In India, offline Kirana food stores still hold 92 % of the grocery retail market. People in small towns with a substantial Indian population still prefer the convenience of going to a grocery store and picking up the products they want. It’s challenging for a kirana shop owner to keep pace with a demanding consumer.
Metro cities, on the other hand, are undergoing a huge transformation. Customers’ demands are increasing, and local kirana shops must upgrade to meet their evolving needs.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 best practices that can help you in empowering your traditional kirana shop to keep pace with your industry.
Take advantage of Technology
If you own an old-school kirana shop, it’s high time you started using technology to your benefit. You don’t need to spend a lot of money here. You can get the outcome you want with a small investment. For example, simply implementing a modest Point of Sale system can transform your store by improving store administration, inventory management, and product tracking. You can stay compliant with GST on the go and use data analytics to help your business thrive.
Localize your search
As a grocery store, you can localise your business by stocking locally popular foods such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, and cheese and also by advertising them online. This is the most efficient method of being known in your local areas.
Farmers’ markets are becoming increasingly popular, especially in small towns and cities. It is a sustainable and eco-friendly way of living. When small business owners encourage healthy lifestyle choices in their community, it is reaching an increasing number of households every day.
Highlight on Social Media
Highlighting these local activities on social media will help raise knowledge about your shop. In no time, your small store will be known for its uniqueness. If it’s mango season, for example, and you’ve just purchased juicy mangoes for your store, post about them on social media and let the locals know that they’ll get them first and at the best price from you.
Diversify Products
Expanding the variety of products in your kirana shop is an effective way to update it. It will get you higher customer traffic. Introduce a fresh variation of a popular section into your kirana store. Take a quick customer survey and ask them about their favourite options. These activities will engage your customers and make them feel valued. Such progressive and optimistic atmosphere will naturally draw more customers to the store.
Adopt the Omni-Channel Marketing Strategy
Local kirana stores can reach a wider audience by utilising omni-channel marketing. However, traditional kirana shops are usually cash-strapped, so they are unable to use a variety of channels to reach out to customers. Supermarkets on the other hand, score higher since they utilise these channels.
If it can work for a supermarket, it will almost likely work for little kirana shops too. These little kirana shops are in a way miniatures of the larger shopping malls. Locals are the only ones who shop at traditional kirana stores. This strategy will allow a traditional kirana shop to grow its customer base and move towards a larger expansion.
Provide home delivery facility
Grocery shopping can be a chore for many people, especially now that they can buy food and almost everything else online.
Ask yourself this question – What will drive your customers to continue to visit your store when they can find the same products on Amazon? Why would they take that pain to go out if they can get it online, sitting at home?
Many stores are already offering home delivery as an option. If your shop is not, why not? Customers are happy to pay you extra for the home delivery service. Whether you offer this service yourself or link up with a company like Instacart, your customers will appreciate having the option.
Get a website for your shop!
There are three ways to get the products of your kirana store online:
- You can list your kirana store on major online shopping websites, such as Amazon and Flipkart, to attract more customers.
- You can register your store online, and if someone buys something, you can ship it to them.
- You can also make your own website.
This will allow your regular customers to order from the comfort of their own homes, while still receiving the customised service from your kirana shop. It’ll be a hit with your frequent customers!
Design your store & engage your customers
As a small business owner, you must understand that first impression is the last impression. The more appealing your store is, the more likely customers are to purchase from you.
The warm presence of the shop is much more powerful than any kind of marketing. A well-designed and modernised kirana store generates 40% greater sales. Your kirana store’s racks and fixtures should be constructed to maximise product display while providing a clearer view of products and deals.
Instor specialises in the design of small-format kirana stores. Its fixtures and designs provide a high level of aesthetic value while also ensuring optimal space utilisation and increased in-store consumer flow. Instor’s display racks and shelving racks, as well as storage units and cash registers, make your store stand out, make it more customer-friendly, and help you get a better return on your investment.
Always keep the door open for the customers
Customers who intend to make purchases early in the morning before or after office hours will be unable to do so if your shop opens at 10 a.m. and closes early, say at 8.30 p.m.
Many kirana shops miss out on profits due to rigid timings!
- You can open your shop at 8:00 a.m. and stay open till at least 9:00 p.m. or whatever the time you observe for your customers.
- On Sundays and holidays, you can expect larger sales. People have more time to make major purchases.
Just by keeping the store open for a little more time will develop trust among customers that your kirana store is always there to provide for their needs and it’s always open for them!
Understand Customer Preference
Customers who come for a minor item are usually unconcerned about the brand. It is best if you are aware of the customer’s preferences and sell the brand that the customer’s family buys on a regular basis.
Customers will have more faith in you and your store if you know all of their likes and dislikes. They’ll return to your store again and again.
These simple measures will help you in improving your kirana store.
Small changes eventually add up to big results. “The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” – Confucius
These small improvements will also help in improving consumer trust and loyalty. It will make sure your small kirana store is providing the best customer experience.
