Product Design | UX Research | Product Strategy
B.l.o.b. - Boosting Local Businesses
Overview
India’s local markets are full of potential but often lack digital presence. With the shift in consumer behavior during the pandemic, there was a growing need for small businesses to adapt and be discovered online. We saw this as an opportunity to build a solution that empowered local vendors while reconnecting consumers with their neighborhoods.
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B.L.O.B. is a hyperlocal e-commerce platform designed to bridge this gap, enabling users to explore and engage with nearby stores, and giving local businesses the tools to go digital, expand, and thrive. The platform fosters a self-sustaining loop between discovery and growth, benefitting both ends of the ecosystem.
Role:
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Lead Product Designer and Strategist
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Led the end-to-end design process from research to implementation
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Collaborated with developers to refine solutions
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Created the investor pitch deck and mentored design interns
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Team:

Developers, Designers, Design Interns
Methods:
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User interviews, market analysis, competitive analysis, shadow research, customer journey mapping, wireframing, rapid prototyping, visual design
Tools:

Figma, Miro,
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Timeline:
6 months
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​Outcomes ​​
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Successfully launched in 5 cities across India
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Achieved over 2.3K downloads within the first 10 days of launch
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Reached a 46% user retention rate post-launch
Overview of Current Scenario - User & Market Snapshot
Interviewed Personas
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The local market has a variety of domains of businesses which are yearning for efficient ways to do business
Here is the gap
Numerous surveys and direct interviews were conducted over a span of 2 months to fortify the idea and immersive shadow research and field study were the most beneficial techniques iin this scenario to gain insights into the local market stakeholders.
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It was important to scope the market landscape and understand the Serviceable Obtainable Market to determine the ROI in the market for the investors.
Local business needs
Needs to compete with the E-commerce giants
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Needs to spread awareness about their products / services
Wants to come online (FOMO)
Wants to stay updated with the market trends and demands
Doesn’t want to be restricted by catalogues
Understanding the User
Research and Analysis
12 Customer Journey Maps were made and strategically pain points or opportunity areas were chosen from each journey to combine and summarize the general situation of the market.
Pain Points of the customers
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Doesn't know the status of Shops
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Have to go to multiple shops to find a product
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Have to wait in the crowds at the shop just to enquire about the availability of an item
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Follow up is difficult, have to keep checking on call or have to visit the shop
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No idea of waiting or the queue at many restaurants or salons
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Hard to keep track of bills for any warranty or guarantee
Key Findings
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Limited Digital Presence
Local businesses lacked a simple way to go digital and engage customers online, leading to missed opportunities.
Lack of Real-Time Shop Visibility
Customers found it difficult to determine which shops were open and often struggled to follow up on product availability.
Operational Struggles
Business owners faced challenges such as managing inventory, product visibility, and handling customer communication.
There was a significant need for digital solutions to manage inventory, track orders, and support customer engagement.
Shaping Raw Ideas
Ideation
150+ wireframes were created and all the hypotheses were tested with users from varied backgrounds.
The most used or intriguing features were chosen, modified, and taken ahead.
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The Experience We Shipped
The final product was a Progressive Web App (PWA) tailored to the needs of both business owners and customers.
For Customers:
Search section with deals and services and shops by location
Sectionalized orders dashboard with with collapsable details
No need to download the app
Shopkeepers
Easy-to-track orders dashboard with segregated sections
WhatsApp e-shareable store, Not limited to catalogs
Not only products
Final Product
MVP Response
Early Performance Snapshot
After the launch, regular customer feedback was taken and many users were interviewed again to find what was working and was not appreciated in the market. Based on the feedbacks, the modifications were done, which resulted in the rising KPIs.
Presence in 5 locations in India
Pune (Tier I)
Jalgaon (Tier II)
Dharamshala (Tier III)
Bhusawal (Rural)​
Lonavala (Rural)
Data Gathered in 150 Days
1.4K+
Listed products
160+
Registered shops
140K+
Listed services
2.3K+
App Downloads
46%
Retention Rate
5K+
In-App Searches
Reflection
Designing and launching B.L.O.B. was a rewarding experience that highlighted the power of user-centered design.
It reinforced how critical research and iterative feedback are when designing for diverse, non-tech-savvy users. The platform saw early success through a “cluster effect,” with local businesses joining rapidly after seeing others benefit.
However, long-term retention was a challenge due to digital literacy gaps. In hindsight, stronger onboarding and early integration of analytics could’ve improved engagement.
The project proved how thoughtful design can drive real-world impact.