Forget Traditional Shopping – South Floridians Are Loving This Virtual Experience Instead

Something weird is happening in South Florida. Forget fighting traffic to the crowded malls; people are trading retail stores for, well, their couches. They are diving headfirst into all sorts of online fun. What gives? It seems a lot of factors are driving the shift, and not all of them are new. Florida has changed since the days when most people spent their weekends.

Part of it has to do with how busy things are between work, family, and just daily life; a lot of the local demographic do not and will not have the time to browse stores. Online is simple and easy! Plus, everyone has a phone. With a couple of clicks and  you can find hundreds of shops; finding the things you need on the go is just easier from your phone. Also, let’s face it, gas isn’t cheap. Saving a trip, not to mention the chance to grab digital coupons, keeps more money in Floridian’s wallet.

Virtual events: the new going out that attracts Floridians

It is not normal everyday shopping either. People in South Florida are now getting into virtual events! Online art lessons, cooking classes, even virtual concerts – if you can think of it, there’s likely a version on the internet. A bonus: people from all over the state are now involved with what some would call local businesses. Many businesses are also offering ways to participate, so now someone could find all kinds of virtual experiences to participate in. It seems like these options are actually popular these days.

Businesses are seeing the hype, too. They are finding that putting their money into online promotion makes as much, if not more, sense than keeping a brick – and – mortar location. A lot are getting good at social media, which makes it easier to connect with new crowds and customers. They get right to the location, it seems; one post online equals dozens of opportunities . There are a lot fewer limits when you are not limited by geography.

A new trend: mystery box adventures at home

There’s also something else, a little more adventure – virtual mystery boxes.  People seem to enjoy the thrill of signing up for a box without revealing what’s inside. It’s kind of like buying something without knowing the surprise. This one seems extra fun and unique. It’s convenient too!

Another factor contributing to the growth of virtual experiences in South Florida is that many residents live outside the area because they can work virtually and reap the benefits and perks. The cost of living is, like really high there, so if someone has 100% computer access, they may be online more anyway, so that virtual aspect is a bonus and perk. This is another interesting element to consider that makes virtual events so popular; people who live there might not actually experience Florida physically! They want goods or services that do not require them to physically go there, and the at-home vibe appeals to their sense of what is convenient. Virtual goods and services providers would have a higher chance of success.

Boosting local businesses online

The interesting part of these online ad virtual experiences is that they make the local Florida companies more visible to the customers. When you are stuck in a limited number of local people, it can be hard to expand outside of those boundaries. Now all the nearby businesses can sell their stuff to a bunch of people who are not even from there! It almost promotes those businesses by offering their services online.

So, will Florida completely stop going to stores? Probably not, people might get tired of only doing things online, and the novelty might wear off. But it seems very likely that the love of these virtual experiences will stay around. The convergence, the opportunity to connect with others, and just the flat-out fun can not be denied.