Latest news with #Walmart-owned
Mint
15 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Apparel retailers reset their summer calendar with early end-of-season sales as consumer spending cools
New Delhi: Apparel retailers that have advanced their summer sales this year in response to months of sluggish demand have stumbled upon some interesting insights. For one, evolving consumer behaviour has left them competing not just with other retailers but with entirely unrelated sectors. Retailers are also striving to be nimbler to keep shoppers engaged, and hoping that the government's moves to boost consumption revives demand by the festive season towards the end of the year. 'Several leading brands, including H&M, Marks & Spencer, and RBL, have already kicked off their sales from mid-June,' said Pushpa Bector, senior executive director and business head, DLF Retail, which operates malls in the Delhi-National Capital Region. 'This year, brands are responding with sharper pricing and a wider range of offers, making this a strong retail moment across categories.' In India, summer end-of-season sales usually commence during mid-to-late June and go on till end-July or even August. This year, however, several brands advanced their summer season sales by a week or two, with a focus on liquidating excess stock and adapting to a market where consumers are spending on experiences over discretionary purchases. 'This trend isn't limited to India—it reflects a broader global pattern,' said Nitin Chhabra, chief executive officer of Ace Turtle, which operates brands such as Lee and Wrangler in India and has advanced its summer sales by a week this year. 'Consumers worldwide are increasingly allocating a larger share of their spending towards travel and experiential activities, which has had a direct impact on discretionary retail categories like (apparel),' said Chhabra. 'The government's announcement of no income tax for individuals earning up to ₹ 12 lakhs, along with three interest rate cuts by the (Reserve Bank of India), is expected to boost disposable income and reinvigorate consumer spending—especially among India's growing middle class. We expect these positive measures to start yielding results and translate into increased sales by Diwali,' he added. Retail sales in April grew by a mere 4% from a year earlier, according to the Retailers Association of India's data released last month. Apparel sales grew 5%, while footwear sales were up 2%. Large offline retailers such as Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd have been calling out a challenging consumption environment, especially for discretionary categories, over the previous two-three quarters. Unlike traditional retail, online sales have become a constant through the year. Digital marketplaces and e-commerce platforms, including direct-to-consumer or online-first brands, prefer hosting sales across categories such as beauty, apparel, and electronics at different times during the year. Online fashion retailer Myntra, a subsidiary of Walmart-owned Flipkart, held its flagship 'End of Reason Sale' between 31 May and 12 June this year. Last year, Myntra similarly began its summer sale on 31 May but concluded it on 7 June. A Myntra spokesperson said orders during the retailer's latest flagship sales doubled over business-as-usual days, and that the sales saw a 1.3 time increase in new customers over last year's edition. Rival Ajio, owned by Reliance Retail Ltd, also hosted its 'Big Bold Sale' during the same period as Myntra this year. 'The discounting landscape has evolved considerably. With rising competition and more sale-led triggers across platforms, brands today are optimizing for longer sale windows to stay relevant,' said Sidhant Keshwani, founder and CEO of ethnic wear brand Libas, adding that online discounting has definitely influenced broader retail behaviours. Libas has already concluded its end-of-season summer sale and is gearing up for its 'Purple Day Sale', its flagship annual event, which is set to go live between late July and early August, followed closely by the launch of its autumn-winter collection. 'There are several contributing factors. With the festive season approaching earlier this year, we're seeing a clear shift in consumer purchase patterns—shoppers are starting earlier and shopping more mindfully,' Keshwani said. 'At our end, we've expanded our assortment significantly, both in terms of stock-keeping units and new categories, which has allowed us to tailor our discounting and marketing strategy more effectively,' he added. 'While promotional events continue to perform, what's been most encouraging is the 20-30% full-price sell-through we're seeing across key product lines,' he said. Sanjay Vakharia, co-founder and CEO of denim brand Spykar, said demand for apparel has been subdued so far this year, including because of the brief India-Pakistan conflict that kept people from shopping, particularly at malls, in some states. Despite that, Spykar, which began its summer season sale this week and will conclude it by 31 July, is focusing on driving margins and bringing fresher collections to its stores, said Vakharia. 'We are going to control and curtail the period of sales so we can get in more freshness, and offer merchandise to consumers at a full price and curb the habit of customers waiting for end-of-season sales,' he said. Nishank Joshi, chief marketing officer at Nexus Select Malls, which operates 19 malls in India, said brands are becoming smarter in response to greater competition. 'While the early monsoon may have had a small impact the larger story is that Indian retail is becoming sharper, more responsive, and more in tune with what customers want and when they want it,' Joshi said. 'This year is not just about shifting timelines for EOSS (end-of-summer sales), but it reflects a shift in how brands, retailers, and consumers think. Today, brands are more flexible and consumer-focused to stay relevant and competitive.'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Sam's Club challenges Amazon Prime Day with new deal, fans will love
