Stealing The Deals With A Click

- Sujata Sangwan

HERE ARE TWO reasons why India’s festival season rings in cheer and happiness. One, there is the usual fun, frolic and feasting linked to the Navratra, Dussehra and Diwali festivities. Two, it is also the season when online retailers shower deals and bargains on consumers.

This year too, marketers are all set to spend majority of their annual marketing budget on campaigns to lure customers.

The festive quarter of the year (October-December), which makes up almost half of online retail’s annual GMV, is famous not only for lower prices but also for a wider selection and categories of products. This year too, India’s leading online players are in the race to give consumers a new experience with their fresh offerings.

“Our ‘Great Indian Festival’ that happens at this time of the year, has become synonymous with a month-long celebration that we do with our consumers, our sellers and our ecosystem partners across India,” says Manish Tiwary, VP, Category Management, Amazon India. “With an expanded selection and a robust logistical support system, we are ready to handle the massive customer traffic that we are bound to receive this season.”

Another major player in the category, Flipkart’s annual ‘The Big Billion Days’ sale has become India’s most anticipated event. “This year marks the fifth edition of TBBD. After working closely with our sellers and brands over the last few months, we plan to deliver unparalleled, diverse, and affordable offerings to customers in every corner of India,” the company stated in a statement. Industry estimates reveal that Flipkart’s GMV during the current sale season stood at $1-1.1 billion from $660 million in 2017 whereas Amazon India’s GMV stood at $700-800 million from $380 million in 2017.