Electronic Company launched a feature called ‘Connect to Croma’ that allows customers to book an appointment
Reportedly even as coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply, many shops and restaurants have reopened across the country. All of these businesses have made notable changes in operations to promote social distancing among workers and employees. While reopening after 11 long weeks of lockdown has made them desperate for business, employers have ensured that all coronavirus-related precautions are in place, including social distancing and santisation.Ronel David, a resident of Mahim in mumbai, has been running his family business for the last 28 years. The 44 year old said the coronavirus crisis impacted his business severely. His shop is located just outside Mahim station. David said only a few customers are coming to his shop these days, but he makes it a point to ask each of them to sanitise their hands before they enter. He also asks them to wrap a polythene on their feet before they try on a shoe at his shop.
He said "Customers will touch the shoes before buying, it is inevitable. Everyone likes to feel the shoes before buying them. I try to give them the exact pair of shoes that would fit their data-size so that there is not much touching". Another problem plaguing his business is the fact that the two salesmen, who used to work at his shop, have returned to their native places and he has no one to help him. "Local boys here don't want to work for 10-12 hours. They want to work for just 5-6 hours and want more money. So I have no one to help,” David explained. Many big companies and retail outlets, too, are struggling with demand, evident by the low customer turnout at their outlets after the lockdown was relaxed earlier this month.
In the absence of customers, many businesses have now started taking online delivery services seriously.Electronic goods store Croma has about 132 stores that are open across India. The company had launched a feature called ‘Connect to Croma’ that allows customers to book an appointment at the store to avoid standing in the queue or request for a call-back from our staff to assist in making a purchase without visiting the store. The daily traffic has gone up by almost four times, compared to pre-Covid period. As per recent trends, every week more than 3,500 customers are opting for store visits across the country by booking an appointment online.