Local Shops Have Closed Because of Online Shopping | IELTS Essay Sample
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
In recent years, many local shops have closed because customers prefer online shopping to meet their shopping needs.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Here is a band 9 IELTS essay on this topic.
Local stores are closing down due to the growing popularity of online shopping. In my opinion, there are both positive and negative aspects to this development. When local shops go out of business, it hurts the local economy. These stores were the source of sustenance for many families. Now they are forced to search for alternative sources of income. As for consumers, this is beneficial in some ways and detrimental in other ways.
Small vendors in the neighbourhood are the worst affected by the rise of online shopping. When people buy everything from groceries to electronics online, small stores are running out of business. They cannot offer the discounted prices offered by online platforms. Nor do they have the resources to launch their own online stores. Consequently, many small stores have already shut down. When local businesses close down, it is not good for the local economy. In addition, this development has rendered hundreds of people jobless.
On the other hand, this development benefits the consumers in some ways. Shopping online is convenient and hassle free. People no longer have to travel to shops or supermarkets to buy essential things. They can order everything online and get their package delivered to their home. Also, online stores offer the best prices. This enables consumers to save both time and money. At the same time, the extinction of local stores does impact consumers in some other ways. For example, many local stores allow people to buy goods on credit. They do not charge any interest on the money. Local store keepers also maintained a friendly relationship with their customers. They knew exactly what their consumers wanted and always sold the best products. Online stores do not have any such relationship with their customers. Also, online shopping is not suitable if we need something immediately. Buying from a neighbourhood store is more beneficial in these situations. When local stores close down, consumers are denied that opportunity.
In short, when local shops are forced to shut down, it is certainly a bad development for small local businessmen. They lose their livelihood. However, for consumers, online shopping is largely a positive development as it allows them to shop from the convenience of their home. They also get the best prices.
