Weekly Reading 07

“The Long Tail” by  Chris Anderson.

In this article Anderson explores the consequences of a world with hypertext and the network. He explains that the market is no longer restricted by physical boundaries. Online stores can ‘house’ an endless selection of products, regardless of the age size of the product. This is revolutionary for the sales of products that are not new releases. Buyers can search for the exact item that they are looking for, as well as browse the online store at whatever time suits them.

Online shopping is readily available for not only our entertainment needs (movies, books, music etc), but also necessities like groceries and clothing. The consumer is saving time, as well as getting to choose from a wider range of products, and the producer can save on the expenses of operating a physical store, such as rent and staff salaries.

The market gets bigger and creates niche markets that may not have been easily accessible or available to mass markets before. The idea of ‘mainstream’ is then greatly altered, as consumers are exposed to a wider variety of genres and styles.

Part of globalisation. Geographic location is not as important when comparing sales. This has changed the type of movies that are released. No longer does a film have to be a blockbuster to be successful, most films will find an audience.

Examples of online stores:

Quick Flix 
Coles Online
Amazon
Spotify