How have online retailers been able to expand so rapidly over the last 30 years?

by building their own factories to supply consumers
by selling goods over the internet direct to consumers, without store locations
by purchasing stores around the world and merging them together
by making deals with local retailers to distribute their products

The correct answer is: by selling goods over the internet direct to consumers, without store locations

Online retailers have been able to rapidly expand over the last 30 years by taking advantage of the internet to sell goods directly to consumers without the overhead costs associated with physical store locations. This allows them to reach a larger customer base and offer a wider range of products without the limitations of physical space. Additionally, online retailers can easily scale their operations and reach customers globally, leading to rapid expansion.