FMCG giants jump on online bandwagon

With growing popularity of e-commerce and shopping portals, many fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) retail companies are launching their Websites to sell products.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), with the advent of smartphones and ease of shopping online, the Indian online retail sector is growing rapidly. "The Indian online retail sector is expected to expand to Rs.7,000 crore by 2015 as more consumers are buying online due to rising Internet penetration and dependence on technology,".

With growing competition from online platforms, many retail and FMCG firms such as Pantaloon, Westside, Shoppers Stop, Dabur are jumping on the bandwagon to boost sales. They are getting good response from our online portal. It offers flexibility to customers. Apart from the portal, there is also an option to gift apparels and products in remote locations where there is a Pantaloon shop which the consumer finds good.

Apart from retail stores, FMCG companies are going online to sell products. Last year, Dabur set up its online shopping portal for beauty products range offering Uveda range of skincare items. The portal, www.daburuveda.com, offers any of the Dabur Uveda range of skincare products with the 'payment on delivery' option. Buyers also have the option of gifting Dabur Uveda products through online gift vouchers.

According to a survey, "Consumers have the convenience of time and place. This Website aims at providing consumers detailed information about Dabur Uveda products. We intend to give our consumers an all-new experience of shopping that's convenient and faster."

With the success of Uveda, the company is including other products on its portal. Recently, the firm announced to expand its 'NewU' retail chain through a countrywide platform. They are ready with an online platform for NewU and it is in the testing phase at the moment. The portal will offer multi-brand products such as cosmetics, fragrances, beauty products, herbal care and accessories, gifts, confectionery and toiletries.

Companies assert that apart from buying wares, consumers get the holistic idea of a company's product range, its ingredients, locate the stores and compare prices.

According to sources, even other FMCG players such as Godrej are looking for introducing portal to sell products. 

The positive part of it is that it saves the real estate price. Also, with queries and feedbacks, the company is able to connect to the consumer in a better way, and it helps in increasing the reach of the brand.

According to the eBay India census, consumers shop for electronic items, apparels, lifestyle products, etc. Category-wise lifestyle products such as cosmetics, jewellery, watches, fashion and fitness equipment contribute over 45 per cent of purchases made on eBay India.

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