 | 02-2005 |
|      802 | 03-2005 |
|     2006 | 04-2005 |
|     3274 | 05-2005 |
|     5494 | 06-2005 |
|     7937 | 07-2005 |
|     8179 | 08-2005 |
+----------+---------+

It looks like we will crack 10,000 for the month of August, easily. When looking at the "big picture" this is still just a drop in the bucket, but the growth rate is what I find interesting. Are people warming up to purchasing SL items on the web? What impact do you think 1.7, and having an integrated browser, will have on web sales? How about HTML on prim?

regards,

-Flip

I think that's great news. Although i've never used a web page to buy SL items. Just linden dollars. I enjoy shopping in game.

Shouldn't this be in Notices and Well Wishes?

I'm of two mind on this...

First, I think it's EXCELLENT to see the meshing of SL and the web working out. This gives me hope that Linden Lab will take such things as XML-RPC and an API more seriously in the future.

On the other hand, though, I worry about the future of online retail. The underlying question, "Why would you buy something via a 2D image when you could just as easily, and will eventually, see it as a 3D object?" concerns me. I used to work in an online fashion accessories store, and the owner once told me that selling prom dresses online was a bad idea because you could never see how it hung on you, what needed hemming, etc. Second Life, or the children it'll spawn, seem like the answer to this. Get an AV of youself, put clothes on, etc.

However, if people are readily, and steadily, willing to buy virtual, 3D items based on a 2D representation, what hope does Second Life really have of selling real world items by way of 3D models? I hope I'm wrong, and I hope said concern doesn't offend.

Problem is, when an av wants to buy clothes in world, they still only see a 2D representation in that 3D world. I think most of it comes down to laziness; maybe people can't be bothered to fly that extra few 100m to the store? *hides*

Which leads to another interesting question. Would P2P have an effect on sales via these wbsites?

alot of the time its because I dont know where to find it.

to shopkeepers:

*if you own a shop, if at all possible, list it in your picks.
*if you make a special product, try to list it by name in your shops description.

If I see something I like in a public place, the first thing I do is check the creator, and try to track them down by find. Its frustratingly difficult most of the time to find stuff.

Jarod raises some very interesting points. I've noticed the "try before buy" proposal on the voting system is rather high. I'm curious about how the implementation of this will work. Many skin makers already have "demo" versions of their skins, which you can get for free, that are watermarked - but so you can see their overall quality. An inherent watermarking system for "demo" items, or a time limit for "trial" would be a great feature.

I'm also curious is in 1.7 we'll start to see some web-based alternative search engines for SL starting to replace the in-game find.

-Flip

Would a person pay to view the fit of clothing purchased online on a 3D model of themselves? To compare the look of various fixtures or shades of paint in a 3D replication of the room that is being remodeled? To check which pavers or decking compliment your house? Tapping that market makes the idea of a million users seem a viable one.

it gets a lot more press/business for slboutique if flipper posts it here.

congrats on your success flipper

<tangent>

Some teens on the TG can buy from SLB and SLE and the other one.

</tangent>

so if a teen got moved to the teen grid and had already registered for these shopping sites, who is responsible when the teen introduces adult wares to the teen grid?

Hmmmm now that is a preponderance. I'd like to see a Linden answer to that one.

Thats what im waiting for, then i will start shopping hehe!!

And something that would boost sales tremendously but is completely out of your hands?

The sellers learning how to take GOOD PICTURES of their merchandise, as well as GOOD DESCRIPTIONS of said products.

Just a small rant

Ahhhh...

ROFLOL!

I don't shop on any of the web purchasing sites because they are not in SL. So, once they on prims in SL, I might use them. But I kind of like shopping because I like the looking part. Maybe it is because I am an impulse shopping. I go somewhere to look at hair. I like the clothes I see on the vendor next to it and buy those too....