| The internet has opened up a whole world of | | | | out online. There is also an app for the Google phone, |
| possibilities for lovers of home décor. Suddenly | | | | which allows you to scan the bar code of items. Once |
| you are able to connect with and be inspired by artistic | | | | scanned the phone searches the internet and finds the |
| visions being created in almost every country in the | | | | same product, from all of the online and offline retailers |
| world. You can spend hours, days, even weeks | | | | offering it, along with comparative pricing. |
| pouring over the various designs, comparing prices, and | | | | Uniqueness |
| just enjoying the world of decorative beauty. | | | | One of the great things about the internet is that it has |
| However there is still a lot to be said for actually | | | | allowed a huge number of artists and designers to sell |
| getting up and going to a store to shop for your home | | | | their work independently, directly to customers. This not |
| décor products. In a store you can actually | | | | only cuts out the middleman, but opens you up to a |
| touch and feel what you are buying. You can pick it up, | | | | whole world of new products that would never |
| run your fingers down its side, and know exactly what | | | | otherwise have been available to you. |
| you are getting. | | | | However there are also many old school artists and |
| Pricing | | | | designers who are not computer savvy, and you |
| As far as price comparison shopping the internet can't | | | | generally won't find their work online. To experience |
| be beat. There are thousands of shopping | | | | their creations, you actually have to go out into the |
| aggregators which will line up prices on the same item | | | | world and track them down at flea markets, craft |
| being sold in hundreds of stores, showing you what the | | | | shows, and boutiques. |
| best deal is. | | | | If you are looking for something really unique, generally |
| While the internet is great for pricing deals, you always | | | | you should avoid commercial areas both online and |
| have to factor in the cost of shipping. Smaller light | | | | offline. Whether it's a local shopping mall, or a giant |
| weight items such as books should be a no-brainer, but | | | | web store like Amazon, you won't really find anything |
| larger heavier pieces may cost more. You also have | | | | different there. They specialize in buying popular and |
| to factor in whatever location the item is being shipped | | | | timeless items in huge quantities and selling them at |
| from, in comparison to your own address. | | | | relatively low prices. In general, they have no interest in |
| In this way, as far as price comparisons, you should | | | | carrying new products that don't already have a |
| look at both online and offline ads, and weigh in the | | | | following. |
| cost of shipping to find the best deals. | | | | For interesting finds you can try places like eBay, or |
| Touch | | | | Etsy. These are like online flea markets where artisans |
| Going to a store and actually being able to reach out | | | | gather to share there wares. You can also just use a |
| and feel what a product is like in your hands is a | | | | general search engine, rather than a product search |
| wonderful way of connecting with it, allowing you to | | | | engine, to explore new and innovative design |
| truly understand what you are getting. However, the | | | | companies. |
| fact that the items is sitting in a store, taking up space, | | | | In the end you can't really say whether online or offline |
| space that costs rent, can drive the price of the item | | | | shopping is better. They each have particular qualities, |
| up quite a bit. | | | | which make them both important and useful. The best |
| The price can be further inflated if you live in an | | | | way to shop for home décor is to use both |
| expensive city, or are visiting an expensive boutique. | | | | methods, the one against the other, to compare and |
| One way to combat this is to shop in physical stores, | | | | contrast and get the broadest range of choices |
| record the items that you like, and then search them | | | | available. |