Page 2 - E-commerce Sellers

Festive feast: E-com, logistics players load up carts for peak demand

The company had, earlier this year, launched its own logistics service, Valmo, but also relies on 3PL providers such as Delhivery, Ecom Express, Shadowfax, and Xpressbees to fulfil deliveries

FMCG distributors raise concern over unregulated growth of 'quick commerce'

FMCG distributors have raised concerns over the "rapid and unregulated growth" of quick commerce platforms, saying it needs immediate scrutiny. In a letter written to Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, FMCG distributors' body AICPDF said this unchecked expansion of quick commerce platforms, which typically deliver goods within 10 to 30 minutes, is creating an "uneven playing field", threatening the livelihoods of millions of small retailers and distributors who have been the backbone of India's retail sector for decades. The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) also suspected potential violations of FDI regulations by these quick-commerce companies and sought an immediate investigation into the operational models of these platforms. The rapid growth of quick commerce platforms like Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart has posed significant challenges to the traditional retail sector and the established fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution ...

Meesho onboards Hari Bhartia, three others as independent directors

Softbank-backed e-commerce firm Meesho on Friday said it has appointed Jubilant Bhartia Group founder Hari S Bhartia along with three other seasoned business leaders as independent directors. Along with Bhartia, Meesho has onboarded former JP Morgan Chairman Kalpana Morparia for South and South East Asia, PhonePe non-executive Chairman of the board Rohit Bhagat, and San Francisco-based AI company Ema's CEO Surojit Chatterjee. "As we embark on the next phase of growth, I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Surojit Chatterjee, Kalpana Morparia, Rohit Bhagat, and Hari S. Bhartia as independent directors to Meesho's board," Meesho, Founder and CEO Vidit Aatrey said in a statement. Bhartia is the Founder and Co-Chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group. The Jubilant Bhartia Group has four flagship companies listed on Indian stock exchanges, with a combined market capitalisation of approximately USD 7.65 billion, it added. Bhartia is also the Co-Chairman and Managing Director of Jubilan

Raise a toast: State govts may allow home delivery of your favourite drink

State authorities are reportedly seeking feedback on the advantages and disadvantages of online liquor delivery from e-commerce platforms and spirits manufacturers

Tens of thousands of small biz gear up to offer Prime Day deals: Amazon

The owners of small firms would offer deals on lakhs of products to customers across various categories such as home and kitchen, fashion and grooming on the e-commerce website

Amazon expands grocery service to over 130 cities as competition increases

The firm is expanding rapidly amid increasing competition in the sector, where it is competing with players like Flipkart, Reliance's JioMart, Tata Digital-owned BigBasket, and others

Flipkart introduces new rate card policy to enhance the seller experience

Through the Simplified Rate Card, Updated Shipping Costs and Economical FBF (fulfilment by Flipkart) rates, sellers will be able to deliver superior value to the customers

Walmart announces dedicated page for Indian sellers on its website

Multinational retailer Walmart announced the launch of a dedicated page for Indian sellers to register and sell on the company's marketplace site. The company hosted a global seller meet in Jaipur on Tuesday, kicking off a series of regional events to help prospective sellers with insights and knowledge on consumer and category trends and assist with onboarding support and catalogue setup, a release said. "India is a priority market for Walmart, and the dedicated landing page builds upon our commitment to Indian sellers. Walmart Marketplace strives to unlock the potential of Indian businesses by giving sellers access to customers around the world," Michelle Mi, Vice President of Emerging Markets and Business Development for Walmart stated in the release. "Through dedicated onboarding support and expertise in navigating global supply chains, we are empowering sellers with the tools they need to thrive in the US marketplace and beyond," the release added.

