Retail
French luxe retailer Galeries Lafayette set for India entry
Galeries Lafayette is set to open its first Indian store in Mumbai's historic Turner Morrison Building. This marks a significant entry into India's growing luxury market. The Parisian department store is partnering with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd for operations. A second store is planned for New Delhi.
Andhra approves Rs 940 cr Raymond Group investments; 5500 jobs expected
The Andhra Pradesh government approved two Raymond Group investments totaling Rs 940 crore in aerospace and automotive manufacturing under Industrial Development Policy 4.0. JK Maini Global Aerospace will invest Rs 510 crore in Satya Sai district, creating 1,400 jobs, while JK Maini Precision Technology will invest Rs 430 crore in Gudipalli, generating 4,096 jobs.
Myntra expands 30-minute delivery service ‘M-Now’ to Pune
Myntra has expanded its "hyper-speed" delivery service, M-Now, to Pune, offering fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products in as little as 30 minutes. The service covers over 20,000 styles across 600 brands, supported by eight dark stores in the city.
Retailers run out of iPhone 17 series stock, blame Apple’s imports strategy
Diwali shoppers face disappointment as city retailers report a severe shortage of Apple iPhone 17 series devices. Large chains and local dealers are running out of stock, impacting sales during the crucial festive season. Apple's import strategy is cited as a reason for the limited availability. Local stores are losing customers to online platforms and company-owned outlets.
Festive, wedding season in India to generate Rs 7 lakh cr turnover this year
India's festive season and upcoming wedding period are projected to generate a substantial turnover exceeding Rs 7 lakh crore. This robust economic activity is driven by high consumer sentiment, a preference for local products, and improvements in the GST regime, boosting retail and wholesale trade across various sectors.
Karwa Chauth week saw 40% jump in D2C sales: GoKwik report
Karwa Chauth, once a regional North Indian ritual, is now a nationwide phenomenon. Cities like Bengaluru and Chennai are seeing a significant surge in D2C sales. This cultural shift has boosted eCommerce, with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu emerging as key markets. Bollywood and social media have played a crucial role in this expansion.
YouTube expands Shopping Affiliate programme, adds Nykaa, Purplle as merchants
YouTube is expanding its Shopping Affiliate program in India, adding Nykaa and Purplle to its merchant partners. This move follows a 250% surge in shopping-related watch time, with over 200 million users engaging in shopping searches. The platform is also introducing AI-driven product tagging and a flexible format for creator sponsorships to boost earnings.
Festive cheer toys, textiles & footwear basking in GST shine
Small businesses are experiencing a welcome boost, with GST rate cuts and the festive season driving demand in sectors like toys, textiles, and footwear. Industry bodies report positive initial feedback, anticipating sustained growth beyond Diwali due to increased consumer spending. This positive shift is attributed to the revised tax structure, making goods more affordable.
Lifestyle International reports Rs 12,031 crore revenue in 2024-25
Lifestyle International reported sales of Rs 12,031 crore for the year ending March 2025. This marks a 6% increase. The company's net profit saw a significant jump of 42%, reaching Rs 415 crore. Lifestyle International operates department stores, value-format Max, and Home Centre across India. The retail firm has been expanding its presence since 1999.
Losses@₹17k crore, Tata Group keeps faith in e‑comm with fresh ₹4k crore bet
Despite accumulated losses of ₹16,958.3 crore, the Tata group injected ₹4,000 crore into its e-commerce arm, Tata Digital, in FY25. This fresh equity signals continued investor confidence, even as primary businesses like Croma, Big Basket, and Tata 1MG remain loss-making. Management has assessed the going concern assumption, citing positive net worth and past fundraising abilities.
Must Watch
Consumer spending expected to touch Rs 14 lakh crore this festive season: Report
India's festive season consumer spending will reach Rs 12 to 14 lakh crore. This boost follows recent GST rate cuts. Marriages will drive a large part of this expenditure. Clothing, electronics, and automobiles will also see demand. FMCG and travel sectors expect more activity. This spending will support economic growth.
Delhi set for bumper sales of Rs 75,000 crore this festive season: CAIT
Delhi traders anticipate record Diwali sales of Rs 75,000 crore, driven by GST rate cuts and a strong 'Vocal for Local' movement. Consumers are actively choosing Indian-made products over Chinese goods, marking a significant shift in market sentiment. This trend reflects a broader national retail boom, with countrywide festive sales projected to exceed Rs 4.75 lakh crore.
D2C brands double retail store presence
India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are no longer limiting themselves to the digital space and are aggressively expanding into brick-and-mortar stores.With robust consumer demand and investor confidence driving the sector, D2C players are expected to remain one of the strongest forces powering retail leasing momentum in the coming quarters.
Demand for pre-owned luxury goods surges, prompting companies and retailers to scale up
For Tata CLiQ Luxury, which launched the 'Pre-Owned Timeless Icons' category in January last year, crossbody bags have recorded nearly a 2x increase in gross merchandise value this year over last year, said CEO Gopal Asthana. In the pre-owned luxury handbags section, the platform features handbags from brands like Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. In watches, the platform has timepieces from brands like Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer, besides others.
D2C brands expanding offline presence, leases 6 lakh sq ft space in H1 2025: CBRE
Direct-to-consumer brands will lease 5.95 lakh sq ft retail space in 2025. This will account for 18 percent of total leasing. Fashion and apparel will lead this expansion with 60 percent share. Brands are increasing their physical presence. This strategy aims to improve customer connection. Offline stores create a shopping environment.
E-commerce firms under scrutiny for raising prices instead of passing GST cuts
The government is closely monitoring e-commerce platforms for failing to pass on GST rate reductions to consumers, with some firms already pulled up for price hikes. Authorities are investigating nearly 3,000 complaints received by the National Consumer Helpline regarding misleading discounts and unfair trade practices post-GST implementation, considering potential class action.
