8 Tips for Small Kirana Store Owners to Increase Their Business
Every community in India relies on the owners of small shops called “kiranas.”
Kirana shopkeepers, despite their modest operations, get repeat business from
loyal patrons because they focus on meeting the unique demands of their
neighbourhood or community. However, as e-commerce giants like Amazon
and Flipkart continue to expand globally, Kirana store owners will need to step
up their game to remain competitive. They can’t rely on their regular clientele
for much longer. To succeed, they need a way to differentiate themselves from
the established retailers.
In the modern era, everything from a television to a needle may be purchased
online. The question then becomes, how does a humble Kirana shopkeeper
make ends meet? India seems to have a Kirana store on every block, so it’s hard
for small business owners to make a living there.
Here are eight tips for small kirana store owners to enhance their business.
1. Launch a Web Store
In today’s digital world, having an online presence is essential for any company
that wants to stay ahead of the competition. Creating a Kirana shop’s online
counterpart is a breeze thanks to the abundance of no-cost resources that can be
found with a quick web search. You can get more customers if you buy a good
tool for making an online store and make a good marketing plan.
NBFCs provide unsecured business loans, making it simple for Kirana store
owners to broaden their operations. They can spend money on a good marketing
plan and a website to set themselves apart from other businesses in the area and
get more customers’ attention.
2. Discounts and Vouchers should be made available
Big box stores and online marketplaces like Amazon have revolutionised the
retail industry. People now choose to purchase even their most fundamental
needs online, thanks to the abundance of weekend offers and large festival sales.
Shopkeepers at small Kiranas have an opportunity to introduce special discounts
and sales on niche items and community favourites. Customers that are already
invested in the brand will be more likely to take advantage of discounts and
special offers.
3. Create a hassle-free environment for your Customers
Small Kirana proprietors can capitalise on their unique selling proposition by
capitalising on the fact that they are their clients’ first choice in times of crisis.
Once Kirana owners learn their customers’ likes and dislikes, they are better
able to meet their needs by keeping popular items in stock and sending out
alerts when customers’ orders have arrived.
4. Work with Other Stores to improve your Offerings
To better compete with online stores, Kirana proprietors could form a
cooperative. Because of this, shoppers may benefit from more competitive
pricing as stores compete for their business. In this way, the Kirana owners may
continue to operate in the face of competition from larger supermarkets and
department stores. Customers will return to the Kirana proprietors because of
the store’s convenient location and products that suit their tastes.
5. Keeping Weekend Hours
Some shopkeepers, even though they live close by, maintain set business hours,
such as 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The best hours for your Kirana store are 8 AM to 10
PM. Sunday and holiday hours could be added if you want to boost sales even
further. It’s clear that you’re making sales and money when other shop owners
would be resting or having fun.
Also, as most clients only have time to shop on weekends because of their
hectic schedules, this is when the majority of sales are made.
6. Make Sure each Customer is treated Individually
Numerous shifts have occurred in customer service, particularly during the
COVID era, when the lockdown caused a surge in demand for food and other
necessities. Business owners who boosted their Kirana service paid extra
attention to their customers, going above and beyond to ensure their survival
under the year’s worst lockdown. This suggests that the Kirana proprietors
would profit greatly from paying attention to this detail and delivering
individualised service. It has the potential to increase revenue and attract new
customers.
7. Improve Store Design
The design of Kirana shops with the customer in mind is often disregarded.
When it comes to providing a satisfying experience for your customers, you
can’t go wrong with a few tried-and-true designs. If the Kirana owners are
locals, they will have a good idea of what things are selling well and can tailor
the store’s layout to meet the needs of the community. To compete with bigger
chains and keep customers happy, Kirana store owners might want to rethink
how their stores are usually set up.
8. Creating a One-of-a-Kind Counter
Shopping for groceries is no longer as straightforward as it once was;
consumers now expect more from their outings to the supermarket. A Kirana
store might, for instance, have a cafe or snack bar attached so that customers
have somewhere to relax while they wait for their weekly groceries. In this way,
customers of all ages go toward Kirana shops for the convenience and, more
importantly, the social experience they provide.
Bottom Line
The owners of kiranas have been providing a valuable service to the public for
quite some time, but their businesses may soon be forced to close if they do not
make substantial investments in their future. Rapid progress has been made by
retailers and e-commerce firms in introducing novel techniques to attract more
customers. With more and more people turning to the web for anything from
weekly groceries to special holiday offers, online shopping is only expected to
grow. Customers will always go to a Kirana owner first in a crisis or when they
need something quickly, which is a great opportunity for those business owners.
In the end, having a nearby Kirana shop to run to in a pinch is like having a
lifeline. If the owners of Kirana stores spend money to improve their
management and customer service, they will have an unbeatable advantage over
their rivals.
