Premium and discount shoppers fuel festive e-commerce surge in India
Analysts say the upcoming holidays will boost online value sales while volume growth stays modest as consumers become price-sensitive. Quick-commerce is expanding beyond groceries into fashion, electronics and beauty, with premium electronics expected to perform well. Companies such as Snapdeal and Meesho report that most orders come from non-metro areas, while AI tools increasingly shape product discovery and pricing.
The festive period is set to lift India’s online retail market, with analysts forecasting healthy value growth but restrained volume as higher prices push shoppers toward selective spending. Quick-commerce, traditionally focused on groceries, is now gaining traction in categories like fashion, electronics and beauty, building on recent festival-driven gains. Industry voices note a split between premium-oriented buyers, especially in consumer electronics, and value-driven shoppers hunting deals.
Non-metro regions remain crucial, supplying the majority of orders for platforms such as Snapdeal and Meesho, while AI-powered search and recommendation tools are influencing a large share of purchases. Seasonal hiring is also rising, with Amazon India and Meesho creating hundreds of thousands of temporary jobs to meet demand.
