Meet The Team
With a great topic comes a great responsibility, and fortunately for us, a great team.
The Leader- Akhil
Akhil is a guy filled with wanderlust, and with his passion to travel, he is surely going places. Also, he likes reading, both fiction and non-fiction, and will understand your Percy Jackson references. He also likes photography. He wants to become an archaeologist in the future.
The Book Geek/ Editor- Shaili
Shaili is the editor of the group. Also, she is a huge Potter-head. She loves reading, and could probably spend the rest of her life in a library. She also likes writing, drawing, and listening to music. The only dance form she knows is awkward moves. She wants to become a journalist.
The Graceful Swan- Nishtha
Nishtha has a passion for dancing, and will bedazzle you with her moves. She also likes drawing things. But don’t think she’s all beauty and grace, she wants to become a rocking pilot someday. Aim for the skies girl!
The Smart Guy- Aaditya
That’s what you think when you meet him, Aaditya, who has found liking in reading mythology, is very polite and quiet. but that’s not all: he wants to go into the field of business management. Aaditya, will we see you as a successful entrepreneur in the future?
The Sportsman - Saujas
Saujas likes reading books: but about weaponry. He also likes archery, and is quiet proficient at it. But it’s not just sports that makes his head turn, he wants to become a shrewd businessman when he grows up.
We must say, this is an interesting batch.
Local vs Online Shopping - Introduction
This year, our group will be talking about shopping, but not Gucci and Prada. We will be talking about a topic that is in the hots nowadays- Online shopping v/s Local shopping.
Our question is: would you prefer stepping out of the house and buying things, or would you do it on your phone, just a click away?
Online shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine, which displays the same product's availability and pricing at different e-retailers.
The growth of the internet as a secure shopping channel has developed since 1994, with the first sales of Sting album 'Ten Summoner's Tales'. Wine, chocolates and flowers soon followed and were among the pioneering retail categories which fueled the growth of online shopping.
Local shopping is the kind where you go to markets, malls, etc. and personally pick what you want. This was generally preferred in case of food stuffs over online shopping, but with great offers and a promise of fresh vegetables delivered at your doorstep, some people opt for the online purchase. But with the growing use of online shopping, vendors suffer significant losses.
In India, however, the sabzimandis (the vegetable market) and the local markets are still hugely popular among the common folk, as it gives them a satisfaction of personal inspection, and loads of bargaining.
This year, our team will strive to know, are the local vendors fighting a losing battle, or can online and local markets live in harmony? Or will the tables turn if the online markets lose popularity?
Stick with us in this interesting study.
Where We Work
The region we have chosen for the surveys is Mahavir Nagar which is a hotspot for frequent shoppers from nearby areas.
The region we have chosen for the surveys is Mahavir Nagar which is a hotspot for frequent shoppers from nearby areas.
Effects of Online Shopping in India
India is one of the five main retail hubs of the world that has a lot of scope for growth in the online sector. Online retail stores in India have taken the retail market by surprise.
Once thought to be a new trend that was unlikely to make a dent in the sales at physical stores, it has changed the way people shop. In both rural and urban area, people love to browse online retail stores in India. Retail online shopping in India is growing at a break-neck speed with everyone finding representation for their brands online to make a mark or stay visible.
Not just to establish themselves a brands, but also to stay in favour of the customers, online retail presence has become imperative.
Online retail shopping in India is a vast and varied affair. From supermarkets to specialty shopping stores, you will find everything you want to buy here. Whether it is apparel, shoes, socks, plumbing material, furniture, jewellery, food items or anything else you can imagine, you can order it online and have it home delivered.
Retail online shopping in India includes the biggest online retail brands to the local ones that are seeking a portion of the lucrative pie. With customised shopping experiences and great service, there is no reason why more shoppers do not convert to online retail shopping in India.
While India is still spending just a fraction of the percentage that countries like US spend on online shopping, the market is poised for a bigger boom than has already shaken the markets.
The malls and physical stores are feeling the pinch. Women have also taken to online shopping with a vengeance. They get to view more variety than anywhere else around them and partake of the greatest deals.
Reasons people prefer online shopping on retail property-
- Convenience: You don’t have to wait in a line or wait till the shop assistant helps you with your purchases. You can do your shopping in minutes even if you are busy, apart from saving time and avoiding crowds giving us the opportunity to shop 24 x 7.
- Better Prices: I get cheap deals and better prices from online stores because products come to you directly from the manufacturer or seller without middlemen involved. Many online shops offer discount coupons and rebates.
- Variety: One can get several brands and products from different sellers at one place. You can get in on the latest international trends without spending money on travel; you can shop from retailers in other parts of the country or even the world without being limited by geographic area.
- Fewer Expenses: Many times when we opt for conventional shopping we tend to spend a lot more than the required shopping expenses, on things like eating out, traveling, impulsive shopping etc
- Comparison of Prices: Online shops make comparison and research of products and prices possible. Online stores also give you the ability to share information and reviews with other shoppers who have first-hand experience with a product or retailer.
