Trying to Copy E-Commerce? Here’s Why It Doesn’t Work
The Pressure Is Real. But So Is the Difference.
E-commerce platforms have normalized the idea that retail must run on offers:
- 📦 “Buy 2 Get 1”
- 🛍 “10% Off on Orders Above ₹999”
- 🚚 “Delivery in 10 Minutes”
And suddenly, even local supermarkets start asking:
“Should I start giving away margins just to stay relevant?”But here’s what most retailers miss:
These platforms don’t use promotions to sell. They use them to trap. They’re building habit, not just sales.
Why Physical Stores Still Matter in an Online World
💡 According to Bain & Company, 70% of Indian grocery shoppers still visit kiranas or local supermarkets every week—despite the boom in online retail.
Why? Because physical stores win on trust, immediacy, and human judgment.
You’re not competing in the same game. So don’t copy their playbook.
What Giants Can Afford—And You Shouldn’t
⚖️ The E-comm Math (That You Can’t Mirror)
| Platform | Avg Order Value | Avg Delivery Cost | Promo Budget per Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Fresh | ₹450 | ₹80–120 | ₹50–70 |
| BigBasket | ₹600 | ₹60–90 | ₹40–50 |
| Blinkit | ₹300 | ₹70–100 | ₹30–40 |
🚨 They lose money per order—and make up for it in scale, data, and subscription models (like Prime). If you try the same, your working capital disappears fast.
What Happens When You Mimic Them?
- • You condition your own customers to wait for discounts
- • Your margins drop—but your loyalty doesn’t rise
- • You attract price-sensitive floaters, not long-term regulars
- • You become forgettable the moment someone else offers ₹5 less
Where You Can Outperform the Giants
Let’s flip the board.
✅ Speed
Blinkit promises 10-minute delivery.
You can hand it over in 10 seconds.
🧠 Insight: 67% of grocery shoppers say “knowing what’s available right now” is more valuable than fast delivery. (RedSeer Report, 2024)
✅ Flexibility
Try asking Amazon for 150g of coriander. Or credit for a week.
Your store offers:
- Split packs
- Loose quantity
- Custom billing
- Familiar faces
🧠 Insight: 2 out of 3 kirana shoppers cite “flexibility” as their top reason for choosing physical stores over apps.
✅ Curation, Not Confusion
Online shows 300 oil brands. You stock 3 that your area actually trusts. That’s not a lack—it’s clarity.
People don’t want more choices. They want the right ones.
You Don’t Need to Discount. You Need to Be Distinct.
Instead of: Blanket “10% off everything”
Try:
- • strong Loyalty-only early access: Let your frequent customers get first pick of new stock, seasonal items, or limited deals. It makes them feel valued without cutting prices for everyone.
- • strong Combo packs based on actual buying patterns: Use what you already know about what sells together in your store. Bundle items people commonly buy — like tea + sugar or dal + oil — and offer a small value-add.
- • strong Surprise gifts for regulars: A small freebie or a kind gesture now and then goes a long way. Even something simple like a sachet, toffee, or handwritten note builds loyalty better than discounts for floaters.
Final Thought: The Store They Trust Beats the App They Browse.
Online players operate at scale and speed. They can afford to lose money to get traffic. But that doesn't mean you’re at a disadvantage.
Local stores win differently — through consistency, familiarity, and being part of people’s everyday routines.
You already know your customers. That’s not old-school — that’s efficient. While others chase growth through discounts and ads, you build it quietly, through habit.
You don’t have to match every promotion or trend. What matters is showing up, knowing your space, and delivering well — every single day.
That kind of presence can’t be scaled or shipped. And it’s exactly why people keep coming back.
So don’t worry about playing the e-commerce game. You’re playing your own — and you’re doing it well!