If you are a small to medium sized retailer in India who is selling groceries and other essentials then it is time you start doing something about the increasing influence of the ecommerce to save your business from going obsolete. As you might have already noticed, especially in the metro cities, more and more customers these days prefer to buy online for all the convenience that online shopping offers. This is an important aspect of the consumer behaviour change in India which the retailers cannot ignore anymore of they have to thrive in this competitive marketplace.
Covid 19 pandemic was a game changer in the evolution of online commerce in India. The lockdowns imposed by the regulatory authorities forced many users to consider buying their groceries and other essentials online. The situation that prevailed back then forced many to learn how to buy online and how to use ecommerce websites and apps. Recognizing this opportunity, many established FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) giants, organised retain chains and several start-ups made a foray into the world of online commerce, either in the traditional ecommerce model or in the quick commerce model and offered many attractive deals and prices to attract customers. This obviously triggered a ripple effect and increased the ecommerce users in India by 4 folds.
Now that we are out of pandemic, offline commerce is getting back on its feet, but it is not the same as before and it won’t be. There is more and more competition and the consumers have adapted to buying online. As this trend continues, it is given that the small and medium sized retailers would surely perish that if they do not adapt to the new market dynamics and continue to be under the illusion that the offline is the way to go and they can still thrive by just selling offline. So, it is more important now than ever to consider selling online to make sure you survive and also grow your business.
Following is a very short overview of how selling online would help your business:
1. Increased Market Reach: Selling only offline restricts your ability to reach a broader audience. With an online presence, you can potentially sell to customers city wide and across cities, whereas offline sales are limited to a local or regional customer base.
2. Increased Customer Convenience: Online shopping offers convenience to customers, allowing them to shop 24/7 from the comfort of their homes. Without an online presence, you may miss out on customers who prefer the convenience of online shopping.
3. Increased Sales Potential: The internet provides a platform for increased sales and revenue. Without an online store, you may miss out on a significant revenue stream, especially if your competitors are selling online.
4. Data and Analytics: Online sales platforms provide valuable data and insights about customer behaviour, preferences, and trends. This data can be used to make informed business decisions, improve products, and tailor marketing strategies. Without an online presence, you miss out on this data.
5. Lower Operational Costs: Operating solely offline may require a physical storefront, which can result in higher overhead costs related to rent, utilities, and staffing. Online businesses often have lower operating costs.
6. Competitive Advantage: Many businesses have moved online, and if your competitors have a strong online presence, you may be at a competitive disadvantage by not selling online.
7. Marketing Opportunities: Online marketing channels, such as social media, search engine optimization, and email marketing, offer effective and cost-efficient ways to promote your products or services. Without an online presence, you miss out on these marketing opportunities.
8. Adaptation to Changing Consumer Behaviour: Consumer behaviour is evolving, and more people are shopping online. Not selling online can make your business less adaptable to these changing trends.
9. More Flexibility: Operating offline can make it challenging to adapt to unexpected situations, such as a global pandemic, where online sales can offer a lifeline for businesses.
10. Better Brand Visibility: An online presence helps in building brand visibility and recognition. Not being present online can hinder your ability to establish and grow your brand.
While there are advantages to offline sales, such as face-to-face customer interactions and personal touch, it’s essential to carefully consider and put in efforts to start selling online. In many cases, businesses benefit from having both offline and online sales channels to reach a broader customer base and adapt to changing market conditions.
Santhe.in has come up marketplace apps that allows you to quickly set up your shop profile online and start selling immediately. All you have to do is download the Santhe Merchant App and register your shop profile, add your delivery settings and payment details. Once done you can either start adding products to product catalog yourself or reach out to the Santhe team to get them to add more than 1000 products to your product catalog. Santhe is by far one of the most cheapest, easiest and convenient platform for you to sell online.
Install Santhe Merchant App and start selling online today!
