Jamshedpur: Retail traders across sectors in Jamshedpur have joined a Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) campaign to counter the growing influence of online shopping and draw customers back to local markets during the festive season.SCCI, the apex traders’ body, launched ‘Chalo Chalein Bazaar’ on Friday to retain customers and attract new buyers to retail outlets. The campaign will run until New Year.“Our aim is to reach out to households and appeal to people to visit local retail outlets to make their purchases. Several retailers are willing to offer products at prices comparable to those offered by e-commerce platforms,” SCCI president Manav Kedia said.Kedia said online shopping had reduced footfall and shifted consumer preference away from traditional shops, creating a major challenge for small and medium traders. SCCI plans street-corner meetings, sessions with consumer bodies and social media outreach to encourage shoppers to return to neighbourhood markets.The campaign will highlight the advantages of local shopping, including physical inspection of products, greater quality assurance, easier complaint resolution, absence of hidden charges and the value of market visits as social outings.Retailers from garments, footwear, jewellery, electronic gadgets, medicines and automobiles have joined the initiative, SCCI functionaries said.“We have lost around 30% of our retail business to e-commerce companies over the past eight years,” said Anil Modi, president of Jamshedpur Readymade Wholesalers Association and SCCI vice-president for trade and commerce.“Traditional retailers find it difficult to match the prices offered by e-commerce companies during the festive season. However, through this campaign, we aim to convince consumers that the prosperity of local markets is closely linked to the overall economic well-being of the city,” Modi said.
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