Shillong: Puja shopping in Shillong is losing its traditional edge. Local store owners in the bustling Police Bazar district report that once-crowded streets no longer translate into reliable revenue. Sales have plummeted to roughly 30% of their former peak levels.
Owners at shops including Uncle’s Shop, Selections, Bablas, Dalujas, and Motiram, alongside Adidas and Puma showrooms and Glory’s Plaza, point to a shift starting with the COVID-19 pandemic. Smartphone apps are now the primary competitor. Young shoppers prefer scrolling through digital inventories from home instead of trekking to physical storefronts.
Convenience dictates this new behavior. Digital platforms allow instant price comparisons, vast selection, and easy returns. The owner of Uncle’s Shop summarized the trend: "People can sit at home and order whatever they want. If they do not like it, they can return it. It is much easier for them than coming to the shops."
Generational divides define the remaining foot traffic. Older buyers still arrive in person to touch fabrics, verify stitching, and try on clothes. Younger demographics, however, often arrive already informed by online research or finish their shopping entirely without stepping outside. Owners of Selections noted that while some traditionalists remain, they are a shrinking market segment.
The shift leaves shop owners worried. Businesses built on inventory and staff face a new reality where street crowds do not equate to profits. As digital habits harden, the traditional festive boost that once defined the season continues to fade.
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