Retailing can be vaguely described as the business of selling goods or services to the final customer. This particular area of business is extremely important to the economy, totaling an estimated three trillion dollars in sales per year. Retailers are in constant battle among themselves to find new and innovative ways to meet the customers' needs and wants in order to secure a share of the market. There are numerous channels through which retailing can be performed. The most prominent form is the brick-and-mortar operation. This category consists of the physical store locations where customers can go to browse through...
the Internet.

Brick-and-mortar stores will remain intact to provide for those customers who desire interaction with others, and who require face-to-face judgments regarding certain purchases.

Although online shopping has the advantage of creating databases to collect information to bring customer service to new levels, it has not been able to utilize its full potential.

In the end, it is difficult to predict the exact futures of retailing. Consumers are individuals, and their lifestyles create different needs. Their choice will ultimately depend on which medium will serve them best. Some will choose the traditional outlet. Some will choose the Internet.