This photo was taken when the weather God was more benevolent. It shows some workers enjoying a game of cards in the winter afternoon sun. One of the guy's is carrying a box "Body Massage". He obviously is a masseur, the kind which were very common in the years gone by. They used to visit elite residential areas on a Sunday and call out to people who wanted a massage. He often offered a choice of oils including perfumed ones - chameli ka teel. The good ones even offered "treatment" for aches and pains. A lot of other services were available at home, hair cutting and shave, tailoring.
The elite even shopped from home. They did not go out shopping especially for the big ocassions. The shop came home to them. If there was a wedding in the family, the jeweler and sari shop owner came home with his best his stuff. Whenever there was a new launch, shop keepers duly recommended it to his customers. Much like premium brands today who keep in touch with their customer with regular meets or new product previews. The concept of giving services at doorstep exits even today also with banks mutual funds etc. But it is still limited to elite and high end customers.
The bulk of the business happens through malls and high street shops now. Shopping gives an opportunity for an "outing", to socialise, to eat and also get entertained. Malls seem to have become an alternate destination. People go there for a number of reasons, shopping being one of them. They have been instrumental in driving up consumerism.
Now Internet is taking shopping back to homes. So if you are rich or not so rich, so can still shop from the comfort of your home or office or anywhere else you have access to the net. Whether its their day to day needs, cars, cloths, shoes, pens...you name it is available on the net. Unlike a shop you can compare prices, check reviews. This a huge The shop has come home. And it is here to stay and grow. Thanks to the net, the world is a more democratic place. The shop come home for all.
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