Swagat Sarangi

Q-Commerce overtaking traditional e-commerce? Currently we are seeing a big boom in terms of the different SKUs being sold in Quick commerce apps like Zepto, Blinkit, etc. - Atomberg Technologies 's fans - Sony's PS5 - Samosa, Chai and what not - Digital Gold from Jar! Zepto is in talks to raise $300m for its broader ecommerce play. While Swiggy is preparing to file for an IPO this year, incumbent Flipkart is readying its entry into quick commerce. Zomato has invested $240 million in Blinkit over the last one year. Taking a step back, the lines between quick commerce and traditional e commerce have started to become increasingly blurred with QCom pretty much catering to every needs! Also, multiple reports suggest that QCommerce can potentially become bigger than traditional e commerce in India!  Case in point : According to Goldman Sachs, the valuation of Blinkit is greater than Zomato's core food delivery biz! Non-grocery boom in Q-Commerce: Categories including beauty, toys, health and electronics are witnessing robust sales growth on quick-commerce platforms overall. While the overall base for the new categories is still small, aggressive expansion by these players is starting to ensure a dominant presence for these categories. Plus AOV is higher which also comes with better margins, making it a win-win! Case in point: Zepto - 2x sales MoM in segments such as toys and electronics accessories - Beauty category expanded 3x QoQ - ~15% of Zepto’s $1.2bn annualised gross sales currently comes from non-grocery products (Source: Goldman Sachs) For several D2C quick commerce has become the fastest growth channel as well as the platform with highest customer engagement This is definitely a positive for the consumers and the Q-Commerce players, but is everything on the up and up?   As the demand for space on quick-commerce platforms skyrockets, niche D2C cos in segments like FMCG, beauty and personal care, and health and fitness are agreeing to pay a 30-45% commission on sales, besides shelling out on advertising and discounting on these Q-Com platforms. On top of the commissions, brands are also regularly spending around 20% of their total sales on ads on the platforms, and discounting their products by about 20-25% (totaling 60-70% revenue!). This is in stark contrast to the 10-20% commission that large FMCG cos pay these platforms reflecting the intense competition for visibility. The brand's scale and comparison with competitors are crucial considerations when it comes to new listings. On the positive side, smaller D2C brands have seen 40-60% total revenue coming from Q-Commerce compared to ~10-20% from traditional ecommerce, which is surprising! Essentially, Q-com currently has a BIIIG Bargaining power against new D2C brands and can essentially make or break their businesses! Is this sustainable on the long run? #ecommerce #quickcommerce #india #zepto #businessmodel #d2c #startups #LIPostingChallenge

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Who exactly is losing market share in the hotly contest grocery commerce? I thought it must be the now-not-so modern retail, but I'm not so sure. Zepto raised $665 Mn at a valuation of $3.6 Bn, and is in talks to raise $250 Mn more. And their cofounder and CEO Aadit Palicha recently commented that they can beat DMart - Avenue Supermarts Ltd on GMV in the next 12-18 months. Swiggy Instamart also is growing, and Blinkit is likely to be more valuable than their owner Zomato itself - so they are all doing well, even if Dunzo isn't. Sure, no idea what JioMart Digital is doing, but deep pockets. Same with Tata Digital and their weird assortment forced to converge on Neu. bigbasket.com is trying to unlearn and relearn, and it just might. And Flipkart Grocery and Amazon Fresh are also upping their game - launching faster deliveries, discounts, improved fill rates, and selection. So I wonder if it is the modern-trade players? The likes of More Retail Private Limited, Spencer's Retail, STAR BAZAR, and SPAR Retail that are suffering? The nearest Spencer's to me is definitely a sore sight, now reduced to a shell of it's former glory - I think they aren't even replenishing inventory now. And we all know what happened to Big Bazaar - Future Retail. But Dmart itself isn't doing half bad - with pareto presence in just 23 cities, and no presence in UP (except NCR), Bihar, and West Bengal, they have considerable headroom, still. And they haven't yet quite solved for ecommerce, so while The Ken says that they are lost, they may find their way, eventually? I also don't think that the real consumption is growing, if at all, it may even shrink with the K-growth. Thus, some one _is_ losing share. And if it is not modern trade, then is it the regional chains? The single kiranas? The corner-store? The hand-cart? I'm not entirely sure because this data is hard to organize, and get. Would you know? Image created by AI in Microsoft Bing Copilot.

