How do I take my offline shop online?

Start with the customers you already have

1. 1Create or claim your Google Business Profile with correct hours, photos and phone, so people searching nearby can find you.
2. 2Switch to WhatsApp Business, add a catalogue of your popular items, and tell walk-in customers they can order on WhatsApp.
3. 3Collect customer numbers at the counter with permission, so you can share new stock and offers later.
4. 4Ask regular customers what they would buy online; their answers tell you which products to put online first.

Decide what and how you will sell online

• Start with 20 to 50 of your best sellers rather than your whole shop; it is easier to photograph, price and manage.
• Choose between a marketplace (more buyers, more commission and rules), your own online store (more control, you bring the traffic), or both.
• Decide your delivery area: local delivery from the shop, courier across India, or both, and set shipping charges that cover your cost.
• Offer UPI, cards and, if needed, cash on delivery, and decide your return and exchange policy in writing.

Keep shop and online in sync

The most common problem for shops going online is stock mismatch: an item sells at the counter but still shows online. Use one system for stock, such as a point-of-sale (POS) that connects to your online store, so a sale in either place updates both. Update prices in one place too, and keep a simple daily routine for packing and dispatching online orders so they do not get lost in the shop's rush hours.

Where technology helps

• An online store on a platform like Shopify can share stock with a shop POS, so inventory, orders and customers sit in one dashboard.
• Automated order confirmations, dispatch updates and review requests on WhatsApp or email save repeated phone calls.
• A local SEO-friendly website with your address, map and product categories helps people nearby find you when they search.