By Mohammad Waseem
SRINAGAR: Change is an inevitable force shaping the world. Human needs and habits evolve daily, and with them, the methods of meeting those demands. The shift from landlines to smartphones, from wired to wireless systems, from letters to instant messages, and from petrol to electric vehicles reflects the relentless pace of progress.
Traditional shopkeeping is no exception. Once confined to fixed locations, where owners waited for customers to walk in, businesses are now embracing mobility. By transforming their vehicles into mobile shops, entrepreneurs are reaching their customers wherever they are, redefining convenience and commerce in an ever-changing landscape.
A Response to Changing Consumer Behaviour
“Waiting for customers is no longer the only option. We must keep pace with time and consumer needs,” said Showket Ahmad Rather, a cosmetics shop owner. “With the rise of home delivery services on various shopping platforms, we had to adapt. Using our vehicles as portable shops has been a game-changer. My sales have doubled, and, Alhamdulillah, I am satisfied.”
Mobility as a Business Strategy
For Shabir Ahmad, a 45-year-old vegetable seller, mobility has revolutionised his trade. “I have been in this business for twenty-five years. Initially, my brother and I ran it using a cart, but it was time-consuming, and we struggled to reach all our customers. Our sales suffered,” he said. “We used to work in shifts, but now, with our load carriers, we travel nearly 60 kilometres daily, ensuring that fresh vegetables reach our customers regularly. This shift has allowed our business to grow. Today, we each own a separate vehicle and sustain our families through this trade.”
Innovation on Wheels
Ajaz Ahmad, 38, has taken mobility a step further by converting his load carrier into a portable kitchen, serving barbeque and Wazwan dishes. “I have been in this business for eighteen years. My father was a street vendor who sold the same items. It was his idea to transform a mini truck into a kitchen, and I worked on it,” he said.
Ajaz was the first to introduce this innovation in Baramulla. “When I started, I was alone. Now, there are nearly twenty such mobile kitchens in town, following the model I introduced,” he said. “I have never been afraid or ashamed of earning my livelihood. I knew a conventional 10-to-5 job would not satisfy me, so I chose to continue my father’s business at the age of twenty. While others hesitated, I was making money.”
He believes that young entrepreneurs are now more willing to embrace unconventional business ideas. “Times have changed. Responsibilities make people mature early. Today, most mobile shop owners are young and skilled, and many have already established successful livelihoods through this model,” he told Kashmir Life.
