With an increase in online enquiries for fashion and life style products in India, the e-retailers in the country are foreseeing a boost in apparel sales by the end of 2013. According to leading online retailers in the country, the major reasons that are driving more shoppers into e-commerce portals are reach, comfort, convenience and access.
Speaking to fibre2fashion, co-founder and CEO of Myntra.com, Mr. Mukesh Bansal said, “Last year, shoppers warmed up to the online retail medium and explored several categories, particularly garments. Continuing on the success, 2013 will witness higher growth and acceptance of this category.”
According to recent Google India trends report, online queries for fashion and lifestyle products are on the rise and will overtake search for electronics in 2013.
“This rise in online market is primarily due to the growing acceptance of online shopping as more and more people are getting comfortable with this concept,” says a spokesperson from Myntra.com.
According to the company representative, about 55 percent of the business on Myntra.com is driven from beyond top 10 cities currently. “The main reason fueling this growth is that online shopping provides reach and access to the best brands and their latest catalogue to all corners of the country,” he continues.
“Features like cash-on-delivery (COD) and EMI schemes are also attracting a lot of new shoppers to the e-commerce industry,” he adds.
Mr. Amit Maheshwari, vice-president of Fashion Merchandising at Snapdeal.com, says, “People are becoming more comfortable buying apparels online due to availability, reach, access and comfort in shopping as compared to retail shops.”
“We are expecting a four-fold increase in clothing sales through online platform by the end of financial year 2013-14,” he opines.
When asked about e-shops becoming a threat to retail shops, he says, “Retail and online are not competing channels, they are complimentary to each other. Online shoppers are mostly from tier 2 and tier 3 markets as well as from places such as Andaman & Nicobar, where retail shops are not present.”
Mr. Amit Rawal, founder & CEO of Elitify.com, says, “The time, convenience and access are driving the shoppers to the online market and we are getting customers from metros as well as from tier 2 and tier 3 cities.”