Having too many deals to choose from seems like a first-world problem. However, in an uncertain economy with pressures that have caused a slowdown in consumer spending, all discounts are welcome. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Although sales are not like they used to be, with some supposed "discounts" being so insignificant that they seem like total scams, saving a dollar or two always makes us fall into the temptation of spending more than we can afford. Because retailers know it's engraved in our culture to wait for seasonal discounts before dropping an entire month's paycheck, they continue to invest in promoting these sales tactics every year. Related: Walmart makes deal to open popular food chain in stores Nonetheless, we are our worst enemy. As much as we would like to believe that we won't be making as many unnecessary purchases as we did the year prior, seeing that bright red discounted number gets us every time. Amazon (AMZN) recently made a major announcement about its popular Prime Day, the e-commerce giant's annual shopping event, during which the company offers various deals across a wide range of product categories exclusively available to Prime members. Amazon Prime Day began as a 24-hour event in 2015, taking place in July and spanning multiple countries. It was created to encourage shoppers to join the company's Prime membership and boost sales by providing numerous discounts. However, this year Amazon decided to extend its single-day sale to last four days and run from July 8 to 11, allowing indecisive and forgetful customers more time to make purchases. Related: Forget drones, Amazon has new robots that could replace humans This event has been incredibly successful for Amazon, helping it increase sales and spreading brand awareness to casual shoppers and shopaholics alike. Although the e-commerce giant's announcement was major news, a prominent retailer quickly took away the spotlight, unveiling a similar offering that was even more enticing. The Walmart-owned Sam's Club (WMT) has revealed it is locking the value prices of over 1,000 summer favorites through July 22, so customers can purchase all their necessities now that the sunny season is here. However, that's not all. Sam's Club is also launching its "July Instant Savings Event" on July 23, offering various deals on popular summer and back-to-school items. More Retial News: Bankrupt retail chain makes major comeback, reopens new storesAfter bankruptcy, closed clothing chain hints at comebackJPMorgan Chase hikes up annual fee cost of popular credit card Although Sam's Club's events don't overlap with Amazon's four-day Prime Day, the announcements' proximity allows the retailers to better compete with one another while providing consumers with more options. With growing competition among retailers intensifying, these announcements might be the spark the retail sector needs to ignite even more sales events soon. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Mint
a day ago
- Business
- Mint
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max receive a MASSIVE discount on Flipkart: Check offer details
Apple's flagship smartphones, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, are now available at reduced prices on Walmart-owned Flipkart as part of a special limited-period offer. The e-commerce platform is providing direct discounts, bank offers, and exchange deals, making the premium devices more accessible to Indian buyers. The iPhone 16 Pro, which typically retails at ₹ 1,19,900 for the 128GB base model, is now listed for ₹ 1,09,900 on Flipkart, an effective discount of eight per cent. The 256GB variant has also seen a price drop from ₹ 1,29,900 to ₹ 1,22,900, representing a five per cent reduction. Buyers can choose from all four available colour options, Black Titanium, Desert Titanium, Natural Titanium, and White Titanium, without missing out on the offer. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has received similar markdowns. The 256GB model is currently priced at ₹ 1,32,900, down from its original ₹ 1,44,900 tag. Higher-capacity versions are also part of the deal: the 512GB and 1TB variants are now available for ₹ 1,57,900 and ₹ 1,77,900, respectively, down from ₹ 1,64,900 and ₹ 1,84,900. Notably, the e-commerce giant is also offering an exchange discount of up to ₹ 48,150 when customers trade in their old smartphones. The actual exchange value will depend on the model, condition, and location-based availability. On top of the discounted prices, several bank-related promotions sweeten the deal further. Purchases made using Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Cards attract an additional five per cent discount, capped at ₹ 4,000. It is noteworthy that customers using the same card for non-EMI transactions are eligible for up to ₹ 2,000 off. Additionally, a flat ₹ 3,000 discount is available across all standard credit card purchases. Flipkart is offering no-cost EMI options.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon to invest Rs 2,000 cr in India to expand logistics, improve safety
