Offline retailers keep off Freedom sales amid lockdown, muted sentiment

Croma, Reliance Digital buck trend, but mood remains sombre

The Independence Day weekend this year will go down as the weakest in 13 years for brick-and-mortar retailers, especially those in lifestyle, apparel and fashion. The reason: Lockdown restrictions in a number of cities and muted consumer sentiment, which has compelled most players to withhold burning cash to promote Freedom sales.

The only exception are a few electronics retailers such as Croma and Reliance Digital, who've gone ahead with their I-Day sales, giving cashbacks, offers and discounts on most products including laptops, TVs, mobile phones and appliances. Industry sources say that electronics retailers are offering up to 60 per cent