/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/business/2021/04/28/shopify-says-shift-toward-e-commerce-is-permanent-as-q1-net-income-soars-to-us126b/20210428080448-608959d21cae04656795cd10jpeg.jpg)
Shopify Inc. executives believe the shift toward online sales triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay.
Chief executive Tobi Lutke and president Harley Finkelstein said Wednesday that early patterns emerging in lockdown-free countries like New Zealand and Australia show consumers have embraced e-commerce even after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted — and they expect North America to eventually see the same.
“Consumer preferences have shifted permanently,” said Finkelstein, in a call with analysts.
“The centre of gravity was off-line. It is now online and there’s no going back to the pre-pandemic version of that.”
The shift has been a boon for the Ottawa e-commerce giant, which helps businesses run online stores but has long had to contend with online purchases compromising less than 10 per cent of retail sales for years.
Source: Toronto Star
Date: April 30th, 2021
Discussion
- Why has there been a boom in online shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic?
- Why, when the pandemic is receding and things are returning in other ways back to normal, is eCommerce likely to continue as it did during the pandemic?
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