Amazon will invest more than Rs 2,000 crore (about $233 million) in India in 2025 as it strengthens its logistics and safety standards, said the ecommerce company on Thursday. The investment will be used for expanding and modernising the company's infrastructure, employee safety and wellness initiatives, and developing technologies for its fulfillment network. The planned outlay highlights Amazon's ambition to operate what it calls India's 'safest, fastest, and most reliable' logistics network. The company said the new capital commitment builds on a series of prior investments that have enabled it to service every deliverable postal code in the country. 'For over a decade now in India, we have been focused on building the best-in-class logistics infrastructure — designed to deliver with safety, speed, scale, and reliability for our customers across the country,' said Abhinav Singh, vice-president - operations, Amazon India and Australia. 'These latest investments reflect our commitment to continually expand and upgrade our operations across our fulfilment, sortation and delivery network.' India remains a critical growth market for Amazon, which continues to face intense competition from rivals like Walmart-owned Flipkart, Reliance's JioMart and the Tata Group. Amazon plans to use the investment in India to launch new sites and upgrade existing facilities across its fulfilment, sortation, and delivery network. The move is aimed at boosting processing capacity, speeding up order fulfilment, and improving overall operational efficiency. The facilities will feature energy-efficient systems and new technology. Amazon says its fulfilment centres are designed for accessibility, with ongoing improvements in cooling, safety measures, and rest areas to support employee well-being and create an inclusive work environment. The investment highlights Amazon's strategy to deepen its logistics footprint in India, enhance customer experience, empower sellers, and support local economic growth. Amazon has invested more than $11 billion in India, including data centres, fulfillment facilities, a nationwide logistics network, digital payment infrastructure, and technology aimed at digitizing small sellers and boosting exports. The company has also directed capital toward enhancing customer experience, supporting local content creators, and expanding its entertainment offerings. In June 2023, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reaffirmed the company's long-term commitment to the country during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that time, Amazon announced plans to invest an additional $15 billion in India by 2030. This would bring its total investment in the market to $26 billion, underscoring the strategic importance of India as a key growth driver for the company.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon to invest ₹2,000 cr in India to expand logistics, boost safety
Amazon plans to invest more than ₹2,000 crore (about $233 million) in its Indian operations network in 2025, in a move aimed at strengthening logistics capabilities and boosting safety standards across the country. The investment will be directed towards expanding and modernising the e-commerce giant's infrastructure, enhancing employee safety and wellness initiatives, and developing advanced technologies to streamline its fulfilment network. The planned outlay highlights Amazon's broader ambition to operate what it calls India's 'safest, fastest, and most reliable' logistics network. The company said the new capital commitment builds on a series of prior investments that have enabled it to service every deliverable postal code in the country. 'For over a decade now in India, we have been focused on building the best-in-class logistics infrastructure—designed to deliver with safety, speed, scale, and reliability for our customers across the country,' said Abhinav Singh, Vice-President - Operations, Amazon India and Australia. 'These latest investments reflect our commitment to continually expand and upgrade our operations across our fulfilment, sortation and delivery network.' India remains a critical growth market for Amazon, which continues to face intense competition from rivals like Walmart-owned Flipkart, Reliance's JioMart and the Tata Group. Amazon plans to use the investment in India to launch new sites and upgrade existing facilities across its fulfilment, sortation, and delivery network. The move is aimed at boosting processing capacity, speeding up order fulfilment, and improving overall operational efficiency. The facilities—both new and existing—will feature energy-efficient systems and state-of-the-art technology. Amazon says its fulfilment centres are designed for accessibility, with ongoing improvements in cooling, safety measures, and rest areas to support employee well-being and create an inclusive work environment. The investment highlights Amazon's strategy to deepen its logistics footprint in India, enhance customer experience, empower sellers, and support local economic growth. Amazon will continue investing in initiatives to support the health and financial well-being of employees and associates across its India operations. Key programmes include Ashray, which offers rest points for delivery personnel; Samridhi, focused on financial education; Pratidhi, a scholarship programme for associates' children; and Sushruta, addressing truck drivers' healthcare needs. The company also provides on-site first aid and insurance cover for associates. It has launched a nationwide campaign to offer free health check-ups to over 80,000 delivery partners by the end of 2025. Amazon is also boosting on-road safety with tech-driven alerts for speed and rest, route optimisation tools, and a new Helmet Adherence App to ensure helmet use. It is also streamlining driver onboarding, enhancing the Driver app for greater transparency and benefits, and simplifying delivery workflows with improved navigation and verification features.
