Page 59 - Grasp English C1+ (Workbook)

Fashıon ın Technology 6

C. Read the text. Do you think the author’s attitude towards e-commerce is largely positive or negative?
Why?

D. Read the text again. Mark the sentences as true (T) or false (F).

1. The popularity of e-commerce has been decreasing in recent years.
2. The most important reason for the success of e-commerce is the low prices it offers consumers.
3. Drones are now being used to cut delivery times.
4. E-commerce affords people a greater variety of suppliers to purchase from.
5. There are greater costs involved in running a business digitally.
6. Fewer staff are needed for e-commerce because the opening hours are less rigid.
7. You can buy toiletries, groceries, clothes and entertainment products online.
8. Businesses often use our social media accounts to affect our purchasing habits.

E. Look at the words in the boxes and answer the questions.

business owner couch potato consumer merchandise high-street shops

purchases retailer showroom staff supplier warehouse premises

Which words can refer to:
a) the products? b) locations? c) people?

F. Read the situation below.

You are a small business owner. You run a shop with your family in the city centre, employing your partner
and three adult children. You sell locally-produced fabric, and your customers are generally the older
generation, who are not particularly technology-literate. Sales are good, although one of your children
wants to expand the company business. Unfortunately, your landlord has recently increased the rent on
your property.
Your options are:
a) Reduce your workforce. Having three members of staff rather than five will cut costs.
b) Close the shop and set up a website. You’ll probably lose your current customer base, but would then
be able to sell further afield.
c) Set up a second shop in another town which one of your children could manage. The initial cost would
be high, but you hope to make the money back quickly.

Discuss the three options with a partner and decide together, which would be the best and why.
Alternatively, think of a fourth option which could help the business owner.

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