1 hr ago
Festive Sales Surge as EMIs Boost Big-Ticket Shopping
Amazon and Flipkart began their festive sales with many people shopping online.
Discounts, payment plans and trade-ins helped customers buy more expensive things.
Hero MotoCorp said its two-wheeler sales rose sharply, and Samsonite reported strong demand for premium luggage.
Philips home appliances and other household products also saw high demand.
People bought fashion, beauty products, books and electronics too.
Many shoppers came from smaller towns as well as big cities.
The figures were reported by the companies and their representatives.
Amazon and Flipkart reported strong openings to India’s festive online shopping season, with discounts and financing helping drive purchases.
Hero MotoCorp said two-wheeler sales reached 30 times regular-day levels in the first 48 hours; Samsonite reported 200 per cent year-on-year growth in its first 24 hours.
Philips domestic appliances recorded tenfold regular-day demand, while Solara reported 35-fold sales.
More than one-third of Amazon customers opted for EMIs, while one in three Flipkart mobile customers chose no-cost EMIs.
Demand extended beyond major metros: nearly half of Flipkart’s first-hour visits came from Tier 3 towns and beyond, and over 72 per cent of Amazon visits came from outside the nine largest metros.
- Who
- Amazon, Flipkart and brands including Hero MotoCorp, Samsonite and Philips domestic appliances.
- What
- Companies reported strong festive-season online sales, with EMIs, discounts and exchanges helping drive purchases.
- Where
- India, including Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets and other non-metro areas.
- When
- The opening phase of the 2026 festive shopping season; the article was published October 11, 2026.
- Why
- The article attributes stronger big-ticket buying partly to no-cost EMIs, discounts, exchanges and other savings offers.
Key facts
- Amazon seller milestone
- The number of sellers crossing ₹1 crore in opening-day sales rose more than 80 per cent year-on-year.
- Amazon EMI use
- More than one-third of Amazon customers opted for EMIs; Amazon Pay Later EMI transactions doubled.
- Hero MotoCorp
- Two-wheeler sales reached 30 times regular-day levels in the first 48 hours.
- Samsonite
- Its premium luggage business grew 200 per cent year-on-year in the first 24 hours.
- Philips domestic appliances
- Versuni India reported tenfold regular-day demand for Philips domestic appliances.
- Flipkart peak users
- The platform recorded 6.3 million concurrent users at peak during its opening hour.
- Amazon visits
- Amazon recorded more than 440 million visits during its early festive phase.
Quotes
Saurabh Srivastava
Vice President, Amazon India
“We’ve seen a record 100 per cent increase in products ordered and are humbled to see aspirations becoming affordable with extra savings for Prime members, instant bank discounts, exchange, no-cost EMI, Amazon Pay Later and a host of value-driving programs”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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