Nowadays, buying products online has become
second
nature to many, not only in big cities but
also
in small towns. With the advent of
internet
connectivity
, some would argue that online shopping will take over all shops in towns and cities. In my opinion, while it is true that online shopping has become pervasive, but shutting down all shops due to it is a far-fetched idea.
Firstly
, buying things online requires access to a reliable high-speed
internet
connection, which is still a long-shot for many in non-metropolitan cities. While there has been significant investment in network infrastructure over the past years, it has not been enough to sustain an online economy in smaller towns.
Additionally
, the lack of enough power, especially in rural regions,
further
affects
internet
connectivity
.
For example
, despite the fastest growth of mobile phone adoption in India as compared to the world,
internet
penetration is still at a meagre 12%. The dearth of consistent
internet
connectivity
still hampers the growth of online services in many cities.
Another factor which moves the argument in favour of shops is the personal connection which they provide to local neighbourhoods.
In other words
, many people still prefer to touch and feel the products before buying them.
Moreover
, they like to ask questions to the shopkeeper about the items, which may be locally sourced in many instances. The ability to see and evaluate the products and chat with the seller is an experience still revered by many.
For instance
, while companies like Amazon and Flipkart have grown tremendously, in India they still run programs to use local shops and dealers for
last
-mile
connectivity
, a term they use to reach out to their remotest consumers.
This
only shows the influence of
such
shops in their local society.
In conclusion, despite the popularity of buying things on the
internet
, physical stores will continue to stay as the trend of online shopping is yet to reach many due to infrastructure issues and many still prefer the experience of physical shopping from local stores.