Internet savvy Indians are turning to the web to shop for festivals.
According to Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), the buying trends during festive seasons have witnessed a significant upward movement this “Diwali” also due to aggressive online discounts, rising fuel price and the wider and abundant choice online keeping them indoors.
A major factor in the trend is security – thefts and other petty crime are all too common in crowded markets during pre-festival shopping seasons. Other factors pushing e-shoppers are home delivery offers and ease and availability factors for product comparisons.
Online shopping is likely to grow by nearly 250 per cent during this festive season at various metros including large township like Delhi-NCR, Luknow, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Cochin, Chennai, Udiapur and Jaipur, it says.
ASSOCHAM secretary general D S Rawat said the busy markets in the capital, including the sprawling retails in the entire National Capital Region, would be impacted the most, hitting the bricks-and-mortar businesses.
It was revealed that Delhiites are taking lead in ordering their Diwali requirements of consumer durables products online followed by Mumbaikars and Gujarat shoppers.
In other cities like Kolkata, 40 per cent of its population using Internet chose to buy daily routine products through online shopping in 2012-13, which will go to 55 per cent in current fiscal.
Most products bought and sold off during Diwali through online comprise gift articles (58 per cent), electronic gadgets (41 per cent), accessories apparel (36 per cent), apparel (36 per cent), computer and peripherals (33 per cent), hotel rooms (20 per cent), home appliances (16 per cent), toys (16 per cent), jewellery (15 per cent), beauty products (12 per cent) and health and fitness products (12 per cent).
