The internet is changing the way we do business and the way we shop!

Retailers are complaining about on line shoppers deserting them for cheaper offerings on line.

It's easy to see why shoppers are going for the lower prices, but I wonder if they have thought this through.

The main retail offerings on the web are women's, men's and children's clothing. These offers arrive unsolicited  in my inbox daily. Certainly the prices are low but I am not tempted- at least not so far. I have an appreciation of the work put in by the real life retailers in choosing appropriate product for local climate and lifestyle. The risks they take are high. I understand how much it costs them to pay high street rents and to pay for good staff. I also appreciate their advice.  I know how many poor choices I have made by myself and I trust these people to help me save money by not buying items that are not suitable.

Left to myself I suspect I would end up looking mismatched and either dowdy or wearing clothing too young for me. I see many people who could benefit from advice.

So, for me, shopping for clothes on the web would not be cheaper because it would entail hiring a stylist and I understand they don't come cheap. I also like to see the clothes on me so I can check for too short , too long, too low in the front, crooked hem etc . Yes, I know they can be sent back for refund but I don't even like going to the post office at any time. My local post office is not within walking distance and it is impossible to park without running the risk of a parking ticket. I could have it delivered to the office, but then I have to carry my parcel, my gym bag, my hand bag and my computer bag home. Somehow the attraction cannot compete for the inconvenience.

The internet is changing the way we interact , the way we do business and the way we shop.  The main lure of online shopping is price. The main loss is service. It seems many are happy to forego this

If we apply the same concepts to service businesses when consumers have decided they don't want to pay for service, then what do service businesses have left to sell? The answer is expertise. But what happens when expertise is no longer valued?

I can see the accounting services sector having to compete with low cost offerings out of India and China. Certainly accountants in these areas can study the local tax codes and do our accounting via web based services. I think accounting services are very vulnerable to this threat. I like to know that my accountant is truly up to date with the regular changes in the tax codes. He has also done good work for me in the past and helped me a great deal. I appreciate that and would not desert him for a cheaper service.

Solicitors have some protection from this. They have been challenged by local conveyencers but maintain their tranche of the work quite well. They are protected from competition from offshore in matters that come to court as solicitors need to be admitted in this country and non admitted solicitors cannot come into court. Perhaps barrister's opinions may be sought from other countries saving the extreme cost of barrister's opinions in this country. Again what price expertise?

Do you look sad? Botox can give you great results.

Cosmetic procedures occupy number one position on this planet with Botox injections topping the list. The next one down is liposuction.

There is no surprise about Botox being number one. Despite its detractors Botox is a fantastic drug that is used medically in many areas. The  most common usage is cosmetic . The only TGA approved use in this country is for relaxing wrinkles between the brows- the well known frown line. People are aware of its use for treating crow's feet but less aware that it can be used in other areas for cosmetic purposes.

As long as the operator knows the anatomy of the facial muscles well there are many things that can be done.

• Does your nose look pointy when you laugh?
• Is your face square rather  than oval?
• Is your jaw line ill defined?
• Does your mouth turn down at the corners?
• Do you look sad?
• Do the muscles in your neck stand out ?

Botox can be used to treat all these areas with very good results.

 With the increasingly sedentary nature of our working lives obesity is becoming a problem.  Not everyone is obese but most of us carry a little extra around our middles giving the attractive muffin top look. This isn't going to get better, it's going to get worse. So the advent of the new non surgical fat removal technology is well timed. I doubt it will be long before non surgical fat removal takes the number one place from Botox. Not everyone can relate to wrinkle reduction injections but everyone can relate to the difficulty of getting the waistline back under control.

Believe me it is addictive. I have had two treatments and can't wait to have some more. It's just great to do up the jeans and not see something pushed up over the top!

Are we in the middle of boom or bust?

With cries of doom and gloom coming from the retail sector and cries of joy from the miners, who are we to believe?

Are we in the middle of boom or bust?

Is the Reserve Bank right not to raise interest rates just yet? Is unemployment a worry at 4.9%?

Are people economising on their appearance? It seems the young are not. They are out there still wanting Botox and increasingly non surgical fat reduction. Perhaps the older generation having been through tough times before are tightening their spending? No, again. Older patients are investing in their appearance, perhaps as a way to compete in a youth obsessed world, or perhaps it is something our mothers and grandmothers would have done if they had had control of the family finances.

Appearance medicine is working its way into men's lives as well. Younger men are definitely more interested in grooming than they were a decade ago. Most admit to using their girlfriends skin products, usually  moisturiser, others go the whole hog, cleanser, toner and moisturiser.

People are still spending but they are looking for bargains. Look at Scoopon , Groupon, Cudo etc. There are vouchers for this that and the other, all at ridiculously low prices. These are used by businesses for promotion but would not generate profits for the owners. The only people who make money from these are the owners of the voucher business when they take a large percentage of the fee as their remuneration. Everything has become a commodity. There was even a voucher add for non surgical rhinoplasty! A nose job is now a commodity to be pushed at the lowest price.

So, is it a recession or just a change in spending habits related to online purchasing and discounting? I believe it's the latter and just possibly here to stay.

Beware of cheap cosmetic deals!

I must be on to something here. The British Medical Association has come out against the use of discount coupons to fund cheap cosmetic deals. The dignity of the medical profession seems at risk here rather as the dignity of the patient was at risk with the concept of selling access to well know surgeon's operating sessions. In that case it was to raise money for research.

Will we soon have reality shows where contestants fight to win the cancer operation of their choice? We already have Bridalplasty.

If we continue this concept to its logical conclusion we could extend it to the legal profession (a profession not well known for discounting) as criminals compete to win the prize of representation by the celebrity barrister. Can you imagine the episodes as competitors work their way through challenges like "who can rip the little old lady quickest" or who is best at the "long con", "the short con", "the internet scam"? Surely TV should pick up this idea- a reality program that is self funding as the competitors are sure to bring in money. There would be really interesting stories too; much more interesting than Survivor, Masterchef or the Great Race. Can't miss tonight's show as Gerry plans the heist down at the local RSL!

Self esteem plays a role in the use of cosmetic medicine.

There was an interesting piece on RN last night detailing the uses of Botox which range from treatment of severe clustered migraine to treatment of crows'  feet.

In our society where the internet offers information at the touch of a button it is interesting to note the two different stances on Botox treatment  in the public.

There is one group that says "fantastic it gets rid of my wrinkles and anything that does that is good" and the other group that just as strongly affirms "I don't put anything into my body that isn't natural". The latter includes the sub group of "getting old is normal and I'm not going to do anything about it". This is often said by those who pay no attention to anything in their appearance and I wonder if that is because they lack money for hairdressers and modern clothes; perhaps they simply don't care and don't think anyone else should either.

I would be the first to agree that one can choose one's appearance. Like Trinny and Suzanna I want to force people to look better groomed but wouldn't drag people off the street because their look displeased me. Their raison d'etre appears to be that lack of self esteem underlies the daggy tops and baggy pants and bad haircuts.

Could this be so in the area of cosmetic medicine also? Are those with very low self esteem those who won't come for treatment; or are those who won't come for treatment those souls happy in their skin and highly self confident? Or do they have a different aesthetic ?

I think low self esteem plays a major part for this group ; naturally cost is a significant draw back. Well groomed women who are not rich come for treatment. They save their money and pay for their treatment. They don't use credit. The simply sloppy don't come at all. Are they not informed or do they live in a demographic just the same as them where they look the same as everyone else? Perhaps they truly see themselves as beautiful but I doubt it.