Remove Bournvita from health drinks category: Govt tells e-commerce sites

The food safety regulator had iterated that 'energy drinks' is permitted to be used for carbonated and non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks

Jeff Bezos unloads another $2 billion of Amazon stock in latest sale

The move to Florida has now likely saved Bezos about $430 million in taxes. Washington state recently implemented a 7% levy on capital gains, while Florida has no such tax

SoftBank-backed Meesho unveils Valmo to enable low-cost deliveries

Valmo would partner with fulfilment centres across the country. This way, it aims to create a national logistics solution by eliminating entry barriers for local players

Meesho delists 200,000 products; to reduce visibility of low-rated items

Softbank-backed Meesho on Tuesday said it has delisted nearly 2 lakh products from its e-commerce platform in the last quarter after quality check and plans to reduce visibility of low-rated items by 20 per cent within six months. The company said that quality evaluation was conducted through a comprehensive analysis of customer reviews, ratings and feedback. "Post evaluation, Meesho delisted nearly 2 lakh products in the last quarter alone. Meesho has further invested in the power of artificial intelligence to fortify quality checks while continuously working to improve key word databases and detection capabilities on the platform," the company said. The company further said that it determines quality through customer reviews, ratings and feedback as well as through any reported issues or returns related to the product's condition, functionality, or overall satisfaction. The e-commerce firm largely focuses on small sellers that mostly sell unbranded products on the platform. "Ove

R-Day sale 2024: Smartphones, PCs, and electronics fly off e-com shelves

Beginning January 13, e-commerce majors Amazon and Flipkart rolled out their Republic Day sale events in India, with various bank offers and discounts on gadgets and electronic items

Flipkart eyes profitability ahead of IPO; looks to go public in 1 -2 years

Flipkart Internet, the marketplace arm of the e-commerce giant, recently reported a 42 per cent growth in operating revenue for FY23 at Rs 14,845 crore

CBDT clarifies applicability of TDS liability for e-retailers on ONDC

The income tax department on Thursday clarified the applicability of TDS liability of e-retailers trading through the government's ONDC initiative. As per the FAQ issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), a 1 per cent TDS will have to be deducted from the gross sale amount after including convenience/ packaging/shipping fees as charged by e-commerce trading platforms for the order placed on ONDC. As ONDC or Open Network for Digital Commerce is a new initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the CBDT had received representations seeking clarity on who should be liable for Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) compliance under I-T laws. Under the law, every e-commerce operator is required to deduct TDS at the rate of 1 per cent of the sales amount of goods/services sold through its platform. The CBDT has clarified that in a situation where multiple e-commerce operators (ECOs) are involved in a single transaction through the ECO platform, the

Govt constitutes committee to draft safety pledge for e-comm platforms

The government has constituted a committee to draft the safety pledge for e-commerce platforms as it seeks to prevent the sale of unsafe goods to consumers through online marketplaces. The panel, which includes members from major e-commerce platforms, voluntary consumer associations, industry bodies and National Law Universities, will submit its report in two weeks. According to an official statement on Thursday, the Department of Consumer Affairs held a stakeholder consultation on preparation for a 'Safety Pledge' for e-commerce platforms. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the sale of goods which are safe for use by consumers and requires platforms to take appropriate measures to prevent the sale of unsafe goods. The meeting was chaired by Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs and was attended by representatives from industry associations, major e-commerce platforms, voluntary consumer associations and law chairs. "The Department has constituted a committee

Majority of Indians check sellers' rating online before ordering: Report

A majority of adults check for a seller's rating online and assess a company's social media presence for authenticity before making a purchase, according to a study conducted just before the festivals. The Norton Cyber Safety Insights report, which was released on Thursday, surveyed 1,000 adults during August and September. According to the survey, about 96 per cent of the consumers geared up for pent-up purchases online during the festive season. As many as 88 per cent of adults check for a seller's rating online, while 82 per cent assess a company's social media presence for authenticity, the survey noted. The survey further revealed that the average amount lost to holiday shopping scams is over Rs 20,000. To curb this, 73 per cent of those surveyed said they preferred to make payments through third-party providers like PayPal. "With most consumers planning to shop online, it's imperative that we stay vigilant and prioritise security. The digital landscape offers fantastic deal

Improving signals for Avenue Supermarts with strong Ebitda, PBT growth

Consensus target price of analysts indicates limited upside; rebound in general merchandise and apparels crucial for margin gains

700K gig roles to be created for ongoing festival season this year

The increased job openings are primarily being fuelled by the flagship sale events hosted by e-commerce platforms

E-tailing in India is expected to grow 5x to $300 bn by 2030: Redseer

There is expected to be 6 to 8-fold growth in 3PL (third-party logistics) shipments between 2022 and 2030 - from 2 billion in 2022 to an estimated 13-17 billion in 2030, according to Redseer report