Ecommerce will continue toshape the retail market for years. Currently, 12.4 % of totalretail sales come from ecommerce, but that number is expected togrow significantly in the next five years. By 2025, ecommerce willaccount for 25% of total retail sales. As it does, ecommerce willshape the retail market.

"Consumers want things faster with more flexibility and lesshassle and there are no signs that the trend is likely to slow downbut rather the opposite," Scott Recknor, managingdirector and head of asset management at Black CreekGroup, tells GlobeSt.com. "For instance, Cyber Mondaysales this year were higher than ever before totaling $9 billion,up 19% from $7.9 billion last year. And, ecommerce is still in itsinfancy with the sector making up about 12% of total retail salesand is expected to grow to 25% by 2025."

While online sales will gain market share, brick-and-mortar willcontinue to play an important role in the market. Retail andecommerce will continue to balance the retail market. "We areactually seeing ecommerce complementing retail with greateradoption of omnichannel distribution," says Recknor. "Businessesare changing how they operate, understanding the importance ofoffering the consumer more flexibility by either purchasing orreturning products either online or in-store. Warby Parker, Casper,Wayfair and Amazon have really done this well. I recently read thatcompetition among retailers has led to a 41% growth of BOPIS (buyonline, pickup in-store) services this year, which proves the pointthat shoppers are increasingly looked for convenience and timesaving."