Embrace to the E-revolution!

Pearl Uppal, CEO of fashionandyou.com, talks to DNA about the sudden boom in online retailing…

Online shopping businesses seem to be only on the rise currently; do you think that it’s only a phase?
The boom in the online retail sector has become a growing trend with an evolving market for it. As the tendency of customers to buy online products is increasing in India, more e-commerce websites are cropping up with specific products and target audiences. Internet penetration in the urban and metro markets has opened a new window of opportunity for the customers to compare products online and buy them at the click of a mouse. With the growth of disposable income, mindsets are changing. E-commerce websites not only offer branded products but also sell them at reasonable rates, which are far below the market prices.

Are Indian buyers really open to the idea of buying good they can’t touch/ feel/see?
When it comes to shopping, people these days are willing to take a chance with online shopping. Moreover, e-commerce companies are also going out of their way to offer a consumer not just a product, but a different experience. Multiple pictures with different angles of the product, zoom features as well as a detailed product description are other qualities that give customers the confidence of knowing what they see is what they get.

Indians love bargaining. Online retailing strips one of that specific experience; how would you argue against it?
E-commerce allows you to shop sans the inhibition. You may shop for a bold new look for yourself or buy something intimate for your loved ones. Online shopping is not only more convenient for consumers with hectic lifestyles, but also gives a better deal for their money. Heavy discounts on products that are not easily available in the market lure the Indian customers to online retailing sites.

As an online retailer specialising in luxury big brands, do you face competition? What is the kind of competition you face?
We are the leaders in the online space to retail luxury in India. Our competition on this front would be offline retail channels, but then again, the reach that we give brands is unparalleled by any offline establishment.

What does the future of online retail in India look like?
E-commerce is growing by 30% to 40% each year. With growth of disposable income of households, people have a lot more money to spend. When it comes to shopping, people are finally opening up to shopping online and are willing to take a chance. Also, e-commerce companies are going out of their way to give the consumer not just a product but an experience altogether. Credibility too does not seem to be an issue, with more and more branded players stepping into the e-commerce scene. With the wide spread of the internet, everyone is dipping their hands into the e-revolution.