THE E-COM UPRISING

From apparel to electronics, e-commerce platforms have opened a whole new world for the Indian customer from the comfort of her home

- SONAL KHETARPAL

THE DRUDGERY

Driving through traffic, sweating for a parking space, jostling for shopping items amid the crush in a shop, finding what you wanted but not the right size, standing in a long queue for payment... Shopping was a nightmare experience for many. Heat, rain and the cold added to the ordeal, as did festivals or discount shoppers. And heaven forbid if you lived in a small town or village where branded wear was alien, or were a price-conscious customer. For the first, you'd have to make your way to the nearest city. For the second, you'd have to physically trudge from outlet to outlet before you found the right thing at the right price. Things did ease up with the arrival of the shopping mall, with everything under one roof, but you still could not escape the crowds, or the time spent on the commute or inside the store.

THE EASE OF LIVING