Views about buying fabrics online vary. While some see nothing wrong in purchasing their textile requirements at online fabric stores, others like to see, touch, and feel their preferred choices.
- How comfortable are you with purchasing fabrics online?
- Is it a no-go area for you?
- If you can get fabric swatches from online retailers, is that enough to convince you?
There is a good and a not-so-good side to everything, including purchasing textiles online, but one generally outweighs the other. So, what are the pros and cons of buying fabrics online?
Advantages of Buying Fabrics Online
- Online shopping is akin to purchasing from a one-stop shop with thousands of products to view in the comfort of your home.
- It is a cheaper way to shop. Because online fabric retailers operate with lower margins and next-to-none-overheads, you get their savings passed on to you, the buyer.
- If you love fabrics, you’ll enjoy browsing the web stores for textiles.
- It cuts out the endless search from local stores. The search can be frustrating and time-consuming and can end up a futile exercise.
- If you can’t find what you need in your locality, you have no choice but to go for the next best thing.
- When buying fabrics only, you will find fantastic deals and bargains ever so often. You’ll find clearance sales, bargain discounts, and closeout fabric sales, including free shipping for orders as little as $50.
- You can find less expensive fabrics by the yard, fat quarter bundles, and half-yard cut bundles.
- Many online stockists are willing to sell a minimum of a single yard (or metre) if that’s all you require. In other words, there is no minimum order when you buy fabrics from most online shops.
- For designers, decorators, and arts and crafts enthusiasts, there are great workbooks, templates, and patterns you will find online, items you may never find in the local shops.
- You can request as many fabric samples as you wish. They will be sent to you online before making any purchases.
Disadvantages of Buying Textile on the Internet
- You can’t touch or feel fabrics through your device’s screen. You will have to order physical samples (swatches). Waiting for an order may take some time, depending on where you live.
- A shopping fanatic may miss going out to the shops. Some people love physical window shopping and the hustle and bustle of shopping malls and markets.
- Not trusting online transactions. Today, transacting business online is getting safer and more secure. Always look out for the secure site sign.
Now that it is clear that the pros of buying fabrics online dwarf the cons, maybe it is time for you to give online fabric purchases another thought. The first try will most likely convince you.
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