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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon Prime Day breaks records with 18,000 orders per minute in India
Amazon's latest Prime Day sale event broke records with over 18,000 orders per minute—a 50 per cent jump from 2024. Seventy per cent of new memberships came from smaller Indian cities. The e-commerce giant delivered thousands of items within four hours in major metros, with same-day delivery doubling year-over-year and two-day delivery to smaller cities rising by 80 per cent. 'Prime members purchased more items than any previous Prime Day shopping event, while we created new records on speed with the highest number of same-day deliveries,' said Akshay Sahi, Head of Amazon Prime, Delivery, and Returns Experiences, India and Emerging Markets. 'Thanks to our recent investment of ₹2,000 crore in the well-being of our associates and the scaling up of our operations, we were able to deliver even faster and safer this year.' Prime members shopped from thousands of new products launched by over 400 Indian and global brands, including Intel, Samsung, OnePlus, Bajaj, HP, BoAt, Puma, and Adidas. Purchases spanned smartphones, TVs, appliances, fashion, groceries, and home essentials. Compared to last year's Prime Day, smartphones saw high double-digit growth as Indians upgraded to flagship devices, driving up average selling prices across all city tiers. AI-enabled laptops, premium tablets, and health-focused wearables emerged as customer favourites, while premium audio segments achieved strong double-digit growth in Tier 2 cities. The home, kitchen, and outdoor category delivered its biggest Prime Day ever with 1.2X growth, supported by over 80 marquee brand launches. Fitness equipment sales surged 1.5X, with treadmill sales doubling, while furniture saw explosive growth with chairs and recliners achieving 10X increases. 'We also had a blockbuster Prime Day launch with our water purifiers, and it was a massive success,' said Arindam Paul, Founding Member and Chief Business Officer at Atomberg. Two-wheeler sales grew 1.9X across more than 500 cities, highlighting the expanding reach of online vehicle purchases beyond major metros. Eric Vas, President (Urbanite Business) at Bajaj Auto Ltd, said the company's latest offering, Chetak 3001, received an overwhelming response, becoming the No.1 best-selling electric scooter during Prime Day 2025. Beauty categories experienced exceptional growth, with skincare and colour cosmetics seeing 2X increases. Professional beauty services witnessed up to 3X growth, while Korean beauty brands saw up to 7X growth. Health-focused products gained momentum with whey protein sales increasing by over 80 per cent and coffee consumption growing 1.3X nationally, outpacing tea and growing 2X in Tier 2 cities. Shashi Kumar, the Chief Executive of Akshayakalpa Organic, reported significant gains, noting the company saw a remarkable 50 per cent growth in sales during Prime Day. Financing Fuels Premium Shift This surge reflects a broader trend where Amazon's financing options and exclusive content are enabling smaller Indian cities to drive premium consumption. For instance, 1 out of 4 spends this Prime Day were on EMI (equated monthly instalment), and 9 out of 10 EMI purchases were driven by No Cost EMI. The Premium Smartphone segment (priced higher than ₹30,000) witnessed over 60 per cent growth in value. Nearly 70 per cent of this growth came from Tier 2 and beyond cities. Amazon Fresh recorded its highest order volumes, with Tier 2+ cities leading 90 per cent growth, while daily essentials saw over 70 per cent of new customers coming from Tier 2 and 3 cities. This demonstrates Prime Day's expanding geographic reach. The Tier-2/3 city boom extended beyond consumers to sellers, with small and medium businesses seeing record participation. Notably, 68 per cent of these sellers were based in Tier 2 and 3 cities and beyond, while Amazon Business witnessed a 3X spike in new customer registrations during Prime Day, with 7X growth in Prime sign-ups.