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In the fast-evolving D2C landscape, the opportunity for niche brands to thrive, grow, and potentially be acquired by corporate giants is more promising than ever! This shift is sparking confidence among VCs and Angel Investors, who see clear, lucrative exit pathways as large conglomerates like 𝐇𝐔𝐋, Tata Consumer Products, and Marico Limited make strategic acquisitions and partnerships in niche categories. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫: FMCG giants aren’t just chasing growth; they’re actively pursuing brands that have carved out loyal audiences. Traditionally focused on high-volume, mass-market products, these corporates are now using acquisitions to enter niche segments. For instance, ITC Limited acquired Yoga Bar (Sprout Life Foods), a leader in health-focused snacks, while Marico Limited extended its wellness portfolio with True Elements, capturing the growing demand for clean-label, organic products. Fashion and beauty D2C brands are following a similar path, drawing interest from large brands looking to tap into fast-evolving consumer preferences for niche, direct-to-consumer experiences. These high-profile acquisitions signal a seismic shift. VCs see D2C brands as high-growth investments with validated product-market fit and differentiated offerings that attract today’s savvy consumers. Brands like Wellbeing Nutrition (acquired by HUL) and The Man Company (acquired by Emami) reassure investors that D2C ventures can scale rapidly and offer valuable exit opportunities for larger players. D2C brands, with their streamlined digital infrastructure, are built to bypass the costly, layered supply chains of legacy FMCGs. This agility allows them to reach consumers faster and more efficiently, in stark contrast to traditional giants like P&G or Unilever, who struggle to innovate at a similar pace. At the same time, e-commerce aggregators, like Mensa Brands acquiring 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 and around 10 other brands, are accelerating growth by investing in and scaling promising digital-first brands, enhancing exit potential and bolstering investor confidence. Similarly, Ananta Capital is also making its mark with strategic acquisitions, including brands like 𝐀𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐚 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬, to name a few. Now is the moment for D2C founders to dive into the market, create brands that resonate with consumers, and attract interest from both investors and corporate giants.   Are you someone looking to ride the D2C wave? Share your thoughts in the comments! #D2C #StartupEcosystem #VentureCapital #AngelInvesting #BrandAcquisitions #ConsumerBrands #NicheMarkets #MarketExpansion 

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Maino.ai secures Rs 15 crore to bolster tech and product teams, CHOSEN raises $1.2M seed funding for skincare innovation, and Ixigo offers $40M worth of shares to anchor investors in IPO. 🚀💼🧴 #StartupFunding #DigitalMarketing #Skincare #IPO #Investment #TechGrowth #Entrepreneurship #iAccelerate #Vikas Keshri #Rishabh Kumar #Abhijeet Kunwar

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Had an amazing time at the India D2C Summit & Awards! The session explores how e-commerce brands are utilizing social media to drive sales, build brand loyalty, and stay innovative. 🔸Influence at scale: Brands are working closely with influencers, not just for product placements but to genuinely connect with audiences, making partnerships feel authentic. 🔸AI-backed personalization: Leveraging algorithms that understand customer behavior can do wonders. It’s about using data to tailor experiences and make customers feel understood, valued, and eager to return. 🔸Marketplace strategies: Today, it's about visibility. With so many choices, making your brand seen and preferred in marketplaces is no longer optional; it’s essential. The panelist shared real-world, proven strategies – from influencer partnerships and shoppable posts to AI-driven personalization. Walking away with insights, new connections, and a fresh perspective on scaling e-commerce in 2024 and beyond! #EcommerceGrowth #D2CSummit #D2C

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Hypothesis: A brand that wants to be successful in quick commerce, like Blinkit Zepto, has to be in a category that shows high loyalty. Otherwise, it has to be very reasonably priced compared to the giant players on the platform. Example: In a highly fragmented category like perfumes, a consumer will easily switch to a competitor brand. Also, giants like Wild Stone, Engage, etc., are heavily competitive in terms of price. However, in a category like skincare, where, for example, I use a brand like Cetaphil, as I am already very much loyal to the brand, I would not mind buying it from a QCom as I get the benefit of quick delivery. Brands in loyal categories like sanitary pads (e.g., Plush ) and undergarments (e.g., XYXX Apparels) will easily compete with bigger brands and see more traction on QComs, provided they have a good product and affinity. What do you think? #blinkit #zepto #instamart #quickcommerce

