THE trend toward online shopping coincides with a decline in the presence of physical retail establishments, whereas pharmacies have mostly increased or maintained numbers, according to a study involving 19,000 interviewees, exploring the changes in shopping habits and environments conducted by Ipsos Global Advisor in 24 countries.
Consumers report seeing fewer traditional "Main Street" businesses, while they are increasingly resorting to digital and convenience-focused alternatives, and chain or franchise stores.
In Australia, the types of stores that are most markedly vanishing from local shopping areas are: bookstores (reportedly seen less often by 48% of Australians compared to 39% globally), newsstands (41%) and any type of independently-owned and operated (non-chain) stores (35%).
In contrast, Australians report seeing 75% more or just as many drugstores and pharmacies.
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