In the early days, when people needed something, they came to the market, they came to your shop, owned by their friendly neighborhood business owner, you. Then came along eCommerce, apart from the novelty, convenience played a major role in driving people towards this new wave of commerce.
This trend was further boosted by the emergence of smartphones, and the rapid increase of their popularity with the general public, which brought the world of commerce to the fingertip.
To capitalize on this trend multiple e-commerce companies entered the field, intensifying the competitive landscape, and started to distinguish themselves through wider product selection and more innovative services. In this war for e-commerce dominance, less than a few companies came out on top, crushing the competition and revolutionizing the sector with new technology.
So now, in the place of commerce, we have e-commerce. Now people don’t have to go out to buy, it’ll be delivered to them and they started getting used to this new brand of commerce.
Then came the global pandemic forcing us to change our way of life. Since the time the COVID-19 frenzy broke out in early 2020, retail locations saw an enormous plunge in footfall and income.
As per a review by the Retailers Association of India, retail deals in India dropped by 79% in 2021 contrasted with 2019. This occurred because of the country’s closure during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report additionally says that beauty, wellness, and personal care had the greatest drop in the retail area, falling by 87%, trailed by footwear, which fell by 86%.
The food and staple industry had a superior fall when contrasted with others, with a 34 percent drop, while restaurants had a 70 percent drop. Then again the E-Commerce industry in India has seen an enormous upsurge because of COVID-19 and there is significant space for future development it has been anticipated to develop by 84% to a mammoth $111 billion by 2024, says a report.
This made these eCommerce companies superpowers in this goldmine. And, now they’ve begun monopolizing the market. You, my dear local business owners, allowed these companies to co-exist only because you respected the concept of a level field of play. But what did you get in return for your code of honor? Betrayal! Yes, they betrayed you when they replaced the idea of market co-existence with absolute unethical dominance. Then, at that point, they needed to be companions with you, presently they need to be your lords. Now they think they’re too big to fail, too powerful to scare. It is only a matter of time before these evil monopolies become the arbitrators of opinion and decide the fate of businesses. This is not only about the survival of the business but of democracy itself.
India has north of 15 lakh current retail locations that create Rs 5 lakh crore worth of business. Very nearly 60 lakh individuals are utilized at these stores. India is gazing at a situation where 30% of the retail locations would close down, prompting 18 lakh individuals to lose their jobs. Beware, my brethren, “Winter is Coming.”
To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. Wait no more, suffer no more, I say to all the Business owners and entrepreneurs, you must take the power away from the Monopoly! And must not allow them to dictate the rules for your business and profit. Theatricality and deception are powerful agents these monopolies are using to keep your business under oppression. The oppressors of business who have kept you down with myths of opportunity, and we want to give it back to you… The local business owners, our friendly neighborhood.
Your business is yours. None shall interfere. You must do business as you please to enjoy the profit you rightfully deserve. Start by storming the influence of monopoly, and freeing your business from their oppression!
Step forward, brave ones, those who would serve this noble cause. An army will be raised to fight against the tyranny of monopolization. Stop supporting your destroyers. Your destroyers, hold you by means of your endurance, your generosity, your innocence, and your love for your business. The world will change only when you are ready. It’s time you stand, fight and win. The time is now.
Source: LinkedIn
