The Shop next door vs ZARA and Shoppers Stop

Childhood memories are the sweetest especially growing in a neighborhood where you went to school and college. It’s also memorable because all your childhood friends have the roots from the same place. One thing more which can be added to this basket of sweet memories is the shop next door.  Every residential block has a small shopping complex of its own. And in every such  complex we have one favourite shop. It can be either a garment shop or a grocery shop or a footwear shop. The shop is not very fancy looking but yet it still remains your favourite.

Why is the shop next door your favourite?

It is difficult to pinpoint why a particular shop next door remains ones favourite? There are several reasons:

The first one is that the shop has an excellent salesperson. Every time you are passing by the shop, you hear a familiar voice – Didi (sister), we have got some fresh stock. Come and at least have a look. Don’t buy but at least have a look at the variety. You will be astonished! On your reply that you just bought an article from him last week the reply is didi, we won’t charge for seeing. Also the new items are just as per your taste. The fresh stock can be a garment or a shoe or a perfume.

The second one is that whenever you enter the shop you have a high comfort zone as if you own the place. You can dictate to the sales person. You can bargain and make a purchase at a price which suits your pocket. In between you are also treated to a cold drink or a tea, something missing in the departmental stores, the personal touch.

The experience of a departmental store

You enter a departmental store and you have to walk through a maze of departments – cosmetics, watches, shoes, handbags to reach your final destination, garments. You like a floral jeggings and want a size L. Alas! The store has run out of size L in that particular print just an hour back. The salesman is unable to find it in the store and can’t say when the fresh stock will arrive. You start wondering why you wasted so much of time and energy coming so far. You could have got a similar looking jeggings from your shop next door which you just rejected last week.

The third biggest factor is price. These shops have low overheads and so charge something which always fits your pocket. Besides they keep their profit margins low. You also don’t need to wait for the sale season to start as these neighborhood shops are always pocket friendly and offer fresh stocks. During the sale season every departmental store will place huge ads in the daily newspaper announcing the upto 50% off sale. The catch is the word “upto”. Surprisingly, the article which you like whether a garment or a shoe or a handbag is never available in the sale stock. It’s only available in fresh stock on which there is no discount.

Reasons for the popularity of shop next door

The fourth factor which I can cite is the family bonding. This shop was favourite of your parents who visited it regularly and as you grew, you also started liking the place as much as your parents. I can very well relate to this. There was this grocery shop which was my dad’s favourite. Visiting this shop for the monthly grocery was a ritual my dad followed every month. I lost him few years back. But we have still kept the tradition alive. Though, I would like to confide, that it’s my wife who has kept this tradition alive.

The fifth and one of the most important factors is that this shop is just a walking distance from your home. You don’t need to get dressed up in your best attire to visit this place. You can just walk in any casual dress and will not be judged by anybody. It gives a chance to show the real side of you.

Let’s see the favourite category of shops for men and women. Garments, Cosmetics, Shoes, Handbags are Ladies favourite. For men, it is the grooming parlour (also called the nai ki dukan), the meat shop and so on.

Read more such similar stories on my blog:

Customer Delight: Bringing smile on your customers face

Customer Care: treat your customers with care