Old & New – Retail !

The retail space in India is getting quite active. With the big guns including Wal Mart, Carre Four, Triumph and hordes of others vying with each other to set up shop and ‘reach out to the masses’. Yesterday, Reliance launched its retail foray, with its Reliance Fresh stores in Hyderabad, with much hype and hoopla. But as all this is happening, the local corner store continues to thrive.

To me, the big stores are clean, air-conditioned, orderly and many a time, downright scary. The local corner store, is in a way has an old world charm and smell to itself. It does not have the modern day supply chain management system. But ‘annachi’ has a way of keeping stock and reordering.

It does not have the sophisticated computers and calcualators to give you change for the odd 100 rupee note ! But then,the change is not a ruppee less. All calculated in the minds at a speed faster than what you could key into a computer.

You obviously will not get a bill. The stuff in glass bottles is limited. There is no parking. Floor space is on the platform. But, what the heck, who cares. Listen to this..


After 15 long years, when i went to this store in Madurai. Out of sheer nostalgia (& not to buy anything specifically). The owner smiled at me ( after 15 long years he knew me by face! It gave me a smug satisfaction that i was not old beyond recognition) ! He smiled.

Enquired as to where i was & what i did, and how my brother did. He then asked about my dad. And introduced me to his son. And then, walked next door to buy me a tea !

Hey Reliance / Wal Mart / Carre Four..et al , try beating that !!

8 thoughts on “Old & New – Retail !

  1. Anonymous says:

    Past is never forgotten, but only the present fulfills admirers and marketers.

  2. indianangel says:

    wonderful post kavi! got me a nostalgia of flooded memories especially ny wonderful experiences in villages – no wonder heaven is really in villages bcoz of the lovely people who love there! 🙂

  3. you are right.. no walmart can beat that human touch !!

    still remember in my india trip, went past the street corner milk vendor (jai ganesh paal) at the corner of devanathan street and st. marys road in mandaveli.. the guy looks at me and says “nalla irukkengalaa thambi ?”.. used to stand in line with a “thooku” every day during summer vacation when i was a kid.. he remembered me after 9 years !!

  4. ahha sar nostalgic post ah! Its true here too the big shots tesco and carefour and foraging into local markets like ther eis no tomorrow…but the small shops has the humanfactor to it. I hope they survive.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Very True Kavi. I had a similar experience at a small shop which I used to visit everyday to buy something or the other. The shop keeper recognized me after 10 yrs. Its was a great feeling.

  6. :)..That’s the personal touch of the mukku kadai, isn’t it? 🙂

  7. Kavi says:

    Pria: yes, the present fulfill the coffers and past fills the hearts

    Prasanna: I couldnt have said it better !@

    Sundar: Stories like this move me. And inspire me to believe that there is a world beyond commerce

    Ghosty: I am sure they will survive !

    KK : Nice to know you had a similar experince as well !

    Krishna : Welcome here and thanks !

    Anupama : Thanks for stopping by ! Mukku Kadai has a flavour and fervour !!

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