Brick-and-mortar stores in Visakhapatnam are facing disappointment as they prepare for Friendship Day celebrations on Sunday, August 4. Sales of traditional items like friendship bands, cards, stuffed animals, and keychains have not shown significant growth at physical gift shops. Instead of visiting these stores, people of all ages are opting for social media platforms to send virtual gifts. This shift to digital gifting reflects the broader trend of friendships moving online, impacting the demand for traditional gifts.
Kalavati, a local gift shop owner, expressed her worries to Deccan Chronicle about the noticeable decline in business this year. Unlike previous years when young customers, including schoolchildren and college students, frequented her shop to purchase friendship bands and cards, foot traffic has dwindled this year. Yashwant, another shop owner at Siripuram Junction, echoed similar concerns as sales of friendship bands and cards have dropped due to the increasing popularity of online shopping.
The impact is not limited to gift stores; even bakeries are feeling the effects of the digital shift. An anonymous bakery owner revealed that online orders now surpass offline purchases, indicating a change in consumer behavior. While online businesses are thriving, traditional retailers are facing challenges in adapting to these evolving preferences. Online platforms are catering to changing tastes by offering a wide range of virtual gift options, such as personalized e-cards and digital friendship bands.
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