- Crowds: Everybody would like to avoid the crowds when they do the shopping. Crowds force us to do a hurried shopping most of the time. Crowds also create a problem when it comes to finding a parking place nearby where you want to shop and going back to your vehicle later loaded with shopping bags.
- Compulsive Shopping: Many times when we go out shopping we end up buying things which we do not require because of the shopkeepers’ upselling skills -- or we’ll compromise on our choices because of the lack of choices in those shops.
More comments about shopping online:
- Shopping online is so much easier than lugging my daughter around with me, and you can find great deals just about everywhere, that make up for the shipping and handling fees ~Mrs. Sujata Sharma, housewife ~
- Online shopping will become a necessity for most of the people in the world. You can easily compare price, features, function, and get the latest updates of any products just by your mouse! ~ Mr.Aakash Patel, Employee~
- Online shopping makes it easy for me to compare sellers before buying. I can get more detail before making a decision to buy or not. ~ Mr.Nilesh Joshi, Banker~
- Nowadays the car park charges are so high that it puts me off; and with online shopping I can look at what they have to offer without being bothered or interrupted by shop assistants.~ Mr.Rajesh Mehta, Businessman~
- With online shopping, we all benefit greatly from this endless competition between online retailers. Another excellent way to save money by buying online is deals offered by retailers, great discounts and savings only for those who purchase specific products online.~ Ms. Nisha Agarwal, College student~
- It is so much easier to sit at home, find my size, color, and style and then it's delivered to my front door.~Mr. Sahil Kannani, Tech geek~
- One can shop online from a worldwide selection of a specific product. Everything is just one click way from you -- and online comparison of prices helps to buy cheapest product within a specific quality range.~Dr.Premchand Rathi, Doctor~
- Online shopping is convenient and hassle free. In India more and more people are shopping online each day. And they are reaping the benefits as well. Some websites are also offering online shopping of grocery products – which I think is a leap forward from the typical online selling.~Ms.Tara Mehta, Teacher~
- Better prices is one of the main reasons that online shopping has taken off. The simple fact that the middle men are cut out of the delivery chain leads to a reduction in the cost and thus the final price of the product.~Mr.Aayushman Bhattacharya,C.A~
- I love online shopping because my dog is not allowed in a lot of stores, even though he is well behaved. I hate crowds and lines too.~Ms.Aisha Modi, Artist~
Data Collected
After some research, we have collected some data, here are some bar graphs to show the same.
Interviews
As a part of this project, we went out on the streets to interview people, and while some readily agreed, others were a bit shy.
Firstly, we interviewed Shop Owners.
Here we have an interview from Croma.
As a part of this project, we went out on the streets to interview people, and while some readily agreed, others were a bit shy.
Firstly, we interviewed Shop Owners.
Here we have an interview from Croma.
Next we have a written interview from Brand Factory.
interview_with_brand_factory.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Then, we decided to interview some passer-bys'.
We took their opinions on online and local shopping.
We took their opinions on online and local shopping.
Comparison
Yesterday, our video conference took place with the school CSW vd Perre, which gave us an immaculate picture of the scenario in their town regarding our topic- online shopping v/s local shopping. We asked them about their preference and choices on online and local shopping, and found that our opinions don’t differ much.
They too prefer for stepping out of their homes for buying items like groceries, whereas they would rather shop for clothes and electronics on online websites. We also found out that in their country they offer services like cash backs, and refunds, along with exchanging policies as after-sales policies.
We enjoyed the experience immensely, and hope that we can establish further contact with them.
Their input had been extremely helpful in our project.
Yesterday, our video conference took place with the school CSW vd Perre, which gave us an immaculate picture of the scenario in their town regarding our topic- online shopping v/s local shopping. We asked them about their preference and choices on online and local shopping, and found that our opinions don’t differ much.
They too prefer for stepping out of their homes for buying items like groceries, whereas they would rather shop for clothes and electronics on online websites. We also found out that in their country they offer services like cash backs, and refunds, along with exchanging policies as after-sales policies.
We enjoyed the experience immensely, and hope that we can establish further contact with them.
Their input had been extremely helpful in our project.
Reflection
In the study we found that though Online Shopping is quickly gaining popularity, lots Of Indians still prefer going out on the streets to buy things themselves. Our study has shown the highlights and defects of each type. We found that though Online Shopping may have its merits, it will take time for our country to truly accept it. While electronics and cloths are frequently bought online, groceries are still bought at local shops. It was interesting interviewing people and hearing their opinions.
In the study we found that though Online Shopping is quickly gaining popularity, lots Of Indians still prefer going out on the streets to buy things themselves. Our study has shown the highlights and defects of each type. We found that though Online Shopping may have its merits, it will take time for our country to truly accept it. While electronics and cloths are frequently bought online, groceries are still bought at local shops. It was interesting interviewing people and hearing their opinions.