E-tailers expect to ring in the New Year with increase in revenues and traffic

With increasing Internet penetration in the country as well as the crowded markets during the festive season, online shopping centers are expecting a huge increase in the traffic and revenues generated over the period. According to the IAMAI’s recent release, “The experts expect an increase in their revenues by over 50 per cent and the overall traffic by over 75 per cent as the consumers are getting aware on the safety, security and convenience of online shopping.”

Almost all online stores are putting up a ‘Christmas’ feel to their sites with the traditional snowflakes, Santa Claus, and so on. Even large portals like MSN have given a Christmas touch by creating a virtual Santa Claus with whom parents can spend time with their kids chatting in real-time using Windows Live Messenger.

K Vaitheeswaran, COO, Fabmall.com, said, “We have launched a digital camera store to coincide with the New Year. There are also some promotions running especially on winter wear and books.” Fabmall also has various discounts on their products especially for the Christmas and New Year.

“Chennaibazaar.com for this Christmas season is offering gifts delivery service by Santa Claus personally on Christmas Eve. This service is available only for deliveries in Chennai. For New Year we have midnight surprise where we offer delivery on New Year Eve,” said Chennaibazaar.com’s Rajesh Nahar.

Rahul Sethi, Senior Manager, E Retailing, Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd, “For the festive season we have launched a new property called ‘half off’, where we are offering 50 per cent discount on MRP on select products. The products change every week.”

With promotions like these in the online space during the Christmas and New Year period, the Internet space is likely to see a huge surge in traffic.