Why local businesses still win without social media hype
Scroll through social media, and you might believe that every successful business is built on reels, viral posts, and daily content. Growth today looks loud: metrics on display, followers as proof, engagement as currency. But step outside the screen and into real neighbourhoods, and a different story unfolds.There is the tailor whose shop is always busy, despite never posting online. The small grocery store that knows every customer by name. The neighbourhood salon where appointments fill up through simple word-of-mouth. These businesses don’t chase visibility. They earn trust. And that trust, built slowly and consistently, outlasts any algorithm.Local businesses have existed long before hashtags and trending audios—and many continue to thrive without them. Their success is quieter, more human, and deeply rooted in community. This article explores how they do it, and why their approach still works in a world obsessed with digital hype.How local businesses grow without reels or virality1. Trust is their strongest marketing toolFor local businesses, reputation travels faster than any reel. One satisfied customer leads to another, then another. Trust is built not through branding campaigns but through everyday experiences: fair pricing, honest service, and reliability.When customers know they won’t be overcharged, rushed, or misled, loyalty… Read MoreYourStory RSS Feed
Reliance’s Ajio focuses on speed, scales Ajio Rush to 420 pincodes
Reliance's fashion ecommerce platform Ajio is focusing on average bill value and speed in a market that has become a three-way battle between Nykaa, Myntra and Ajio. The digital fashion and lifestyle business witnessed 21% growth in average bill value compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous year. This year, the discount-heavy festive season was split between Q2 and Q3, unlike last year, where it fell largely in the third quarter.Higher average bill values largely translate to companies making more money on every order. Ajio said its average bill value, which it claims is the largest in the ecosystem, is one of its key focus areas. In its FY26 Q1 earnings, the company flagged 50-60% higher bill values in Ajio Rush orders. Reliance's hyperlocal play has also trickled down to its digital fashion and lifestyle business. It expanded Ajio Rush, which largely does two-to-four hour deliveries, to over 420 pincodes across 10 cities. The company has also ramped up next day delivery to top 26 cities, largely leveraged using its store network, a key edge from other online only players. "Now the benefit of this is customers returns is the nature of this industry and the biggest reason for… Read MoreYourStory RSS Feed
