The government has directed e-commerce companies to appoint a nodal officer to ensure new rules in consumer protection are complied with. As per Economic Times, the rules are applicable to e-commerce entities registered in India, as well as those registered abroad but offering goods and services to Indian consumers.

This new sub-rule, which has been included in the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, has come into effect from May 17, according to a notification issued by the consumer affairs ministry.

These rules were made under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The rules apply to all e-commerce entities incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 or under the Companies Act, 2013 or a foreign company covered under clause (42) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 or an office, branch or agency outside India owned or controlled by a person resident in India as provided in the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.

Welspun India plans to resume working with US retail giant Target Corporation, almost five years after Target terminated its contract with the Gujarat-based textiles maker over alleged lapses in labelling and marketing of Egyptian cotton products.

The company and Target Corporation, recently completed a vendor re-empanelment process with Welspun Global Brands., company's subsidiary.

Welspun India said until 2015-16, the business with Target Corporation accounted for almost 10 per cent of its overall business.

The company shall strive to foster a strong, transparent and sustainable business relationship with Target Corporation going forward. In 2016, Target Corporation had terminated its contract with Gujarat-based Welspun over alleged lapses in its products supply.

Welspun Group is one of India’s fastest growing global conglomerates with businesses in line pipes, home textiles, infrastructure, steel, advanced textiles and flooring solutions. A globally recognized leaders in home textiles and line pipes, Welspun has presence in over 50 countries with a strong team of 26,000+ employees.

Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the government to offer immediate support to retail workers and businesses struggling under current lockdown regulations.

RAI stated, millions of micro, small, and medium enterprise suppliers are not currently receiving payment. The financial strain on businesses struggling with zero revenue and normal expenses during lockdown will lead many businesses to go bankrupt, the industry body said. This will both lead to unemployment and will adversely impact the exposures of financial institutions to the sector, it said.

The association believes, two most important and immediate steps that can prevent this industry from collapsing are to prioritize vaccination of the last mile workers and to urgently provide financial support measures, said Kumar Rajgopalan, CEO, RAI

A not-for-profit organization, RAI represents the rights of Indian retailers. Its members include chain store retailers, independent retailers, e-commerce retailers and retail service providers across India. The association is involved with retail advocacy, organizing conferences, knowledge-sharing initiatives and training programs.

Indian supermarket-operator Future Retail has approved a debt resolution plan that eases some immediate concerns as a legal battle with partner Amazon.com threatens to delay an asset sale to Reliance Industries.

Future Retail’s board agreed to restructure its secured bank debt and three rupee-denominated bonds. The plan is subject to approval by a committee formed by the central bank and exchanges. Rating company, Fitch Ratings would evaluate the deal after approval from lenders to see if it constitutes a distressed-debt exchange.

Some of the terms of the resolution plan including extending repayment of short-term loans, term loans, bonds, overdue working capital loans (converted into working capital term loans) by a maximum of two years, interest moratorium between March 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021, interest during the period will be converted into funded interest term loan payable by December 2021, All penal interest and charges, default premiums, processing fees unpaid since March last year to implementation date to be fully waived.

Couture and traditional wear brand TarunTahilianiwill donate a percentage of its total May and June sales to charity Dastkar’s Artisan Support Fund to aid craftspeople suffering due to Covid-19.

As per Fashion Network, the funds will go towards Dastkar’s work with over one lakh artisans in 25 Indian states. Many artisans are currently without work due to local lockdowns and are in need of assistance.

The brand also recently launched its spring/ summer 2021 collection named ‘Timelessness’ with a campaign shot by Hormis Antony Tharakan. Set in a pastel-hued palace, models showcase delicate florals, draped stain, and glittering embellishments with sarees, capes, and lehengas.

Setting out to create the image of India Modern, TarunTahiliani is a brand that straddles the present while rooted in India’s heritage of draped form and tradition of artistry. These quintessential techniques of craftsmanship, imbibed with love across generations, are made globally astute through the cut, construct and finish of TarunTahiliani silhouettes. Each creation exemplifying the guiding philosophy – “all that we were and more.”

Founded in 1995, the TarunTahiliani Design Studio juxtaposes modern sartorial prowess and the intricacies of Indian technique with skill.

