Becoming the group’s first online venture to turn profitable, Reliance Retail’s online fashion business, Ajio is expected to achieve an EBITDA of Rs 6-8 crore in December.

The company’s performance can be attributed to factors including a premiumisation trend in the market that helped it improve its average billing value, reduction in logistic costs by shipping most orders from nearby stores, and reduction in return rates to 28 per cent from the earlier 38 per cent.

Ajio also reduced marketing costs by setting up five different storefronts for each consumer class. Additionally, it set up 4,000 stock points for last-mile fulfillment, including Reliance Retail's nearest store for delivery. .

Ajio’s gross merchandise sales during the year surged to $2 billion with 51 per cent of the business coming from the Reliance Retail portfolio and the balance 49 per cent from its own and exclusive brands.

Strengthening its retail presence, multi-designer store, Asmairaa has launched a new store in Chattarpur, New Delhi.

Spread across 6,000 sq ft, the store houses collections by designers like Tamanna Punjabi, Gopi Vaid, Varun Bahl Pret, Seema Thukral, etc.

The expansion is poised to enhance fashion enthusiasts with a variety of exquisite designs and styles from some of the reputed designers in the industry. The brand aims to set more such stores in prominent locations across the region. The expansion will broaden the reach of Asmairra’s offerings to a wider audience.

Founded by Param Baweja and Rupinder Bedi in 2015, Asmairaa is known to be a

beacon of sophistication and opulence, says a spokesperson of the brand.

US-based footwear and sportswear retail giant, Foot Locker Inc, has entered into a long-term licensing agreement with footwear retail chain Metro Brands (MBL )to own and operate the brand’s stores in India.

Foot Locker has also entered into an agreement with Nykaa Fashion to manage its India website and selling the brand’s authorized merchandise on Foot Locker branded shops through Nykaa's existing e-commerce platforms.

A global leader in sneaker culture, Foot Locker aims to tap the robust Indian sneaker market. Driven by a surge in demand for unique designs that blend traditional Indian elements with modern trends, the segment is anticipated to reach a volume of 66 million pairs by 2028.

Mary Dillon, President and CEO, Foot Locker Inc, says, the combined omni-channel capabilities of its partners will help the company connect with the rapidly growing Indian market.

Adwaita Nayar, Co-Founder, Nykaa, and CEO, Nykaa Fashion adds, MBL’s partnership with Foot Locker allows it to offer the world's best sneaker brands and styles to its customers in India.

E-commerce giant Flipkart recorded an increase in online shopping by rural consumers in 2023, as per its ‘FlipTrends Report 2023,

Fashion, lifestyle goods and electronic goods topped their list of purchases this year, says Ravi Vijaya Raghavan, Senior Vice President, Flipkart. The e-commerce company played an important role in providing its consumers an access to the latest styles in the market, he adds. .

The report studies data from over 500 million registered users. According to it, shoppers spent an average of seven hours on Flipkart’s e-commerce store this year with the business acquiring over 41 million new customers until November. 

Flipkart’s new Chat GPT-powered shopping assistance tool, ‘Flippi’ was used by over four million consumers in’ October, the month when the feature was launched. Flipkart also recorded a rise in shoppers from Tier I, II and cities including Trivandrum, Patna, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Varanasi, Ernakulam, Guwahati and Cuttack, Medinipur, and Bankura.

Satya Paul, a pioneer in Indian retail since 1985, continues to revolutionize traditional fashion. The newly opened store at DLF Emporio, shaped like an egg, symbolizes a cocoon of innovation.

Architectural innovation meets vibrant prints, with Rajesh Pratap Singh, Creative Director, emphasizing the design's experimental and nurturing essence.

The store showcases two latest collections, seamlessly blending Indian and Japanese influences, marking a new chapter in the brand's legacy of forward-thinking aesthetics.

Tata Group's Zudio, the value retail fast fashion chain, has inaugurated its inaugural Palanpur store in Gujarat's S9 Imperial complex.

This marks Zudio's 72nd outlet in Gujarat and its first in Palanpur. With a focus on expansion, the Tata Trent-owned brand aims to open 130 stores in 2023.

Currently boasting 453 stores nationwide, Zudio has a strong presence, notably with 25 stores in Ahmedabad alone, making it the leading city in Gujarat for the fashion brand.

To expand its distribution network across the country, e-commerce giant Flipkart has opened its first grocery fulfillment center in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Spanning 1.35 lakh sq ft, the store has a dispatch capacity of 2.09 lakh units per day, and will cater to around 16,000 daily orders

Designed to act as a bridge between local retailers and farmers and shoppers across India, the new fulfillment center is expected to generate approximately 300 direct and indirect opportunities for employment in the area. Its launch reiterates the company’s commitment to enhance local economies by bridging the digital gap.

Currently having 24 grocery fulfillment centers across India, Flipkart retails in over 1,800 Indian cities and is constantly expanding its delivery areas that now count over 10,000.

Lifestyle brand Jaypore, under Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), unveiled its 24th store at Vegas Mall, Dwarka, Delhi.

Spanning 1350 sq. ft., the artisanal space offers handcrafted apparel, home décor, jewelry, and accessories for men and women.

Featuring warm palettes and artisanal techniques, the store reflects Jaypore’s commitment to artistic narratives.

ABFRL, with a vast network, owns international brands like Ralph Lauren, Forever 21, and more.

Luxury fashion brand Saundh aims to expand its retail footprint across India by opening 50 stores by the end of next fiscal year. The brand also plans to set up at least three experiential flagship stores in major metros.

Currently, Saundh has 33 operational stores across India. It is present in 19 cities including all leading metros. From opening 10 stores in its first two years to an additional 17 in the last year, the brand’s expansion is a testament to its market acceptance. It now plans to penetrate deeper into selected Tier II cities that support its e-commerce customer base.

Apart from its D2C website, the brand is available across luxury marketplaces online and offline, including Aza, Ogaan, and Nykaa, amongst others. As of now, e-commerce revenue contributes 7-8 percent of the overall business. The brand plans to increase this to upto 15-18 per cent of the business, states Sarabjeet Saluja, Founder.

Expanding its retail network across the country, Japanese apparel retailer Uniqlo opened its 13th store at the newly-opened The Mall of Faridabad. The store offers the brand’s LifeWear range.

Earlier this year, Uniqlo had opened its first first Highway Store in Zirakpur, as well as our first-ever stores in Mumbai, says Tomohiko Sei, CEO, Uniqlo India. The Faridabad store will offer offer innovative, high-quality apparel to enhance the everyday lives of the brand’s customers, he adds.

Earlier this year, Uniqlo India roped in Katrina Kaif as its brand ambassador.

The store is a step in the direction to offer unparalleled experiences to the brand’s patrons. It will help Uniqlo to enhance the city’s fashion culture and cater to the discerning tastes of fashion enthusiasts, adds Abhishek Bansal, Executive Director, Pacific Group.