Food delivery platform, Swiggy, has integrated its online grocery delivery service, Instamart, with its recently launched online shopping platform, Swiggy Instamart Mall. This integration will allow customers to seamlessly access both food delivery and grocery shopping services on the same platform.
Blinkit and Zepto, two major quick commerce platforms, are venturing into the fashion segment by partnering with apparel firms and sellers. They plan to add categories like fashion, beauty, electronics, toys, and home and kitchen. Zepto, the first unicorn of 2023, has already achieved $1 billion in annualized gross sales. These platforms are expected to significantly impact established ecommerce rivals Flipkart and Amazon, as well as nearby kiranas, by increasing the scale of quick commerce.
Kashmiri shawl sellers in Delhi are facing a decline in sales, and online shopping platforms are being blamed for the dip. The sellers mention difficulties in accessing housing societies and reduced purchasing power of the public as contributing factors. However, some sellers have successfully shifted their business online and are reaching more customers. The market for shawls and pherans in Delhi is considered unpredictable by the sellers. Despite the challenges, they continue to work hard to maintain their livelihood.
Reship is a service that provides users with local addresses in the US, UK, and Canada, allowing them to order products sold in those countries and have them delivered to their home in India. With Reship, users can access a wide range of products from various sellers, including clothes, electronics, and branded items.
Myntra’s Big Fashion Festival (BFF) concluded its outstanding and biggest edition by far, witnessing 460 million customer visits. The festival offered access to more than 23 lakh styles and saw participation from over 6,000 brands. The leading metros driving demand were Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, while 42% of the demand originated from Tier 2 & 3 regions. The festival played a crucial role in amplifying the growth of Myntra’s brand partners and witnessed substantial growth in categories such as beauty, personal care, home decor, and luggage & travel accessories.
Ecommerce discounts and promotional offers came down on the third day of the biggest annual online festive sales, as brands and online sellers overachieved their targets reporting an over 25-30% surge in sales by value compared to the same sale period of last year. LG India has grown sales by over 30% with televisions, washing machines and refrigerators driving sales, including premium models.
E-commerce startup Flash.co, founded by ex-Flipkart executive Ranjith Boyanapalli, has secured $6.7 million in funding. The company provides custom-made email accounts and rewards for frequent online shoppers, with the aim of building unified digital identities across e-commerce platforms. Flash.co has already processed over a million orders since its launch in April. The funding round was led by venture capital firms Blume Ventures and PeerCapital. Flash.co plans to use the funding for strategic hires, infrastructure enhancements, and international expansion.
Online shopping sites in India are facing scrutiny for using deceptive design techniques, known as dark patterns, that mislead consumers. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has proposed new guidelines to curb the proliferation of these patterns. Regulators in other countries have also taken action against such practices. The proposed guidelines aim to create a safe and trustworthy online environment for consumers.
