How West Bengal Merchants Are Embracing Digital Payments and Growing Their Business

West Bengal, a land of vibrant culture and rich heritage, is home to countless merchants who blend tradition with modernity to create unique experiences for their customers. About 160 kilometers from Kolkata, Santiniketan is a serene town where lush greenery meets red soil. Envisioned by Rabindranath Tagore as a place where creativity and learning intertwine, it has become a cultural hub for craft lovers and cultural explorers alike.

In this traditionally-rooted town, the chime of PhonePe’s digital payment services is quietly transforming how businesses operate. From scanning QR codes to using the SmartSpeaker for instant payment alerts and managing operations via the PhonePe Business App, merchants here are embracing cashless solutions to connect with more customers and thrive in a modern economy. 

One such story is that of Ashirbad, who has been championing Bengal’s artisan community through his store, Karukrit Art and Craft Emporium.

Meet Ashirbad, the founder of Karukrit Art and Craft Emporium

For over fifteen years, Ashirbad has been running Karukrit Art and Craft Emporium, a store that serves as a direct bridge between Bengal’s village artisans and the markets they deserve access to. Its shelves are adorned with treasures like handwoven Kantha sarees, dokra metalwork, jute crafts, and Baul-inspired paintings.

“Our main motto was to connect with craftsmen at the grassroots level,” Ashirbad shares, emphasizing his mission to help artisans earn fair rewards for their art. However, as an entrepreneur managing everything from sourcing to sales, he found it increasingly challenging to handle high footfall and daily operations.

As Karukrit grew, so did its Digital Operations

As Karukrit’s reputation grew, so did its footfall. Buyers from Kolkata, cultural tourists during Poush Mela, and visitors drawn by Tagore’s legacy flocked to the shop. However, managing payments became a growing challenge as many customers arrived without cash and expected seamless, hassle-free transactions, prompting the business to explore modern payment methods to meet these evolving expectations.

Looking for a solution, Ashirbad turned to PhonePe on the recommendation of fellow businessmen. A quick demo of the PhonePe Business App showed him how easy it was to manage payments and simplify daily operations, even in his absence. 

A QR code on the counter meant no customer had to turn away because of a cash shortfall. No sale was lost to the inconvenience of an ATM queue, and fraudulent transactions eventually reduced with the help of SmartSpeaker and its instant alerts. Payments came in instantly, settled quickly, and the daily rhythm of the shop became measurably smoother.

The Role of PhonePe in Simplifying Daily Operations at Karukrit

What Ashirbad speaks about with particular appreciation is the PhonePe SmartSpeaker, a compact device that fits easily into the shop and announces each payment as soon as it comes in. “Even the speaker is very useful,” he says. “The payment is announced immediately, so fraud does not happen.” In a busy shop during peak season, that instant confirmation makes digital payments clear and hassle-free for everyone at the counter.

The PhonePe Business App adds to this by giving him a simple view of all his digital payments, collections, settlements, and transaction history, all in one place. And if there is ever an issue, he finds that it gets resolved quickly through PhonePe’s support. Together, these tools have made digital payments smoother, more reliable, and easier to manage for Karukrit, so the team can focus on running the shop and serving customers.

Choosing the Right Digital Payments Partner

For Ashirbad, choosing PhonePe wasn’t something he rushed into. He needed something that worked for his business, a way to handle customer requests for cashless payments, keep track of all transactions in one place, and get quick help if there were any issues. It wasn’t just about going digital; it was about finding a system that made daily operations easier and fit right into how he runs his shop.