The Dusshera holiday season is fast approaching and, like every year, people are getting ready to go shopping.
However, things have changed a bit this year. Amid the Covid restrictions imposed by the government due to the pandemic situation, people nowadays prefer online shopping over conventional purchases.
The COVID19 situation across the country has been a spoiler for last year’s festivities which also continue this year. Although last year people were reeling with fear of COVID, the scenario has changed this year. In addition, the digital boost has transformed long-standing business practice. Instead of piling up in the markets, people prefer shopping online. Different mobile applications and e-commerce sites have effectively taken precedence over conventional purchasing. With just a few clicks, people can buy everything that also ships to their doorstep within days. This, of course, saves many from unnecessary rushing into public places and helps prevent the transmission of COVID.
It’s not that people didn’t go online shopping before the COVID situation, but people’s reliance on different e-commerce portals has increased dramatically amid the fear of COVID. Meanwhile, online shopping brands are launching exciting offers amid the festivities to entice “new age” shoppers. Buyers are also turning to online shopping with attractive discount coupons and more.
“Due to the COVID situation, we cannot visit the markets for shopping. Items purchased from e-commerce sites are easily delivered to the door and we can also rely on the quality of the products. range of options from which to choose sites, â€said Mitali, an online shopper from Bhubaneswar.
“The products bought online are a little cheaper than in conventional stores. With the enticing party offers, we are able to buy good, high-priced range products for a lower price. We don’t even have to. need to go out to shop, â€said another Cuttack online shopper.
As e-commerce sites fill up with “new age†shoppers, conventional stores in different markets seem deserted.
“People can now buy products from their homes through e-commerce platforms. Shopping portals present a wide variety of options that we have in our conventional stores, for which shoppers are turning to digital shopping, â€said Natasha Sahoo, a traditional store owner from Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, Kulmani Sahoo, manager of a shopping center in Cuttack, said: “COVID has also ruined this Dusshera. We expected sales growth in the middle of the holiday season. But, with the option of online shopping, people part with their preferences. “
Twin City Cuttack-Bhubaneswar has witnessed a massive escalation in online shopping preferences amid fear of COVID. Whereas previously a delivery man delivered 40-50 orders per day, the number has now grown to over 100 orders.
Apart from this, experts have also found that digital commerce is booming across the country.
According to expert business analyst Trinath Lenka, while digital activity rose to $ 14 billion in 2014, it grew to $ 64 billion in 2020, before rising to ISD 80 billion in October 2021. Considering current growth, it can be argued that the numbers could reach $ 184 billion by 2025 and by 2027 they could exceed $ 200 billion.
As many people have yet to straighten their backbone financially amid the COVID situation, enthusiasm for the holiday season is lacking among all.
