Here's how a Kanpur-based chemist bounced back post-lockdown

Who knew that suddenly there will be a worldwide shortage of toilet papers, people will start making memes on World War 3, Pentagon will release UFO videos, and Kim Jong-Un will disappear for days leaving everyone paranoid? The world came into a halt and Elon Musk’s choice of his baby name perplexed everyone. The world was dealing with the pandemic in its own way.

While people were confined to their homes and were scared to step out even for buying the essentials, a chemist shop owner in Kanpur initiated door-step delivery of essential medicines to older people.

When the Covid-scare gushed into people’s intellect, Pandey’s shop, Suman Chemist started losing customers. “Nowadays many online pharmacy apps are also in the market. When pandemic gushed in, people started using those apps more. Our sales went down even though we come under essentials category,” said 55-year-old Pradeep Kumar Pandey.

During the pandemic, which has still not left us, older people were at more risk. The number of cases and number of death were increasing every day and Covid-paranoia stopped people from buying anything physically, even when the government lifted the lockdown and urged people to start buying products.

“When the lockdown was lifted, we followed social distancing and took every precaution so that people don’t hesitate to come. For older people, we knew that the risk was huge. So, we ensured that our aged customers get their medicines at their door-step,” said Pandey.

Suman Chemist did not follow the delivery model before the pandemic. But, as soon as they started doing door-step delivery, their sales started going up. Changing a business model for good, spiked the sales and Pandey is relentlessly working towards this approach.