The Republic Day of India = Bon Voyage + Shopping

The three-day long weekend from 23rd January to 26th January, 2015, has filled many hearts with pre-holiday excitement as almost everyone plans to enjoy this mini-vacation by keeping the routine grind at bay. But has this killed their opportunity of shopping and taking advantage of Republic Day offers? No.

Starting from a small single store to hyper-mall, shopping mall and even the online stores, everyone is offering heavy discounts over different categories and products on the Republic Day.

So, if you are on holidays and far from your shopping destinations, you can still buy whatever you like with a single click on your smartphone. Whether you are at home or away, buying from Infibeam on mobile phone or tab is all easy. Now, all brands on Infibeam are available on the mobile responsive site www.infibeam.com.

Brands in different categories such as mobile, tablets, computers, apparels, accessories, home appliances, kitchenware, books, magazines, furnishing and many are on sale of up to 90% discount. Exclusive products on www.infibeam.ooo also have attractive offers.

In India, entire country will be celebrating 66th Republic Day on 26th, January, 2015. For first time, the Honourable US President Barack Obama is visiting India on her Republic Day. Once the Republic Day parade is over, it is believed the people of India will get on to shopping.

But in case of Infibeam, the Republic Day offers are already made available and will last for one week until 28th January, 2015. As a result, one can shop at his or her convenience before, during or even after Republic Day. During this week, Infibeam is offering additional 26% off on several products which may lead to total discount of up to 90%.

It has been over a decade people of India have started celebrating Republic Day as a shopping day. And, it is expected that even on this R-day, people will celebrate it as S-day i.e. Shopping Day!

Big Brands Now on Dot-Triple-O

Entire week, starting from 7 January to 13 January, each and every citizen and guests at Ahmedabad were talking about .OOO (Dot-triple-O) and its campaign appeared in the leading English daily, The Times of India. As an impact, the popularity and awareness of .OOO, Infibeam and Buildabazaar has drastically increased.

NRIs and PIOs from across world have come to Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar for three days from 7 January to attend Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2015. To welcome guests from different parts of the world, Infibeam ran a campaign with citing examples of people who dedicated their life for country. With messages of entrepreneurship, sustainable development and inclusiveness, the campaign shared the examples of great father of nation, Shri Mahatma Gandhi, one of founding fathers of Republic of India, Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the monk who introduced India's culture and strength to western world, Shri Swami Vivekanda.

With the help of .OOO, Infibeam and Buildabazaar, one can not only dream of globalisation but can also achieve milestones, create a global identity and can expand reach across world. Under the aegis of 'Make in India' – pet project of Honourable Prime Minister of India - each and every brand in the country should eye exports for which, they need infrastructure. With minimum expense, the Indian domestic brand, with best quality, can easily export their products to the world that too without having their physical presence.

Any best manufacturer simply needs to create an online presence under .OOO and after using Bulidabazaar platform, the company can market its products to consumers across the globe. Using help of international logistics, manufacturers can export their products directly to the consumer sitting in any corner of the world.

Well, there are many corporates who have already started thinking on these lines. Among them are Bakeri Constructions (www.bakerigroup.ooo), which is one of the oldest real estate brands known for affordable houses. The food & beverage and spice companies, Rasna India (www.rasna.ooo), Wagh Bakri Tea (www.waghbakri.ooo), Tejals Patisserie (www.tejals.ooo) and Yours Masala (www.yoursfoods.ooo), have decided to stand out and grow by moving on Dot-triple-O. Housing loan providing company, HDFC Realty (www.hdfcrealty.ooo) is offering wide range of affordable houses and home loans on its portal.

Known for its healthcare services, Sterling Healthcare (www.sterlinghospitals.ooo) and country's leading service tax solution providing portal, Service Tax Online (www.servicetaxonline.ooo) have migrated to Dot-Triple-O platform. Interestingly, even Infibeam has brought its exclusive product line on www.infibeam.ooo. The popular automobile dealer for Toyoto, Infinium Toyota (www.infiniumtoyota.ooo) too has come on Dot-Triple-O platform.

There are many big brands who have already migrated to Dot-triple-O with their e-commerce portals and at the same time, various new brands are all set to create their identity to reach out to the world.

India's e-tail story: Country reads a lot

It seems India read a lot. In top eight cities of India, every second shipment delivered is a book. The category of 'books' has maximum share with average 56% of the total deliveries made in country in 2014. According to Infibeam's report 'Infi E-trend 2014', on consumer behaviour and demand, reveals that in nine big cites of India - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune - books dominate in e-tail sales. In many of the cities, share of books in the total sale is more than two third.

Book is a category that does not require warranty or guarantee and nor after sale services. Hence, the consumer across country prefers buying books online compared with other e-tail categories.

Guaranteed higher discounts on books, especially the one like autobiography of Sachin Tendulkar 'Playing It My Way', 'I am Malala' and many others have pushed the sales. Both, the fiction and the non-fiction have almost equal share of the total online sale of the books.

