History
Shopping in ancient societies
In Ancient Greece, the Agora served as a marketplace where merchants kept stalls or shops to sell their goods. Ancient Rome utilized a similar marketplace known as the Forum (Roman). For example, there was Trajan's Market with Taberna that served as retailing units. Shopping list are known to have been used by Romans, as one was discovered near Hadrian's wall dated back to 75–125 written for a soldier.
Shopping in modern times
Fairs and markets have a long history that started when humans felt the desire to exchange goods and services. People would shop for goods at a weekly market in nearby towns. Then shops began to be permanently established. Shops were specialized, e.g. a bakery, a butchery, a grocer. Then supermarkets appeared.
There have been three major phases in the shopping / trading world in the 20th century. In a way, these link up into a full circle.
- Customers would be served by the shopkeeper, who would retrieve all the goods on their shopping list. Shops would often deliver the goods to the customers' homes.
- Customers have to select goods, retrieve them off the shelves using self-service, and even pack their own goods. Customers deliver their own goods.
- Customers select goods via the Internet. The goods are delivered to their homes as in phase one.