These richly detailed, structured drapes are crafted to lend an edge to Tahiliani’s modern, Indian woman. Across Couture, Occasion Wear and Ready-to-Wear, the designer’s studio creates unique combinations of historical opulence and contemporary chic through the fine crafts and textiles of India.

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Footwear major Bata India has appointed Gunjan Shah, former CEO of Britannia Industries, as its new CEO. He will take over from SandeepKataria, who was elevated as the global CEO of Bata Brands in November. Shah will join Bata in June.

Before moving to Britannia in 2007, Shah has also spent the early stages of his career working with brands such as Asian Paints and Motorola. Shah, an alumnus of the IIM-Kolkata, has experience working across varied sectors spanning consumer durables, telecom and FMCG. He has played a crucial role in growing the Britannia business, having led several business divisions of the company for more than a decade.

Incorporated as Bata Shoe Company in 1931, the company was set up initially as a small operation in Konnagar near Kolkata in 1932. In January 1934, the foundation stone for the first building of Bata’s operation - now called the Bata. In the years that followed, the overall site was doubled in area. This township is popularly known as Batanagar. It was also the first manufacturing facility in the Indian shoe industry to receive the ISO: 9001 certification.

The company went public in 1973 when it changed its name to Bata India. Today, Bata India has established itself as India’s largest footwear retailer. It has a retail network of over 1,375 stores in all the metros, mini-metros and towns

By 2023, Welspun India’s e-commerce operations will contribute 100 per cent to its overall business, says Dipali Goenka, CEO & Joint Managing Director. Welspun India’s business reached $1 billion in FY21. Its core business in the US along with the UK has been strong. The company saw a massive growth in core business. Its advanced textile and flooring businesses posted 87 per cent growth YoY and contributed 15 per cent to its revenues.

In coming year, Welspun expects its overall business to grow by 15 per cent. Its core business is likely to grow by 10 per cent while the company may see a 125 per cent growth in its flooring and 50 per cent growth in advanced textile business. Its EBITDA is expected to grow 17-18 per cent despite challenges. Their online UK brand Christy recorded 2 million views last year. The company’s e-commerce operations contributed 6 per cent to its overall growth last year

Raja M. Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) thanked the Tamil Nadu government for the announcement of concessions to the MSMEs at this hour of crisis and added that these concessions will go a long way to help grow the Tirupur knitwear exports sector that consists of 95 per cent MSME units.

The payment of MOD registration including legal licenses required for MSME industries has been extended till December 2021.

Disbursement of capital subsidy in one installment, exemption for the norm that sales proceeds should be increased by 25 per cent for expanding MSME sector will be extended till 31 December 2021.

These are extremely beneficial to Tirupur units that are struggling to sustain due to several internal and external factors. Further on the same, Raja said the impact of the pandemic has also largely affected the financial performance of the units.

He also said that the Central Government Scheme, Amended Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (ATUFS) is providing 15 per cent capital subsidy to the garment sector and while other states are permitting to avail both Central Government ATUFS subsidy and the State Government capital subsidy, in Tamil Nadu, the investors are permitted to avail either Central or State subsidy only.

Shanmugham requested the government to permit to avail both Central (ATUFS) and State subsidies, as this measure will attract more entrepreneurs and boost the growth of industries in Tamil Nadu.

Numerous e-commerce companies are delivering non-essential goods across the country as the government guidelines for these companies vary from state to state. States including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu have allowed e-commerce businesses to deliver goods deemed ‘essential’. However, there is a lack of clear guidelines on the list of essential goods, which has led to retailers also delivering fashion, electronics, and cosmetics.

Therefore, e-commerce businesses are lobbying to include all products officially permitted for delivery, arguing that people working from home especially need access to suitable electronics, clothing, and other goods.

A recent survey by community social media platform LocalCircles reveals, demand for ‘non-essential’ goods amongst consumers is growing. In Maharashtra, 60 per cent respondents plan to purchase work-from-home equipment online in the coming three months and, in Delhi, the rate was 48 per cent.

In April, the Confederation of All India Traders accused foreign-owned e- commerce businesses, including Flipkart and Amazon, of flouting lockdown regulations by continuing to deliver ‘non-essential’ goods and taking business away from small businesses.