Although coronavirus causes rhythmic decline, life goes on with new realities. Eid is moving hard in the midst of the epidemic.
Demand for this specialty has grown significantly as a result of recent corporate scandals. However, there is no opportunity to go around multiple markets and buy Eid gifts for loved ones.
Health conscious people are rushing to the virtual marketplace to shop for their own safety and that of their family. Has online shopping increased in Bangladesh? Those concerned with online market management are saying that it is not only growing, it is growing at a faster rate than expected.
Many companies are struggling to cope with the purchasing pressure of buyers. Online sales of various brand shops have increased 5 to 10 times compared to a year ago.
Due to this, a company selling goods is failing to deliver even with the purchase order of certain products. Due to the increase in infection, he decided to shop online this year. Everything from three-pieces and saris to cosmetics are being sold online.
Women entrepreneurs are promoting their products on Facebook Live. However, in many cases there are problems with getting timely delivery. As Samimai said, 'I ordered the shoes of one of the top brands with advance money two weeks ago but did not understand the product.
The company said it had run out of stock at the time of the order, but now it has run out of stock. Without these problems, online shopping would have increased. Residents of Baitul Aman Society in Mohammadpur regularly buy products online. He said that if you go to the market, you have to deal with the crowd, without which there is a fear of corona infection. There is no fear in online shopping.
It also saves time and offers a lot of discounts. Butter Marketing Manager said that they had a preconceived notion that online shopping would increase as the Corona infection increased. But the demand has increased a lot compared to the idea.
This has created a shortage of some of the more popular products. In the first three months of this year, last year's sales have surpassed last year's sales, although Eid sales are not over yet. In addition to the online Bata BD shop, a new sales service called 'Bata Chat Shop' has been launched to increase the interest of the buyers. People are more interested in various types of clothes in Eid shopping.
So sales in brand shops have multiplied. Arang Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ashraful Islam said that where 150-200 orders were received per day in 2019, now it has increased from 1,200 to 1,500.
Not just within the country; Online orders are coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia. Online sales have increased almost 10 times in the last one year. In addition to developing a customer-friendly website due to the interest of the people, the app has also been launched.
His company is offering free home delivery to buyers who purchase products worth 100 or more from abroad. Arang said that in the developed world, the payment system through bank cards is not as strong as in Bangladesh. He also said that there is a crisis of confidence in him on various issues.
The scope of the online market is unlimited. There is no need to come to town now to buy all the products from clothes to cosmetics. Now you can get the products of all brand shops in Dhaka sitting in the village.
Reaching home in 24 to 48 hours. Traders said, although some people are still indifferent to the severity of the epidemic, many people are alert.
For Eid, you want to buy clothes and other gifts for your loved ones, but you do not want to embrace death in any way. For health conscious people, various cards as well as cash on delivery facility have been widely introduced for online sales.
Online shopping is not limited to just the latest fashion products. From raw market to fruits or fish and meat - everything is matching online.
In February 2020, the sales were Tk 247 crore against 11 lakh 43 thousand orders. In February 2019, sales here were worth Tk 145 crore. However, sales of groceries and perishable goods are still far below the total market demand, said Mortuza Zaman, CEO of Supershop Unimart. He said buyers are accustomed to seeing and verifying groceries or fish and meat.
Even then, online orders on lockdown have increased. Although online orders are between 1 and 2 per cent of the total sales at outlets in normal times, it has risen to 5 per cent on lockdown.
Apart from that, there are many complaints about timely delivery. Public health experts say that to avoid the epidemic, public gatherings should be avoided.
The best way is to stay at home. Economists advise that those who can afford to avoid crowds in markets and shopping malls should shop online.
