Cut-price season: Black Friday, Cyber Monday

60-80% discounts on offer, up from 50% seen last year

- VIVEAT SUSAN PINTO

SEVERAL OF THE country’s top retailers, malls and brands have kicked off a shopping extravaganza on the occasion of Black Friday, offering steep discounts across product categories.

A Western import, the day which symbolises the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the US, the UK and Europe, gained popularity in India over the past two years as a crucial sale window after Diwali.

Domestic retailers, say experts, are using this period to exhaust existing inventory at steep discounts as they gear up for the winter season.

This year, discounts are up to 60-80% across fashion, lifestyle, electronics and cosmetics, higher than the 50% seen last year. E-tailers such as Ajio have pushed the pedal even harder, offering as much as 85-90% on denims, jackets and select products during the sale this year.

SHOPPING BONANZA

Black Friday, a Western shopping event, now serves as a major post-Diwali sales window

Local retailers are using the period to clear inventory before the winter season

The duration has expanded from a short flash event to nearly a week-long sale