'E-shopping to increases by 130 per cent during Diwali'

E-shopping to shoot up 130 per cent during Diwali: Assocham

New Delhi: Online sale of consumer goods such as electronics, jewellery and chocolates is likely to shoot up 130 per cent to Rs 575 crore this Diwali as about 30 lakh consumers are expected to place orders through internet, industry body Assocham said today.

E-shopping is being preferred as net users are opting to place orders by staying indoors in view of security and convenience factors, the chamber said.
Consumer goods industry sold products worth Rs 250 crore in the last festive season through internet, in which nearly 18-20 lakh consumers took part, an assessment done by Assocham said. The total number of net users in the last years was estimated at 5 crore.

The chamber said a large number of consumers are foreseeing security threats and avoiding visits to large and prominent markets. They would instead prefer staying indoors and get their purchase orders executed through knowledge channels.

"The Gujaratis are taking lead in ordering their Diwali requirements of consumer durables product followed by Sindhis and Punjabis. The percentage of Maharahtrian is equally strong," Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot said.

He added that majority of south Indians and consumers in extreme Himalayas lag behind in e-shopping.

The items that are likely to be shopped intensively during Diwali would include electronic items, gift articles, idols, sweets, flowers, clothes, jewellery and diamonds.

Gifting online is much easier since most online portals take care of delivery across India and some of them even delivering to select areas outside the country, Assocham said.

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