Hyderabad: Brick-and-mortar stores e-tail to survive crisis

Hyderabad: With Eid fast approaching amidst the extended lockdown till May-end in Telangana, the local cloth stores and boutiques have started taking orders online through social media, to make good losses as well as survive this crisis.

Though most of the community members not keen to indulge in lavish spending, a very few such as newly married couple and parents who do not want their children disappointed are ensuring that they get new pair of clothing even for this Eid. For others, it remains a tradition of shopping for new things at this juncture.

By this time, as as the devout observe 18th day fasting, for most of the denizens Charminar is a must-visit area, what with a dazzling array of items on display at the stores and vends enticing festival revellers. Al that is missing now and the scenario of the place wearing a deserted look is shocking for the public. To cater to this public, a few stores which have already procured stock long before the lockdown are leveraging technology to reach out to them.

A teenager from Santoshnagar, Mariya Kulsum who wears new dress each year for Eid, has decided to get new clothes even this year, to ensure she stands out as special amongst her peers. "I do not want to be looked down and hence decided to buy one pair for myself from a nearby boutique by ordering online," she exudes. It is observed that most of women wear stores and boutiques are doing online business and are providing readymade dressing. Each of them has a group with their customers on WhatsApp and Instagram and other social media apps.

Orders are taken online and items are door-delivered. Some people not tech-savvy are selling wares at their homes. A boutique owners said there are several tailors and boutiques in this part of city which started taking orders not only for Eid but also for upcoming marriages. "Hope this option would help us sustain the lockdown blues," she wished.