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Amazon India Prime Day 2025: Check out deals on iPhone 15, smart TVs, and more
Amazon India on Monday, July 7, announced the launch of new products, exciting deals, and the steps it has taken to ensure a more timely delivery experience. The newly launched products include smartphones, fashion and beauty products, and everyday essentials. Amazon India Prime Day is the company's flagship sale featuring new launches, discounts, and quick deliveries. In a first, this year's Prime Day will last for over 72 hours. It will begin at 12:00 AM on July 12 and end at 11:59 PM on July 14, 2025. The event is an Amazon Prime-exclusive event, which means that you need to be an Amazon Prime customer to avail the discounts and offers. 'Prime Day is a celebration of our customers, and this year we're going bigger than ever with 72 hours of shopping, unmatched savings and blockbuster entertainment. With thousands of deals across categories, Prime Day promises to bring the best of Amazon to Prime members across the country,' Akshay Sahi, the country head of Amazon Prime in India, said in a press release. Alongside the new product launches and discounts, Amazon also said it is setting up 30 new delivery stations across tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities such as Panchkula, Nagpur, and Mohali, to enable faster deliveries. '…By expanding our delivery network, we're not only meeting current customer demand but also building capacity for future growth. As we approach Prime Day 2025, these new stations, along with our widely spread existing network will ensure customers throughout India experience seamless and on-time deliveries,' Abhinav Singh, vice president of operations, Amazon India and Australia, said. Here's a look at some of the most notable offers that will be available during Amazon India Prime Day 2025: – Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G is set to be priced at Rs 74,999, the lowest till date. This can also be availed with a no-cost EMI of up to 12 months. – Apple iPhone 15 is available at its Rs 57,999, again at a lowest-ever price. – Customers can get their hands on the OnePlus 13s at Rs 49,999, with Rs 5,000 Instant Bank Discount, and up to 12 months no cost EMI. – The Sony 55-inch BRAVIA 2 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV is priced at Rs 49,999, with a Rs 5,000 discount using SBI offer. A no-cost EMI of up to 9 months is also available. – The Xiaomi QLED TV FX Pro 55-inch is available at ₹36,499, with a Rs 2,500 SBI discount and up to 6 months of no-cost EMI. – The LG 55-inch OLED B4 Series 4K Ultra HD Smart TV is being offered at Rs 89,990, with Rs 10,000 off using the SBI offer, and no-cost EMI of up to 9 months. – Discounts of up to 80 percent on men's and women's fashion. – Up to 70 percent off on beauty products. – The Bosch 9 kg 5 Star Front Load Washing Machine can be bought at Rs 32,990, with a Rs 4,000 Instant Bank discount, a Rs 2,000 coupon, and up to 9 months of no cost EMI. – Up to 50 percent off on fresh groceries ordered via Amazon Fresh. – Up to 60 percent off on over 30 lakh everyday essentials.
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Business Standard
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon India's Prime Day returns on July 12-14 with 72-hour mega sale
Amazon India has announced that its annual Prime Day sale will take place from July 12 to July 14 this year. The 72-hour event, available exclusively to Prime members, will feature discounts across a broad range of categories, including smartphones, consumer electronics, home appliances, fashion and household essentials. The sale, which begins at midnight on July 12, will also include promotions on Amazon-branded devices and entertainment content accessible through the platform. Customers using ICICI Bank credit and debit cards, as well as SBI credit cards, will be eligible for additional discounts, including 10 per cent savings on select transactions, according to the company. The sale will offer up to 40 per cent off on smartphones and accessories, with added incentives such as instant bank discounts, no-cost EMI plans of up to 24 months, and exchange offers valued at up to Rs 60,000. Deals will also be available on flagship models including the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra 5G, iPhone 15 and OnePlus 13s. The event will feature discounts of up to 65 per cent on home appliances from brands including LG, Samsung, Haier, Godrej and Carrier. Shoppers can also access exchange benefits of up to Rs 17,000 and coupon discounts of up to Rs 5,000 on energy-efficient models. Amazon India will offer discounts ranging from 50 to 80 per cent on more than 500,000 products in its fashion and beauty categories during Prime Day. The sale includes apparel, footwear, cosmetics, jewellery, watches and luggage. Amazon India recently stated that Prime Day 2025 would run for three days for the first time—up from the usual two days. Members will gain an additional 24 hours to shop across major brands and small businesses. The expansion from 48 hours to 72 hours reflects Amazon India's accelerating push to grow its Prime membership base in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, with a clear shift in adoption beyond traditional metropolitan strongholds. In a recent interview, Akshay Sahi, director, Prime, deliveries and returns for India and emerging markets, emphasised the widening geographic footprint of Prime, noting that last Prime Day, the firm had over 60 per cent of sign-ups coming from cities outside the top 20. This shift has been supported by targeted investments in Amazon's logistics network. The company recently announced it will invest more than Rs 2,000 crore in India in 2025 as it strengthens its logistics and safety standards. Last year's Prime Day marked Amazon India's biggest ever, with a 24 per cent increase in Prime member participation and record sign-ups, highlighting growing demand across the country.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Festive retail strategy: Brands go big on discounts; hope early season boosts sentiment