After books, 'computer accessories' have slightly higher share than the category of 'mobiles and tablets'. The average sale of computer accessories is little over than 9% and latter has 8%. Mobile and tablets, which contribute over 50% to the total sales value, stands at third position in sales (volume) in 2014. Interestingly, all kind of accessories, including one for computers, mobile and auto mobile have share of about 20% to the total e-tail sales.

The fourth largest category, portable electronics, contributes up to 5%. Auto mobile accessories, home appliances, kitchenware, home furnishing and apparels, together have share of less than 15%. But among these categories, apparels is believed to be the fastest growing category, that too in double digit.

City-wise e-commerce trend with top four categories in each city in 2014

(percentage of the total number of deliveries)

Ahmedabad

• Books - 46%
• Mobiles & Mobile Accessories - 20%
• Computer Accessories - 11%
• Kitchenware and Apparels - 10%

The vibrant city of India, Ahmedabad is odd one out compared to other top cities of Gujarat. Reading tops the chart, but share of books in total number of deliveries is 46%. In mega city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, mobile and mobile accessories hold about 20% followed by computer accessories with 11%. The erstwhile Manchester of East, the category of apparels has higher share in Ahmedabad compared to other cities of country. Kitchenware and apparels hold about 10% share in total number of deliveries.

Bengaluru

• Books - 54%
• Mobile, tabs & accessories - 12%
• Computer accessories - 9%
• Apparels & kitchenware - 7%

Like national trend, the category 'books' continues to dominate in e-tail space in the IT city of India, Bengaluru. Of the total shipments delivered in the city, 54% is contributed by books. The category of 'mobile & tabs' and 'mobile accessories' together have share of 12%, followed by 'computer accessories', which has 9%. Portable electronics and auto mobile accessories, each, has contributed 5% to the total online sales in Bengaluru. While home furnishing, home appliances and kitchenware, together eat pie of 11% in the city. Apparel has share of 3%.

Chennai

• Books - 49%
• Computer accessories 11%
• Home appliances & home furnishing - 10%
• Auto accessories - 6%

The metro city of Southern India, Chennai too has seen that every second e-commerce buyer loves to read books. Here, the demand for mobile or its accessories does not fall in top four. But, computer accessories is second followed by home appliances and home furnishing. Compared to other top cities of India, the share of auto accessories in Chennai is higher.

Gurgaon

• Books - 63%
• Mobile & mobile accessories - 14%
• Computer accessories - 8%
• Apparels & Kitchenware - 5%

Part of National Capital Region, Gurgaon has somewhat similar e-commerce trends of Delhi. About one third of e-commerce buyers in city prefer buying books online. Books have 63% share in total number of deliveries, followed by mobile and mobile accessories with 14%. The computer accessories has 8% share while apparels and Kitchenware hold 5% share.

Hyderabad

• Books - 46%
• Computers Accessories - 11%
• Kitchenware & home appliances - 11%
• Mobiles & tabs - 7%

Famous for Charminar and also known as Cyberabad, Hyderabad has seen higher demand for computer accessories after books on top. Like other cities, readers top the chart in Hyedrabad too. Here, the number of deliveries of kitchenware and home appliances is higher than mobiles and tabs. The share of number of mobile accessories sold in Hyderabad is comparatively less than other cities.

Kolkata

• Books - 70%
• Mobile & mobile accessories - 9%
• Computer accessories - 8%
• Apparel & home furnishing - 5%

No one can beat the largest city of eastern part of India, Kolkata, in reading books. About 70% of the total number of deliveries in the city is contributed by books. This share is largest compared to all top cities of country. Rest all categories fall in remaining 30%. In the rest, mobile and mobile accessories have 9% followed by computer accessories is 8% and apparel&home furnishing has 5%.

Mumbai

• Books - 68%
• Mobile & mobile accessories - 12%
• Computer Accessories - 6%
• Home appliances, Kitchenware & home furnishing - 6%

The financial capital of country has witnessed books contributing over two third to its total online sale. With share of 68%, books dominate the number of deliveries done through online sale at Infibeam, discloses 'Infi E-trend 2014'. Here, mobiles and tabs are the second largest category with share of 8%, however, value-wise mobile still dominates as the price per item ranges very high. Computer accessories is third largest followed by mobile accessories, portable electronics, auto mobile accessories, kitchenware, home furnishing, home appliances and apparels.

New Delhi

• Books - 65%
• Mobile & mobile accessories - 13%
• Computer accessories - 9%
• Home appliances, Kitchenware & home furnishing - 5%

People of national capital, Delhi, are always struggling with either extreme cold in winters or extreme hot in summers. But their top choice is books. Of the every three e-commerce buyers, two order books. About 65% of total sales in Delhi is with books. Followed by mobile and mobile accessories with 13%. The home appliances, Kitchenware and home furnishing categories have considerable demand in Delhi while computer accessories has higher share with 9%.

Pune

• Books - 47%
• Mobile & mobile accessories - 21%
• Computer accessories - 11%
• Home appliances, home furnishing & Kitchenware - 9%

In one of the IT cities of western India, Pune, books too have little less than 50%. It can be said that almost every second person is ordering book online. And, mobile & mobile accessories are the second largest category delivered in the city. Here, computer accessories is on third position with 11% share while home appliances, home furnishing & Kitchenware have 9% share.