Customers turn to online shopping

Traders say digital shopping impact their businesses

RAWALPINDI:

A large number of shoppers in Ramadan have started online shopping ahead of Eid.

Earlier, the coronavirus pandemic turned out to be a blessing for this sector and the enterprises acted to fill the gap created by the physical closure of businesses.

A large number of citizens are shopping online for Eid to avoid the rush in the market and heat. The growing trend of online shopping is causing trouble for the business community in Rawalpindi. There are six big bazaars in Rawalpindi Cantonment and City which used to be popular among Eid shoppers.

A large number of shoppers from the suburbs of Rawalpindi, and Kashmir visited these markets every year before Eid. These bazaars have cheap, expensive, low and high quality, new designs all kinds of apparel for women and children and adults and. Every year, during the month of Ramazan, traders made good profits. However, due to the change in the trend of Eid shopping over the last two years, Rawalpindi traders mostly sit idle waiting for customers as the growing trend of online shopping has impacted their businesses.

Tahir Taj Bhatti, a business leader of Moti Bazaar in Raja Bazaar, Rawalpindi, told The Express Tribune that a large number of shoppers have been opting for online shopping in the last two years due to coronavirus. He said that there was no doubt about the fact that big frauds have taken place with online shoppers. Even so, online shopping is a good option.

He said that through online shopping, any buyer can choose and buy all kinds of varieties from the comfort of their own home. He said that the earlier buyers used to go to the market after the 10th of the fasting month as women, children and adults all did the shopping and the business community made good profits.

He said that people have not started shopping in bazaars this year but online Eid shopping has started. He said that in the last few years, people have not turned to bazaars for Eid shopping due to the coronavirus and now they doing online shopping in case of extreme heat and fasting. He said that it is obvious that when a large number of buyers prefer online shopping, the traders will suffer a lot and it will be difficult to run a business.

Bank Road business leader Zafar Qadri said that online shopping as well as various discounts and sales and other offers offered by big brands have ruined small businesses. "Obviously, if a buyer is offered a complimentary suite with a suit in online shopping, he will never go to the market," he said. They offer everything from a suit to cosmetics to shoes. He said that small traders did not earn enough profit to offer a discount.

Business leader Yasir Butt said that at present, only those who do use social media were not doing online shopping. “Today's young generation is buying everything online. It has impacted big businesses. He said that traders who switched to digital marketing five years ago are happy today. He said that small traders did not have the money to pay rent and the salaries of salesmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2022.