E-commerce titans Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and more kickstarted India’s festive season sales, poised to hit a whopping Rs 90,000 crore in online gross merchandise value (GMV), marking an 18-20% surge from the previous year’s festive month.
In a grand commencement on Sunday, e-commerce behemoths Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and several others set the stage for India’s festive season sales extravaganza, poised to reach a staggering Rs 90,000 crore in online gross merchandise value (GMV). This anticipated figure reflects a substantial 18-20% surge from the sales of the festive month in the previous year.
With the festive fervor sweeping the nation, an estimated 140 million shoppers are expected to fuel this year’s online sales surge. Particularly, small-scale online sellers anticipate a substantial boost of at least 15% in their festive season sales year-on-year, with a median growth projection of 26% as reported by market intelligence firm Redseer Strategy Consultants.
The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high as these e-commerce giants vie for the attention and wallets of millions of Indian consumers. Let’s delve deeper into the strategies and offerings of some of these e-commerce players as they battle it out for a slice of the lucrative festive season market.
Amazon India’s Seasonal Job Opportunities:
Amazon India, a leader in the e-commerce space, has created a substantial 100,000 seasonal job opportunities across its operational network in preparation for the festive season. These employment opportunities encompass both direct and indirect roles in prominent cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Chennai, among others. This initiative not only boosts the local economy but also ensures that Amazon’s logistics and customer support are adequately staffed to meet the heightened demand during the festive period.
Myntra’s Big Fashion Festival:
Myntra, known for its focus on fashion and lifestyle, has unveiled its “Big Fashion Festival,” featuring an impressive array of over 23 lakh fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products sourced from more than 6,000 leading international, domestic, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands.
During this event, customers can expect irresistible offers on thousands of both domestic and international brands, as well as an additional 15% discount when using Myntra’s co-branded credit card in partnership with Kotak Mahindra Bank, providing added value to their festive purchases. Furthermore, shoppers can avail exclusive payment offers through partners like ICICI, Kotak, Paytm, and Cred, making their shopping experience even more rewarding.
Snapdeal’s ‘Toofani Sale-Festive Dhamaka’:
Snapdeal, another prominent player in the Indian e-commerce landscape, has launched its first sale of the festive season, aptly named the ‘Toofani Sale-Festive Dhamaka,’ scheduled to run from October 8 to 15. The platform is set to feature a wide range of deals and discounts, offering consumers an exciting opportunity to shop for a diverse array of products.
Samsung’s Mega Deals:
Consumer electronics giant Samsung has rolled out a series of mega deals on a wide range of its televisions, just in time for the eagerly anticipated festive season. These offers cover various television models, including Neo QLED TV, OLED TV, Crystal 4K iSmart TV, Crystal Vision 4K TV, QLED 4K TV, The Frame TV, and more. Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President of Visual Display Business at Samsung India, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing the festive cheer for customers through these exciting offers. Notably, customers purchasing select Neo QLED 8K & 4K TVs have the chance to receive a free Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G worth Rs 124,999, a 50-inch The Serif TV worth Rs 69,990, The Freestyle projector worth Rs 59,990, or a Soundbar worth Rs 49,990. Additionally, Samsung is offering a generous 3-year comprehensive warranty on the Neo QLED TVs.
Blaupunkt’s Exclusive Partnership with Flipkart:
In an exclusive partnership with top online retailer Flipkart, Blaupunkt, a renowned German electronics brand, has announced substantial discounts across its entire range of TVs during the ‘Big Billion Days’ sale. These discounts are expected to be highly appealing, with potential savings of up to 80% on Smart TVs and appliances. Blaupunkt’s new TVs will be available starting at an attractive price of Rs 6,299, with the newly-launched 43-inch QLED TV priced at Rs 28,999. Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL), the exclusive brand licensee of Blaupunkt TVs in India, expressed enthusiasm about providing customers with premium yet affordable TV options during Flipkart’s ‘The Big Billion Days.’ Jagjeet Harode, Vice President – Electronics, Appliances, and Private Brands at Flipkart, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, which bolsters their offerings as they approach the festive season. SPPL aims to achieve an overall business worth Rs 500 crore during this festive season.
Smartphone Promotions:
In the highly competitive smartphone segment, major players have also announced exciting promotions to entice consumers. According to Counterpoint Research, approximately 42% of Indians plan to purchase a premium smartphone (Rs 30,000 and above) during this festive season, with 5G capability, the latest processors, and ample RAM being the top specifications influencing their buying decisions. Brands like Samsung, Apple, and OnePlus are the top preferences among consumers this festive season.
- HONOR’s Festive Offer:
HONOR, the smartphone brand, has announced its first festive sale offer for the latest HONOR 90 5G in India, featuring discounts of up to Rs 11,000. As part of this promotion, the HONOR 90 can now be purchased at the attractive price of Rs 26,999. This offer aims to make advanced 5G technology more accessible to consumers. - OnePlus’ Expansive Offers:
OnePlus, a prominent player in the premium smartphone market, has extended its offers to include recently launched models such as OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R (including the new OnePlus 11R Solar Red), OnePlus Nord 3, OnePlus Pad Go, and many more. These offers, which went live on October 7, cover the entire product portfolio and are expected to attract OnePlus enthusiasts.
Amazon’s Device Deals:
Amazon, not just limited to shopping but also a pioneer in smart devices, has unveiled exciting offers on its Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle devices during its ‘Great Indian Festival 2023.’ Customers can enjoy substantial discounts of up to 55% on Echo smart speakers, Fire TV devices, Kindle e-readers, and Alexa smart home combinations. These deals provide an excellent opportunity for customers to enhance their smart home experience while enjoying significant savings.
In conclusion, the festive season in India is not only a time of celebration but also a massive opportunity for e-commerce giants and brands to connect with consumers and boost their sales. With fierce competition and attractive offers from Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Samsung, Blaupunkt, HONOR, OnePlus, and Amazon’s own device range, consumers have an array of choices and discounts to make their festive season shopping truly delightful. As the festive fervor continues to rise, it remains to be seen which e-commerce giant will emerge victorious in this year’s battle for India’s festive season sales.