Ecommerce in India is at a nascent stage and is expanding at a tremendous rate. Consumer interest in online shopping is also increasing, in large part due to the growing number of smartphone and tablet users.
This industry has provided vast opportunities to people especially to the first generation entrepreneurs. Also, a person without any business background can do etailing from home as there is no real estate investment.
Offline sellers oppose ecommerce in India because they feel it as a major threat to their business. They are protesting and campaigning against ecommerce.
Considering that this business is new in India, there is a lot of room for improvement. Proper legislation is required to create healthy environment which is good for online as well as offline retailers.
Balance has to be maintained. Omni – channel ecommerce in India should also be encouraged.
We can not ignore the benefits of ecommerce. It has created awareness among customers about the quality and prices of the products. Customers get a fair deal by shopping online as the products are available at cheaper prices.
Viewing the latest developments in the ecommerce sector, even the brands have also realized the importance of online presence to compete in the market.
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Marketplaces like Flipkart and Snapdeal have provided online platform to the artisans and weavers to help them promote their products.
NSIC(National Small Industries Corporation) has started msmeshopping.com to promote mico, small and medium enterprises.
The governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have announced the setting up of online platform for farmers to trade their produce.
A social marketplace, gocoop, is helping rural craftsmen, weavers and artisans to sell directly to customers online.
These initiatives will help increase the profits of these hard working, talented people who actually deserve it.
How can anyone oppose such progress in good conscience? Instead of discouraging ecommerce entrepreneurs, offline retailers need to think about strategies to win the customers.
At a time when the government is making its best efforts to promote ecommerce in India at a greater rate, it would be a futile exercise to demand the closure of ecommerce business.
UPDATES
February 27, 2015: Snapdeal has started Dharavi – Snapdeal Store by partnering with Dharavimarket.com to provide platform to artisans and SMBs of Dharavi, a slum area of Mumbai. Read this.
March 5, 2015: Paytm, an online marketplace has partnered with Gujarat State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation to provide platform to local artisans to sell their products all over India. See the details.
April 26, 2015:
Co-optex(Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Co-operative Society) plans to tie up with ecommerce portals for sale of its products like sarees, bedsheets and apparels etc.
May 6, 2015:
OMFED(Orissa State Co operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited) has been asked by the state government to help dispose of surplus produce by selling milk and milk products online.
May 15, 2015:
TRIFED (The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd) functioning under Tribal Affairs ministry has tied up with Snapdeal to promote handicrafts crafted and sculpted by tribal artisans. This will help the tribal communities create new business opportunities all over India.
Photo via pixabay
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