Online-only stores like Shein, Temu changing how people holiday shop

THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING HERE IN THE U-S – WITH ONLINE CHINESE OUTLETS SHEIN AND TEMU OFFERING ULTRA-LOW PRICES AND CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL AMERICAN RETAILERS.

FOR YEARS – PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TURNING AWAY FROM BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORES IN FAVOR OF FAST FASHION ON ONLINE-ONLY SHOPS OFFERING SEEMINGLY ENDLESS CHOICES AND UNBEATABLE PRICES.

AND WITH THE WAY SITES LIKE THESE TURN SHOPPING INTO AN ALMOST GAME-LIKE EXPERIENCE – WITH THINGS LIKE SPINNING WHEELS AND COUNTDOWN CLOCKS – IT’S EASY TO GET LOST IN THE URGENCY AND FEEL LIKE EVERY DAY IS CYBER MONDAY, LEADING CONSUMERS TO SPEND MONEY MORE CONSISTENTLY… AND PUTTING THESE CHINESE COMPANIES SOLIDLY IN PLACE TO CHALLENGE WESTERN RETAILERS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

INTERNATIONAL EXCLUSIVELY-ONLINE COMPANIES – LED BY SHEIN AND TEMU – ARE EXPECTED TO PULL IN ROUGHLY 160 BILLION DOLLARS IN GLOBAL SALES *OUTSIDE* OF CHINA THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, ACCORDING TO SALESFORCE.

INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY THE ALLURE OF BEING ABLE TO BUY MORE BUT SPEND LESS HAS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT GIFT TURNING TO THESE OPTIONS.

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