Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by asifa
Picture this scenario: Several important guests are expected to land at your doorstep today, and you realise that you have run out of milk and sugar for tea. It is at such crucial moments the true worth of the Kirana stores becomes evident! Kiranas have fresh milk, sugar and perhaps even snacks readily available that can come to your rescue! That’s the advantage many neighbourhoods enjoy when they have a reliable and well-stocked Kirana store nearby.
Kirana Stores: The Heart Of The Neighborhood
For many people, Kirana stores are not just small shops. Wrapped in nostalgic memories of simpler days, these small-sized business establishments are the backbone of the community. Often found on the side of an unobtrusive street, these stores are a popular choice among local customers looking for kitchen staples like milk, bread, eggs, etc.
As the pulse of the community, Kirana stores have stood the test of time, offering personalised service and fostering a sense of belonging. But, in the face of modernisation and ever-expanding markets, how can we ensure that the Kirana stores thrive and grow beyond their traditional boundaries? Many challenges threaten the existence of small Kirana stores. From selling, buying, and account management to attracting customers, these small Kirana stores face many challenges, many of which can be fixed with the use of technology. Let’s take a quick look at some of the pressing problems that typically affect Kirana store owners.
Shoestring Budget: Pervasive Financial Challenges
Finance is one of the essentials of running a Kirana store, and they usually have a tight budget. So the range, size, and number of products depend on the collateral they can arrange to buy the products.
Outdated And Outmatched: Inability To Attract New Customers
One of the challenges the Kirana store owners face is attracting new customers, who are also tech-savvy. They may have a loyal base, but they need innovative ideas to expand. Also, unlike department stores, they cannot stock the latest products or provide offers, complimentary gifts, etc. Plus, modern customers have various options, and they can be easily enticed by trendy retail shops, which means low sales and profit margins for the Kirana stores. Competing with brand-heavy stores has become an uphill battle for these traditional shops.
Stifled Growth: The Struggle For Expansion
They are usually run in a small space, so they cannot have a window display of a range of products. Customers refrain from purchasing in compact spaces, and that further hinders their business expansion plan.
Brand Battles: Overwhelming Marketing Challenges
Since Kirana stores are on a tight budget, the only marketing they rely on is word of mouth. Since they cannot invest in marketing, it can cost them in terms of profit margins.
These challenges have wreaked havoc on the livelihoods of Kirana store owners, testing their resilience in an ever-evolving market. Many have even shut their shutters, unable to sustain the relentless competition from big brand retail stores and e-com giants and mounting financial pressures.
Finding The Pathway To A Bright Digital Future: Kirana Stores Have A New Ally
Technology can act as an enabler for this unorganised but promising retail sector. This sector holds so much promise that a new term, “Kirantech,” has come into existence. It is any technology that provides efficiency to the everyday functioning of the Kirana. In the ever-changing landscape of retail, these humble establishments have now found a new ally in technology-driven delivery apps, empowering them to expand their market reach beyond the streets they have long called home. While many tech solutions promise to solve the above said challenges, there are very few, like Flocco, that actually do it the right way. They ensure that the entire chain (Kirana store owners, delivery partners, and customers) is happy with their innovative, efficient, and sustainable solutions.
Empowering Kirana Stores: Inventory Mastery With Delivery App Platforms
Managing inventory is one of the most crucial aspects of running a local kirana store. Many store owners are unable to track their inventory, which means they miss out on sales opportunities. With the use of delivery app platforms, inventory management, procurement, online sales, etc., are available to the Kirana store owners. They can use the services of the platform to offer more services and products without having to spend more working capital. The application can also analyse sales trends and provide suggestions on which products to have more of in the coming days. Apart from helping with inventory and making extra money, this platform enhances their competitiveness. The platform has a zero commission model, which helps even the small Kirana stores that are struggling to survive.
From Kirana To Your Doorstep: Convenience Guaranteed
The customers too get benefits from the use of this application, as they can purchase from their favourite local store online without having to go physically to the shop. The groceries chosen from the neighbourhood Kirana store are delivered to the home by the delivery partners, making the entire process simple and convenient.
Digitally Connecting The Neighborhood’s Corner Store
In a world of fierce competition, delivery apps like Flocco offer a helping hand with their grocery delivery app to the local and hyperlocal Kirana stores, with features and benefits to compete with the huge modern retailers. Thanks to such innovative partnerships, the heart of our communities, the Kirana stores, continue to thrive, bridging tradition with convenience for generations to come.
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