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. Retailers in India are ramping up discounts, accelerating deliveries, and launching extended sale events this festive season, aiming to revive discretionary spending after a year of sluggish consumer sentiment. With festivals such as Teej, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, and Ganesh Chaturthi falling earlier this year, brands have advanced festive stocking and promotions in anticipation of a demand uptick. 'We are cautiously optimistic about July-September after a subdued last year, with many festive occasions in the quarter,' said Pushpa Bector, senior executive director and business head at DLF Retail, according to ET. She added that brands across categories such as fashion, luxury, and gifting have already boosted inventories and rolled out early promotions. The upcoming July-September quarter is being closely watched after a rain-disrupted April-June period and 12 months of muted sales. Retailers are betting that discounts, estimated to be 20–50% higher than last year, will draw in shoppers. A strong start to the season is expected to build momentum toward Diwali in October. E-commerce players are also joining the fray. Amazon is extending its Prime Day to three days (July 12–14) for the first time. 'This year, for the first time, we're extending Prime Day to three days,' said Akshay Sahi, director of Prime, delivery and returns for India and emerging markets at Amazon. The company has also announced up to 10% discounts on select brands. Myntra is enhancing its MNow quick delivery service, particularly for gifting occasions like Raksha Bandhan. 'We aim to cater to key occasions like Rakhi, where gifting takes centre stage,' said Ankit Dua, senior director, category management at Myntra, as per ET. Traditional FMCG brands are also eyeing early gains. Haldiram's has already begun stocking festive packs for Teej (July 27) at its outlets and online. DS Group, which sells premium chocolate brands like Laderach and Luvit, is pushing festive bundling offers. 'There would be much higher discounts compared to last year,' said Parle Products vice president Mayank Shah, adding that these will be rolled out across platforms. The Rs 900 billion retail sector had seen growth taper to 4–5% over the past year from 9–10% previously, according to industry estimates. Last year's festive sales rose just 7%, falling short of a 10% target. However, the Retailers Association of India reported 7% growth in May and expects 9–10% growth in the coming quarters, reported ET. Jewellery retailers, meanwhile, continue to grapple with subdued consumer interest despite a Rs 5,000 fall in gold prices per 10 gm over the past fortnight. 'Despite falling prices, there has not been significant interest among consumers,' said Surendra Mehta, national secretary of the India Bullion & Jewellers Association. Still, jewellers are restocking and launching new collections in anticipation of higher festive demand. Retailers like PNG Jewellers and Jos Alukkas are offering deep discounts to attract buyers. 'We are offering lower denominations of gold and silver coins to widen appeal,' said Varghese Alukkas, managing director of Jos Alukkas. PNG Jewellers chairman Saurabh Gadgil said they would continue offering 50% off on making charges until July 15 to clear old stock and attract footfall. With a strong monsoon expected to support rural spending, retailers are banking on an early and aggressive festive push to turn around sentiment and drive growth. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hope restocked on festive shelves; companies plan higher discounts for turnaround in sales
New Delhi | Kolkata: Companies selling discretionary products from chocolates and apparel to electronics and jewellery are lining up larger discounts, longer sale events and faster deliveries this festive season, hoping to persuade shoppers who have been wary of spending the past year to loosen the purse strings. They have also advanced festive stocking as the season starts early this year, with monsoon festival of Teej, Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi all stacked up over the next two months. 'We are cautiously optimistic about July-September after a subdued last year, with many festive occasions in the quarter,' said Pushpa Bector, senior executive director and business head at DLF Retail, which owns and operates several premium malls. 'With festivals coming earlier this year, brands across categories such as fashion, gifting and luxury goods have advanced inventories and promotions.' Brands and retailers hope that discounts, projected to be 20-50% higher compared with last year, will encourage consumers to spend, and boost their performance in the July-September quarter after a muted 12-month period and a rain-impacted April-June quarter. A strong beginning to the festive season, they hope, will set the momentum for the big Diwali shopping period in October, and they are doubling down on discounts and sales across offline and online platforms. 'This year, for the first time, we're extending Prime Day to three days,' said Akshay Sahi, Amazon's director, Prime, delivery and returns for India and emerging markets. Prime Days, one of the main shopping events on the ecommerce platform, has been for two days in the past. The online retailer has announced up to 10% discount on several brands during the July 12-14 event. At Myntra, one of the key features this year would be quick deliveries under its MNow service, 'to cater to key occasions like Rakhi, where gifting takes centre stage', said Ankit Dua, senior director, category management at the Walmart-owned online fashion retailers. Snacking giant Haldiram's said it has begun stocking festive packs for Teej which falls on July 27, at its stores and on online platforms. A spokesperson for the DS Group, which retails premium chocolate brands Laderach and Luvit, said the company is boosting inventory of festive packs and creating bundling options. Mayank Shah, vice president marketing at bakery products maker Parle Products, said there would be much higher discounts compared to last year, both online and offline. RETAIL TURNAROUND Sales across discretionary sectors slowed down to 4-5% on an average in the past 12 months from 9-10% a year earlier, according to industry estimates, dragged by inflation and urban stress. In last year's festival season, retail sales grew 7%, falling short of industry expectations of 10%. But the $900 billion retail industry may now be on a recovery path, show latest data, with Retailers Association of India last week reporting a 7% expansion in May and projecting 9–10% growth during the next two quarters. The industry is also hopeful that this year's plentiful monsoon would help boost demand, especially in rural markets. The jewellery industry though remains under pressure amid high gold prices, though the prices fell by Rs 5,000 per 10 gm in the last 15 days. But they too expect the festivals to bring cheer. 'Despite falling prices, there has not been significant interest among consumers,' said Surendra Mehta, national secretary of the India Bullion & Jewellers Association. 'However, jewellers are restocking in advance and introducing new lines in anticipation of higher sales in the upcoming festive season.' Varghese Alukkas, managing director of jewellery retailer Jos Alukkas, said his company is working on plans to boost sales, including offering lower denominations of gold coins and silver coins against gold and diamond jewellery. Saurabh Gadgil, chairman of Pune-based listed jewellery firm PNG Jewellers, said the chain would continue with 50% discounts on making charges till July 15 to clear out old inventory and bring in additional customers.
