Premium products rule R-Day sales

Consumers have continued to show a preference for premium products versus entry-level goods, reveal sales trends during the first shopping weekend of this year—the Republic Day weekend.

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

CONSUMERS HAVE CONTINUED to show a preference for premium products versus entry-level goods, reveal sales trends during the first shopping weekend of this year—the Republic Day weekend. This comes as an urban slowdown continues to weigh on middle-class wallets even as the premium and affluent class remain immune to it.

Conversations with durable retailers and companies point to a sales growth of around 10-15% during the R-Day weekend this year versus last year, led by premium categories such as larger capacity refrigerators, air conditioners and TVs, front-load and top-load washing machines and smartphones that are ₹30,000 and above. Fashion, lifestyle and apparels, on the other hand, are likely to see around 11-12% year-on-year (y-o-y) sales growth this R-Day, led by winter and wedding wear, executives say.