Retail business takes a hit as consumers maintain distance from markets

CAIT, Retailers Association of India say retail biz has been hit severely, by 65% in June

The board of an empty showroom at Hill Road, Bandra, a popular shopping destination, is hard to miss. While the local authorities have allowed shops on each side of the road to open on alternate days, business is slow.

“I would get 50-100 customers a day before the lockdown began. Now, shoppers barely come. This is despite the Unlock programme. How do I run my business like this?” asks Jaya Kamble, who has a small outlet for handbags at Hill Road.

The dilemma that confronts Kamble is something that has been playing on the minds of a number of small