As private consumption surges in smaller cities and towns in India which is driven by high pent-up demand and premiumisation wave, the e-commerce platforms registered more than Rs 1 lakh crore in gross merchandise value (GMV) in the month-long festive season.
According to industry data, this is more than 20 per cent growth from last year’s festive sales on major e-commerce platforms in the country. The first week of festive sales (which began on September 26) alone saw business worth Rs 55,000 crore, which is almost half of the total sales.
This festive season’s increase in sales was estimated at over 23 per cent by e-commerce consultancy Datum Intelligence.
Mobiles, electronics and fashion categories gained momentum while other categories (beauty and personal care, home and quick-commerce-led grocery) had a better business as usual (BAU) performance.
Quick commerce, which saw significant traction in 2023, contributed approximately 8 per cent to overall e-commerce growth, up from 5 per cent last year.
Smartphones emerged as the top-selling category, with online sales accounting for almost 65 per cent of all smartphone purchases during the festive season. The demand for premium brands surged.
Tier 2 and beyond cities contributed to more than 70 per cent of the premium smartphone sales for Amazon.
More than 85 per cent customers came from non-metro cities and over 50 per cent of TV purchases came from tier 2 and 3 cities. Demand for large appliances from tier 2 cities grew by 25 per cent, with customers preferring air conditioners and refrigerators, according to Amazon India.
As brands looked to capitalise on the festive demand, several of them strategically leveraged e-commerce platforms to cater to the aspirational customers’ needs and reached the relatively less accessible customers in tier 2 cities and beyond.
Newer categories such as home and kitchen appliances saw traction on quick commerce platforms, helping the platforms boost their average order values and profitability.
64 pc of Kolkata’s iconic taxis to be off the roads by March 2025
Over 64 per cent of the iconic yellow taxis in Kolkata will be off the roads by March 2025 due to the 15-year service limit imposed by the state transport department.
Delhi BJP releases 'chargesheet' against Kejriwal, AAP govt
The Delhi BJP on Monday released a political "chargesheet" against AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and his party, enlisting alleged failures of the Delhi government over the last 10 years and instances of corruption involving ministers.
New Maha Cabinet: Fadnavis keeps Home, Shinde gets Urban Development, Ajit Pawar in charge of Finance
Finally, the wait is over. Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday approved the portfolio allocation to the ministers as recommended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The list was released after the conclusion of a weeklong winter session.
India a natural trade and commerce partner of Kuwait: PM Modi
India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and continues to be so in contemporary times and people-to-people linkages over centuries have fostered a special bond of friendship between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.
PM Modi's visit to labour camp in Kuwait underscores government's resolve for welfare of Indian workers abroad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers during his visit to a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait, his first official programme after arriving in the West Asian nation on a historic visit, earlier in the day.
Three semiconductor units to be set up in NE will create 80K jobs: HM Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the Union Cabinet recently decided to establish three semiconductor units in the northeast for the development of the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem which would create 20,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect job opportunities.
Indian diaspora, 101-year-old former IFS officer greet PM Modi on arrival in Kuwait
The Indian community gave a rousing reception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrived at his hotel in Kuwait City on Saturday afternoon, shortly after he touched down in the Gulf nation, kicking off his historic two-day visit, the first by an Indian PM to the country in 43 years.
HM Shah urges NE CMs to give more thrust to foiling the danger of drugs
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday urged the Chief Ministers of eight northeastern states to give more impetus to curbing the smuggling and other menaces of drugs in the region.