'Stay-at-home order' and offers of home delivery of goods are the two main factors boosting the online shopping stores these days.
Sale of garments, cloths, grocery and meat are witnessing some spike in sales after switching to online models that lead to more orders. Demand for online deliveries, especially food, garments and other essentials, has soar since the start of the stay-at-home government order owing prevailing corona virus.
This time majority of the customers are likely to prefer buying the stuff online instead of visiting the shops physically to avoid interaction with people. The trend of online shopping from the websites of the famous brands is already in practice by a large number of people especially women but this time it is required for maintaining safety of the citizens.
As the Eid is nearing; online spending is on the rise shoppers to stay surf the web for the best deals on products and services making Eid shopping online. As all stores of garments are closed in the city online shopping is only way to make some shopping for Eid especially for children. As a precautionary measure to curtail social interaction amid Corona Virus threats, shopkeepers have started offering good discounts on dresses, shoes and other accessories to give an opportunity to the buyers for having good stock of required stuff at the Eid season. This year, many website brings the most exciting online deals on a wide selection of different products including garments, grocery items, food, vegetables products. However online shopping is still not very popular in Pakistan. Complaints also received that about delay in supply of good in general and abut garment in particular. Delivery of garments took 5 to 10 days after placing order and making payments online, buyer said. However delivery of food items remains satisfactory.
The businessmen said they are going to expand their initiatives on online sales as the restrictions are eased on online sales goods. "With e-commerce, at least we have some opening now which is a one positive step," said businessmen. "Our full focus will now be on scaling up our digital presence and app," they said.
However, online and phone orders still only make up very nominal of the hypermarket's sales as well as Eid sale, while the bulk of sales still coming from customers visiting stores, despite the lockdown. Stores with online services are getting increasing orders of various essential commodities but they are unable to meet the orders due to the prevailing lockdown which has also disrupted courier services. In last few days online orders received through mobile apps increase substantially, which reflected a major change in shopper preferences whereby a large number of customers preferred to use such a service to avoid the risk of stepping out of their homes. It has become a common practice for the brands to offer good discounts on different occasions including Eid festivals and Holy month of Ramadan etc. Eid is always a time when people need to shop clothes, shoes and other accessories for there selves and kids. It is a good tradition that not only famous brands are offering discounts on dresses and shoes but also the famous online retailers of all the home, electronics and kitchen accessories are offering good discounts ahead of Eid.