Forrester predicts that online sales will reach $250 billion in 2014, capturing 8% of the total U.S. retail sales. But what sectors of online retail will explode? Which ones will become irrelevant?

E-commerce superstores like Amazon and Zappos will continue to expand by providing a wider product selection to suit everyone's needs so they become a hub for everything and anything, sort of like WalMart. Their impressive growth rates which quickly made them billion dollar companies aren't likely to come to a halt any time soon. E-stores like Amazon and Zappos are certainly hitting the long tail of retail, and are successful in doing so because consumers are having trouble finding miscellaneous products they want in their local retail stores. Amazon and Zappos make it easy to find and purchase the things you really want. Where else can I find organic soy milk in portable single-serve sizes? Perhaps Whole Foods, but I really hate waiting in those long lines, and it would be a disappointing and wasted trip if they didn't carry what I was looking for or was out of stock

Flash sale sites like Gilt, HauteLook and RueLaLa will reach more consumers who are looking for the latest and greatest deals on designer brands. Gilt Groupe even expanded to create Gilt City for flash deals in your local city. With consumers looking to minimize costs but maximize value, flash sale businesses came at the right time. Right now, there are scores of web-savvy consumers who would die for 70% off a pair of Nudie jeans, and would check in online several times a day to catch the most recent and available deals, which can disappear in minutes. These businesses win because they capitalized on maximized value to customers at minimized costs, at a time when consumer behaviors and technology enabled these businesses to boom.

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