Internet Retail
This industry consists of companies that sell goods and services primarily through online channels, bypassing physical storefronts to deliver products directly to consumers.
Why it exists
Internet retail exists to collapse physical shopping constraints by enabling digital discovery, payment, and home delivery.
Why it’s necessary
It dramatically expands consumer choice while compressing time and geographic friction.
Key components
Digital storefront platforms
Fulfillment & last-mile delivery
Digital marketing engines
Payment & fraud systems
How to evaluate businesses
Repeat purchase rates, fulfillment cost per order, contribution margin, logistics scale, and customer acquisition efficiency define real economic viability.
How the industry could be improved
Local micro-fulfillment, autonomous delivery, AI-powered merchandising, dynamic pricing, and real-time logistics optimization could stabilize currently fragile margin models.