If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

The content examines the complexities surrounding opening a shop amid financial challenges. It highlights a protagonist’s perspective on running a shop, emphasising its necessity for sustenance rather than amusement. Responses show a preference for grocery items due to their demand. The narrative addresses the shift in consumer habits, with many opting for dining out rather than cooking at home, leading to the rise of restaurant culture. Additionally, it discusses the decline of bookshops and traditional tailoring, replaced by modern retail spaces and fast-changing market dynamics. Overall, the protagonist embraces entrepreneurship, establishing a small kiosk for grocery sales, representing resilience in adapting to current trends.

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“I don’t pretend to be a philanthropist, nor am I a garrulous”, he said in a raised voice. He looked a little agitated and visibly not himself when asked what he would sell in his new shop, if given the chance to open. After a moment’s silence, as if trying to control himself, he continued, “What is a person expected to sell in his shop?” Without waiting for an answer, he added, “Opening a shop is not an amusement; it has a purpose of sustenance and means of livelihood for a family to run”. After finishing, he stopped and started looking in the ether. His reaction was sudden but was not unexpected.

Wading through the financial crunch, he was a little disturbed, and when asked about the type of products to sell in his impending shop, he almost yelled. He was amazed to hear such a “baseless” question. Explaining his reason behind terming it “baseless”, he said, “What an individual is expected to answer who is in search of a job that can give him a steady income to sustain him and his family?” He stopped a while and said, “Obviously, he would sell items of general use, a kind of grocery shop where things of daily use are available for locals’ immediate needs”. He concluded.

He was not alone. Many more needy person want to start a job that can generate enough income for their survival. A dearth of funds is a great impediment that hinders the choice of products to be sold in a shop. Running even a small shop is a full-time job that requires dedication. For a small person, it is difficult for many reasons; so, they settle for a grocery shop which is comparatively easy to run without the risk of running at a loss and ultimately shutting down.

With increasing complexities and work pressure, couples in nuclear families find it difficult to cook at home because of the time constraints and the hectic pace of life. Going to restaurants and dining outdoors is gaining momentum.

Opening chains of eateries and restaurants in different countries is congenial and comparatively easy for professionals in this field. The professional acumen of chefs helps them experiment with food and variety with the skill in decoration and presentation of food. Compounded with their popularity, their professional skills help run their chain of eateries easily. It is good in the sense that they act as cultural ambassadors of the country. They sell their knowledge, not for others but for themselves to improve their job profile and showcase their cooking prowess. People like to visit their joints partly because of their skill, but mainly to show their social status.

On the home front, despite hyping about “home-cooked” food, “Restaurant Culture” is gaining ground and new joints are mushrooming. It suits the “economic growth” for several obvious reasons. This “business” is growing fast and overshadowing the traditional food. Going outside for dinner, which once was considered not-so-good, is now a sign of being “civilised”.

Some try to sell books. They are the bookseller. Unlike chefs, it doesn’t mean that a bookseller necessarily has to has to be a bibliophile. Though some have it as their traditional business, in a fast-changing scenario, book selling is being restricted to course books and books about competitive examinations, along with stationery goods. Though stationary shops are also there, selling exclusively stationery materials. Some show magazines as well, along with stray fashionable gifting items and writing instruments. This type of shopkeeping was generally traditional.

With the increasing use of computer technology, people are busy peeping at the screens of computers and/or smartphone screens. Pen and paper are becoming obsolete. Preference is given to digital means of reading instead of printed books. Those who belong to the old school of thought often lament the fast-loosing sheen of printed books, a pen and paper. The romanticism of letter writing using paper and pen has been replaced by emails, social media posts or messages on messaging applications. This has affected the business of the book and stationery market. The bookstores are fast vanishing, and people in the business of bookselling have switched to other businesses or shops.

The change is distinctly seen while wandering in a market. Those involved in selling garments now mainly show readymade clothing. The idea of buying fabric pieces and getting them stitched by a tailor has become outdated. The days are gone when tailors and the sound of stitching machines used to be a usual sight in the market. Cutting and tailoring, which used to be a common business profession, is rarely seen. They switched their tailoring shop to other jobs, especially in readymade garments.

The evolving lifestyle, purchasing habits, and consumer buying power have significantly transformed the market structure and its components. Small shops, except for local kiosks, have disappeared, making way for large departmental stores. A new and expensive Mall culture appeared. The glam and glitter of malls crammed with branded garments and consumable items. Most of them are beyond the reach of common people. Huge Malls with large food courts and contained multiplexes are the place for hanging out. Lacking business, the showrooms in Malls are shutting down, causing significant loss of their glamour and attraction.

Shifting in business patterns is customer-driven and is normal. The shop owners upgrade their business, expand it and make it eye-catching to attract customers. With more disposable income, people are opting for frequent outings, picnics, and entertainment. Observing the moods and preferences of customers, shopkeepers and businesses adjust their offerings suitably. While owning a shop that aligns with one’s interests is important, market forces also influence what products a person sells in their store. Anything and everything is saleable according to their utility and usage. From scrap to art piece, from food item to garment, from books and stationery to computers and smartphones, everything is available. It depends on the person to choose what they want to sell and where.

The protagonist, who had a dream of opening his own shop, decided to pursue this ambition despite having a limited budget. He chose to set up a small kiosk in a room of his house that faced the road. He began by selling grocery items and dairy products. This modest venture provided him with a steady source of income, and he felt a sense of happiness knowing that he could finally start earning.

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