Is the rise of online shopping driving most small and medium business stores out of business?
By Anish Asokan
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
India
September 7, 2024 4:18am CST
Ecommerce has transformed the purchasing behaviour of the people. Consumers can easily look at wide variety of products at their convenience, compare the features and prices and buy them at any time.
With rise of online shopping, most small and medium business stores are facing survival challenges. With rise in operational costs, it is often difficult for many physical stores to survive even for a year. I have personally seen many outlets closed in malls. For other physical stores, I have not been able to figure how they are able to survive. One guess is probably they too would have become part of ecommerce ecosystem and getting some sales using the hybrid model.
Unless these stores are having a niche market and having a solid and good personalized customer service and unique products, I do not see how these stores can survive. So, do you feel with rise of online shopping driving most small and medium business stores out of business?
7 people like this
7 responses
@RebeccasFarm (90464)
• Arvada, Colorado
8 Sep
t's a valid concern. Online shopping has indeed disrupted traditional retail. However, many small businesses are adapting by embracing digital channels, offering unique products, or focusing on personalized service. While the landscape has changed, there's still room for brick-and-mortar stores to thrive with the right approach
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
Spot on! -Brick and mortar can thrive if they can change according to new business landscape. Thanks for sharing!
@cabuyogty (3061)
• Philippines
7 Sep
I think they are not driving away businesses because if you want to shop online there's a tendency that you will get scammed like you can receive damaged items or no items will come at your home. Online shopping is still reliable in some other cases like reasonable prices of online products.
1 person likes this
@cabuyogty (3061)
• Philippines
8 Sep
@RevivedWarrior They have already do and always will be 
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
That is one big demerit for online shopping - you could receive damaged or wrong product. Guess physical stores will stay in one way or another. Thanks for sharing!
@snowy22315 (182175)
• United States
7 Sep
Inline shopping has definitely hurt businesses of all sizes.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
Online definitely has taken down some if not all small businesses. Thanks for sharing!
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
There are definitely advantages in having online stores compared to physical stores for business people. Thanks for sharing!
@anya12adwi (9847)
• India
7 Sep
In malls, only some branded shops open up! So how does it affect small and medium business stores?? Can you provide some examples?
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (9847)
• India
9 Sep
@RevivedWarrior Example?? I hardly have seen small and medium businesses in the malls present over here! I cannot still wrap my head around it although I have heard about it earlier too.
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
Some of the small and medium business stores are suppliers for branded shops in malls. With less customers to these shops, these neary small and medium business stores also lose their indirect business. There are service providers who lose business , as they used to get business from the shops in malls.
@porwest (92588)
• United States
9 Sep
@RevivedWarrior Right. But certainly any small business should be smart enough to go where the money is. Doesn't have to be Amazon. There are other ways. In business, you adapt or die. And if you die, it's because something was wrong about your business and your method of attracting customers.
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
Not all small businesses are jumping into Amazon . Either they lack vision or there could be other procedural challenges.
@solidcodes (1765)
• Philippines
7 Sep
online business is the norm.
physical stores are very expensive to maintain.
1 person likes this
@RevivedWarrior (2485)
• India
8 Sep
Physical stores have become expensive to maintain in most place. Thanks for sharing!
