Today's Happenings

Online vs Face-to-Face Shopping

Hello again! Now, I know what some of you may be thinking after having read the title for today's post - right now, online shopping is the only way that is even legal. That may be true at the moment but it may not be long before we can go back into shops again; we just don't know. Today, I will talk about both online and face to face shopping and decide which I think is better. Should we rush to the shops as soon as this is all over or should we continue with our online lives?

Online: You Can Keep Home Comforts

I have to admit, I am not the most active person and do not always have a lot of get-up-and-go, so sometimes getting ready to go shopping can be a chore. However, with online shopping, there is no need to worry about that as you can shop from the comfort of your bed, your garden, your sofa or even the loo! There is no need to get out of your pyjamas, no need to find things like your purse or shopping bags and no need to move at all (though you may need to get up and go to the other end of the room to get your computer or phone - how tiresome!). Overall, if you are the sort of person who wants to shop in a way that is a little more... relaxed, online shopping is perfect for you.

Face-to-Face: Less Tech Stress

Whilst online shopping may be quite a relaxed way when it comes to environment, the same cannot be said about the technology side of things! It can be easy to miss things or add the wrong things to your cart and sometimes online shopping can be very difficult to navigate, particularly if you have less experience online. Sometimes, it's hard to know exactly what you are buying (particularly with yarn and other craft materials) as it is really hard to truly capture size, colour and texture in a 2d photo. Also, even if the tech works well, there is always the worry that something will go missing in the post or may get dropped off to the neighbours, particularly if you live in a block of flats or a housing estate. With shopping in-store, this is not an issue.

Online: You Can Shop Online at Any Time

With face-to-face shopping, you can only come in on some days and the opening hours are not 24/7, but the Internet never "closes" so you can order wool online any time of day. With work, even if you are working from home at the moment, this can be much more convenient. Also, some people prefer shopping late at night or early in the morning. Whilst that's not my cup of tea, who am I to judge or tell you otherwise?

Face-to-Face: No Delivery Waiting Times

Being an incredibly impatient person, this is very valuable to me; I want my goods as soon as I buy them! With online shopping, you have to wait 2-3 working days, though this time can end up being extended if post offices are busy. With face-to-face shopping, you can have what you want instantly. Personally, I think this is a great perk but to other people, waiting times are far less important than opening times and availability - it's all down to your own preference.

Online: Less Anxiety

If you suffer with anxiety, face-to-face shopping can be really difficult for a range of reasons, whether that's to do with the social aspects, the journey to a shop or just not knowing what is going to happen. With online shopping you can avoid all of these things and generally have more control, so I do recommend it in some cases. However, next week, I will be looking at ways to make shopping face-to face less stressful.

Face-to-Face: More Interaction With Others

On the other hand, if you are a sociable person, face-to-face shopping is great. Not only can you have a chat with friends but you can also learn a lot from other crafters about the yarns and colours that are popular or what is best for certain types of craft. This is something we at Avicraft Wool are really looking forward to at some point in the (hopefully near) future.

My Conclusion

It's a close call but, whilst online shopping is great for times like these, I personally prefer face-to-face shopping as I think it's great to get extra advice from people in the know and not have to deal with waiting times and tech problems. However, it is important to remember that everyone is unique and different modes of shopping are suited to different people.

That's all from me, so until next time, happy crafting!

Caiti