A few weeks ago, I used Uber Eats to deliver me a case of bottled water, a dozen Starbucks iced coffee bottles, and a 12-pack of Gatorade Zero.
It cost a little more than going to the store less than two miles from our house, but instead of having to lug those bulky items from the store to my car and then my kitchen, I only had to bring them in from the front door.
That was either a lazy choice or evidence of excellent time management skills, but it's a solid example of how people use the internet. Because while people generally think it's much higher (I've asked the question to thousands of people on various podcasts and live shows over the years), digital sales are still a relatively small percentage of total retail sales.
"E-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2026 accounted for 17.1 percent of total sales," United States Census Bureau data showed.
Consumers have shifted some of their purchases online, and they're looking for convenience.
"The near-instantaneous gratification of online retail has evolved from amenity to necessity for many shoppers. Even though a slowing job market, high interest rates and tight credit have weighed on wallets, consumers still prize products a...