When Hearst announced it had acquired Kaboodle, the social shopping site, it highlighted how the online industry has changed again in a relatively short time.
Not too long ago tech gadgets and computers were the major driver for web sites that offered comparison shopping. That has changed as fashion is now the leader of the growth in this space, which includes e-commerce and the shopping sites themselves.
This doesn't mean the interest of technology and computers is waning, it just means women are getting a lot more involved in the things that interest them online.
Some of Hearsts' properties will be especially suited for this as their Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire magazines will be relatively easy to extend into the brand and site.
One thing Hearst will do is add premium editorial content from their various magazines and other publishers to the site. This should offer visitors even more of a reason to visit and stay at the site. The built-in desire to compare and share will be an easy migration in reference to quality content.
What I like about what is changing online, is that the market in growing overall, not cannibalizing itself. While there will be a time when cannibalization starts to happen, it will be some time before that becomes a reality.
It's great to see the online industry increase and grow in all aspects. In the end it helps us all.
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