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From 'who wants the delivery in 10 minutes?' to eating a big chunk of Amazon and Flipkart's festive pie, the quick commerce platforms in India have come a long way in just 2-3 years. In the top 8-12 metros, Q-comm has transformed how we shop for everyday items, promising groceries, essentials, snacks, and now even electronics/appliances at our doorstep in just a few minutes. While this staggering growth will naturally slow down over time, I believe that quick commerce will continue to boom for at least the next two years. Here's why: 1. Expansion of Dark Stores Quick commerce is powered by 'dark stores' — small, hyper-local warehouses that handle orders exclusively for online delivery. Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, Zepto, and bigbasket.com have set up over 2,500 dark stores nationwide, just 1-2 km away from high-demand areas. For context, each store can fulfill up to 2000 orders a day, with an average order assembly time of under a minute! Blinkit alone aims to establish a dark store for every 10,000 households, ensuring speed and efficiency. This dense network is a competitive advantage and a key reason why 10-minute delivery is even possible. 2. Surge in Consumer Demand for Convenience India's young, urban consumers are increasingly seeking convenience over price. The shift to Q-comm is natural for a generation accustomed to instant access to content, food, and transport. One of my contacts from this space told me that the online grocery demand in India surged by 76% in the last year, with quick commerce capturing nearly 25% of this growth. In metros like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, quick delivery options are particularly popular, with 30% of customers opting for these ultra-fast services over traditional grocery shopping. It's more than a trend — it's now an expectation. 3. Heavy Investment in Technology & Local Partnerships Tech is the backbone of Q-comm. Platforms like Zepto are investing heavily in AI and data analytics to forecast demand and optimize routes. With over ₹1,500 crores invested in tech infrastructure in 2023 alone, these companies are doubling down on making quick deliveries even quicker. Partnerships are also crucial. Blinkit's partnerships with regional brands enable faster restocking and offer customers better product availability. This combination of tech and partnerships ensures that these platforms handle a high volume of orders during peak hours without delays. With these pillars in place, Q-comm in India isn't just surviving—it's thriving. The model is efficient, matches the demands of our urban lifestyle, and is only set to expand further. The real challenge lies in going beyond the top 25-30 cities. Do you think Q-comm will soon become the norm in more Indian cities? 

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🚀 Zepto’s 'Shagun Ka Lifafa' Campaign: A Game Changer This Raksha Bandhan! 🎉 Zepto has truly outdone itself this Raksha Bandhan with their "Shagun Ka Lifafa" campaign, setting new benchmarks and delighting customers across India. This isn’t just another festive campaign—it’s a masterstroke in modern marketing, with a cultural twist that resonates deeply. Here’s why this campaign stands out and how it crushed records with 1 Million OPD on a super Sunday, surpassing their previous milestone of 0.7 Million OPD on their Third Anniversary which they recently celebrated: 🌟 Cultural Connection Meets Modern Excitement: Zepto beautifully marries tradition with innovation. The age-old custom of Shagun Ka Lifafa is reimagined with a modern flair—scratch cards with every delivery that promises big wins like cars, Dubai trips, and more! 🎁. By the way, I received upto 30% off on Real Juices and Rs.500 off on EMT. 🌟 Everyone’s a Winner: Unlike typical promotions, Zepto ensures no one is left empty-handed. Every order gurantees a lifafa, and every lifafa guarantees a prize, which not only boosts customer satisfaction but also builds strong brand loyalty. 🏆 I just placed one order on Zepto today, just to check whats the craze about the Lifafa, and I just went ahead to have this post written. 🌟 Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with brands like Dabur, Easemytrip, Ariel, and Tide elevate the campaign, offering diverse and desirable prizes that appeal to all demographics. This strategic move adds immense value to each order. 🤝 Haldirams, Snickers, Hershey, McCain and not to forget BSC - Bombay Shaving Company - Gaurav Anand are few of many participating brands. 🌟 Creative Brilliance by Chandan Mendiratta: The campaign carries the hallmark of Chandan Mendiratta’s genius, from the catchy rap ad that perfectly encapsulates sibling love and banter, to the overall conceptualization of the lifafa. It’s all Chandan—every bit of it! 🎨✨ It has Chandan written all over the campaign. 🌟 Record-Breaking Numbers: With an astonishing 1 Million Orders Per Day, Zepto not only surpassed their previous records but also demonstrated their operational excellence. This achievement sets a high bar for what’s possible in festive marketing! 📈💥 As we look ahead to the upcoming festive season, the calendar at Zepto must be buzzing with new ideas. I’m on the edge of my seat to see what they come up with next to break even more records! Kudos to the entire Zepto team, and especially to Chandan Mendiratta, for crafting a campaign that’s not just memorable but monumental. 👏 🌟 Don't forget to check the usual banter between a brother & sister on the front of the lifafa. "you have no friends because.. you're lame" is my favourite one. #Marketing #Branding #RakshaBandhan #Zepto #Innovation #CustomerDelight #RecordBreaking Aadit Palicha Devendra Meel Kaivalya V. Chandan Mendiratta

