Transformation of Urban Shopping in India: A Double-Edged Sword
Patna: The landscape of shopping in urban India has been irrevocably transformed by the advent of quick commerce and e-commerce. With mere taps on a smartphone, essentials—ranging from groceries to pharmaceuticals—arrive at consumers’ doorsteps, often within mere hours.
This unprecedented convenience, however, carries an insidious price: a gradual yet pervasive erosion of social interactions and a dwindling of neighborhood markets that once served as the heart of community life.
Shopping transcended mere transactions; local markets and general stores acted as vibrant hubs of social engagement, where residents exchanged news and shared communal ties.
The increasing reliance on online platforms has led to a thinning of these shared spaces, consequently diminishing the small yet significant interactions that previously fortified community bonds.
B. S. Tiwari, a 45-year-old resident of Raja Bazar, reflects on this shift with nostalgia. “In the past, I meticulously prepared a monthly shopping list and visited my local general store. Nowadays, I predominantly shop online, only buying food grains from the store,” he recounts.
While this transition undeniably saves time, Tiwari concedes it comes with an emotional peso. “Despite the convenience, I feel we are gradually drifting toward isolation. Yet, time-saving demands prevail.”
For elderly residents, the convenience offered often addresses real needs, yet it does not come without its emotional toll. A resident from Samanpura, now in her sixties, notes, “My children now handle the orders for me.
I used to enjoy shopping independently, but health issues restrict my mobility. Advising me against venturing out alone, my children oversee everything digitally—from medications to groceries. While I benefit from quick commerce, I keenly miss the social interactions of shopping.”
The repercussions of this shift are acutely evident at local storefronts. Small shop owners report a drastic decline in foot traffic as consumers increasingly opt for online shopping. Pradeep Jaiswal, who has helmed a shop for nearly half a century, reveals, “My business has halved.
Quick commerce allows consumers to procure items with a mere click, especially fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). E-commerce posed challenges, but the emergence of quick commerce has severely impacted us, and we struggle to find competitive alternatives.”
Purushottam Kumar, another veteran in the general store arena near Naya Tola, concurs: “Undoubtedly, our business has witnessed a 50% decline, and we are grappling with the consequences.”
Source link: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
