Abstract - The present study explores the changing consumption patterns, economic behaviors, and social preferences of consumers in response to the growth of corporate retail and online marketplaces in small cities of India. Grounded in the theoretical framework of economic sociology, this research investigates how socio-economic variables such as income, education, age, and access to digital infrastructure influence consumer choices in the context of traditional versus modern retail formats.
    Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study draws data from 300 randomly selected consumers in Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh. The research reveals that while corporate retail and e-commerce offer consumers convenience, competitive pricing, and product variety, they also pose challenges to traditional retail relationships and community-based consumption ethics. Findings indicate a gradual but significant shift in consumer trust and behavior, especially among the younger and more digitally literate population, with growing preference for digital transactions and branded products.
    The study concludes that the rise of organized retail and digital commerce is not merely an economic transformation but a sociological phenomenon reshaping the consumer landscape of India’s small cities. It recommends policy interventions aimed at balancing modernization with the protection of traditional retail systems and suggests further research on long-term socio-economic impacts of retail corporatization in context to small cities and towns.

Keyword: Economic Sociology, Consumer Behaviour, Corporate Retail, Consumption Patterns, Digital Economy, Retail Transformation.