Some Speculations on the Retailing and Planning Implications of ‘Push-Button Shopping’ in Britain

Abstract

In this paper some implications are examined for retail planning of the use of viewdata for the purchase of retail goods. It is hypothesised that the extent to which this form of ‘remote’ purchasing replaces existing forms of shopper behaviour will depend upon: (1) the cost, acceptability, and versatility of viewdata as a purchasing medium; and (2) the willingness of retailers to promote viewdata as a purchasing medium. An examination of existing features of retailing and shopping behaviour in Britain indicates that viewdata shopping will probably have the greatest competitive impact on existing methods of ‘nonstore retailing’ (for example mail order) and unconventional retailing (for example, catalogue sales). The main locational implications are, first, accelerated rates of change in the use of retail and service premises within city centres, and, second, some reduction in recent rates of increase in numbers of suburban ‘retail warehouses’. It is also suggested that any major increase in the volume of deliveries of goods to the home, consequent on the success of viewdata shopping, may require some rationalisation of local goods deliveries, forming a new focus for public-sector intervention. Other policy issues which are likely to confront planners are also discussed, and suggestions for monitoring the growth of remote shopping are made.