If you’ve been a parent before the age of the internet, you’ve known the dread of digging through your child’s school backpack and finding a crumpled t-shirt order form. If you were lucky, you were able to find the form before the dreaded due date. However, collecting information and money to order uniforms, gear, and apparel hasn’t only been a challenge for parents.
Coordinating bosses and supervisors in offices have long known the pain of contacting and collecting the order size, quantity, color, and cash for their employees’ uniforms. The general process consisted of gathering everyone’s order information, visiting the apparel store, and hoping no employees who forgot to turn-in their forms were left behind.
As the internet has evolved, it’s strange to look back at these old and tedious processes of shopping. In a way, none of the variables of how we shop for offices and classrooms have changed. The need to gather information on size, color, and quantity is all still present, but the approach to how we choose to shop has completely revolutionized.
Today, schools and businesses all take advantage of online shopping. However, online shopping is not simply a typical website with a virtual shopping bag. Virtual stores produced for the convenience and customization of specific apparel have elevated online shopping to become an organized and painless process.
First, an online store is developed to specifically feature the uniforms and apparel needed for students, athletes, or employees. Next, a link to the online store is sent along with an entrance ID and password. Once logged inside, users are free to browse through the different options in uniforms, apparel, and gear until they’ve finished shopping. A credit by the employer is often given to each account to make the buying process quick and convenient, and accounts without credits are able to perform a regular transition through a secure site.
Online shopping also offers the convenience of access. Links to the online store are available to view at any time. If users have questions about what apparel to order, they can simply open the site with their employers and clarify any concerns. The online stores will ultimately deactivate, but can be reactivated if users need to order apparel at a later date. Within no time at all, uniforms and apparel will be ordered, customized, and delivered.
The internet has grown and evolved to change so many different aspects to the way we shop. What once was a headache of missed due dates and lost orders forms is now a customized chance to browse and buy. We’ve come quite a long way from finding crumpled papers buried in backpacks.
