Shopping has been both necessary and a favourite past-time since modern civilization can remember, but shopping has most certainly reached interesting and new horizons that people would never have thought possible. From shopping at the tailor, butcher or metalworker in the village – to shopping at the toymaker, clothing, food or shoe store in the city – to shopping at the department store downtown, which eventually developed into the idea of shopping malls today – to online, at-your-home shopping – the idea of shopping has evolved into one of the central parts of our civilization.

The real shopping revolution, however, has to be traced back to the department store shopping phenomenon. Whereas before, people would do their shopping by buying their shoes at the shoe store; their sweet shopping at the sweet store etc. the department store offered not just items to buy – but a shopping experience. From signing up the kids for bicycle lessons, sipping some tea, watching a film or even hearing a piano recital, the downtown department store is where things happened – transforming shopping into a social phenomenon.

 
The department store not only became central humdrums of where things were 'happening' but also started forming marketing concepts for shopping, through their advertising and expression of certain ideas like what femininity or masculinity meant, what popularity or citizenship meant; and placing the answers on the shelves : a top hat, lingerie, a tennis racket. Shopping at the department store meant you could do shopping and socialise, get the latest trends in fashion – all at a sufficiently cheaper price than the 'specialized' stores. Department stores played a major role at transforming the working class in the 20^th century, as now practically anyone could buy the latest trends and do their shopping conveniently. Very soon, department stores became the height of controversy as the arts and crafts found it despicable that you could pick up tea, shoes, a toy, a book and art all at the same place. Many main street shopping merchants soon had to close shop, due to the department store success.

 
As department stores grew and became more popular, the need to offer a better shopping experience to attract business became more prevalent. Eventually, these shopping stores were remodelled with marble floors, high ceilings, cathedral-like columns and included tea rooms, concert halls, restaurants and the like. It's very easy to see where the idea of the shopping mall came from.

 
In Australia today, department stores still exist in their modern form, having become national companies. They are best described by looking at Myer and David Jones, who hold the department stores duopoly. Discount department stores are also well known – such as Target, K-Mary and Big W. But the new shopping phenomenon is fast becoming the online experience, offered by Australian companies such as Factoryfast.com.au and others. Here, you can shop for a huge variety of items, at the comfort of your own home. Paying is easy, and the items are delivered straight to your home or office. E-commerce and online shopping is fast becoming a significant player in this industry, and is the obvious next evolution in shopping, mixing the idea of community and practicality together – as has always been the department store idea.