Why Online Retailers Are Setting Up Shop

If last week’s reporting of the demise of traditional retail sounded familiar, you’ve been paying attention. In the past 20 years, few industries have transformed as frequently — and significantly — as retail. During the first wave of modern-day change, we saw Amazon transform from a bookstore to an everything store. A few other “etailers,” such as Seattle stalwart Blue Nile, pushed out traditional retailers ― from national chains to family-owned.

During the second wave — often called “bricks and clicks” — traditional retailers rushed to catch up by integrating physical stores with new online investments. Now, we’re in the thick of the third wave, as “pure-play” etailers that were born on the web are expanding into the physical world; even as many of their more traditional competitors are contracting. Read more at Geek Wire.