[SheInspires]

I think the term 'killing' is a sub-editor coming up with an eye catching headline.

Just as there will always be people who love the object of a book (like me) there will be others who love the ease of being able to carry around a whole bundle of ebooks on their Kindles (like my marketing assistant). The trick is being able to evolve and position your business to meet the needs of your reading customers like discussed above.

The experience of shopping in stores will always appeal - maybe to more women than men but then women are the ones who spend money in this environment. Just as the convenience of being able to buy certain products and services online will appeal to a shopping audience.

To me the growth in online shopping is just another example of change being a natural part of business life.

My jewellery business is both online and offline. There is a shared customer base between the two but the majority of customers are either one or the other due, I think, to demographics rather than anything else.

The Y generation expects all businesses to have websites and many seem to be suspicious of a business if it doesn't have a website which I think is very interesting as it's quite a different way of looking at things to my generation (gen-x).

I think for the businesses that aren't ready to adapt and grow with customer needs and expectations they will have difficulties but that's always been the case - irrespective of the technical or social changes of each decade that encourage business growth and opportunities.

Two sources I've found really interesting for retailing lessons are:
"Why Women Shop - Secrets Revealed" by Stella Minahan and Michael Beverland (for understanding your customers) and a tv show called "Mary Queen of Shops" about fixing failing small business retailers into profitable local shops.

All the best!