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No this is not a dream, this happened !! An ecom brand asked us for a detailed traffic intent audit because of terrible conversion rates. Infact a similar situation occured with 3 ecom brands in past two weeks 🛍️ One year back if we told a D2C brand that their quality of traffic impacts conversions a lot. As the source of traffic is via black box (Meta) that they can’t do much about….. But what they can do is how they treat different visitors on their shopify store once traffic lands, on real-time intent. Most won’t listen to us. But slowely, slowely now working with 200+ brands globally, the reverse has started to happen 🌟 Founders & growth marketers now reach out us to audit their incoming traffic visitor intent and then use Cooee to run onsite personalization campaigns complimenting the stage of buying journey each visitor is at. Don’t fret over what you can’t control - quality of incoming traffic instead, Engage with visitors on realtime intent on the same session to improve conversions 🎯 Did you get an intent analysis of your ecom store yet ??

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2021: Only grocery delivery app in India with 10 minutes delivery 2024: Competitor chasing the '10 minute' brand segment Zepto is the only player sticking to its original promise - and is clearly acing it Scaling up a grocery delivery business is particularly challenging in India. And adding up a unique attribute, as huge as this –  has clearly been game changing for Zepto. Success didn’t come easy to Zepto too, There was a time when all the Q-commerce players faced backlash & people questioned the safety of drivers. Some brands stopped claiming the delivery time altogether, from “groceries in 15-30 minutes”, they went to “groceries in minutes” But Zepto didn’t, it went on to install a myriad of dark stores across locations, and is already serving superfast deliveries in 10 cities. Top 3 factors that helped Zepto drive exceptional growth over a very short span of time: - Captivating Customer Experience: The platform served a deeply engaging user experience and the service promise was being consistently fulfilled – a powerful combo. - Outstanding Retention: All thanks to near-perfect buying journey, Zepto achieved a retention rate which was considered only to be a fantasy for the industry earlier. - Not slowing down: More dark stores and continuous geographical expansion at the same time helped the startup acquire customers in huge numbers. Zepto cracked the key to scale in the quick commerce space by constantly growing at the same pace, and not compromising customer satisfaction at the same time – simple yet not easy. A perfect example of go big, go fast – it is surely a fascinating study for the space creators. No matter the circumstances, the brand didn’t let go of its biggest differentiator, eliminating all the question marks experts had put to its launch. What do you think is going to be the future of grocery delivery space in India? #casestudy #growth #startup

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Lenskart.com recently received a new round of funding from Temasek and Fidelity Investments. If I were to analyze the reasons behind this success from the lens (pun intended) of retail operations, it's no surprise why this brand is scaling so well.  . Here are the top 5 reasons why Lenskart is an exemplary D2C brand mastering retail 👇👇👇 . . . #retailinnovation #Lenskart #retailstoredesign #storeofthefuture #retailtrends #experientialretail #retailcollaboration #D2Cretail #Lenskart #Funding #RetailSuccess #D2C #CustomerExperience #TechInnovation #ProductFocus #ValueShopping #RetailStorytelling #IntuitiveDemos

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Dear Arindam - for VCs - learning from their portfolios or learning of founders who have executed successfully are key.. I have been gaining a lot of perspective from your detailed “execution” of several “first of its own” kind of experiments and how they have fared.. This consolidated summary post should be used, researched as a goldmine resource by young & aspiring founders and VC firms portfolio teams equally :-) There is always room for doing better everyday and we look forward to continued learning & sharing by you - our best !! Lets #SucSEEDtogether !!

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The Hyperlocal Discovery2Delivery model is crucial for Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) and electronics companies to maximize the benefits of their current distribution setup. The main challenge lies not in technology, but in the mindset of the brand owners. Small retailers are open to stocking and selling the right products, and they are willing to replace dark stores to deliver similar turnaround times. We have been advocating for this for a long time through our Dynamic Engagement commerce, which is a quick commerce Plug and Play tool. Traditional brands can significantly transform the game with this tool, while Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) firms listed on quick-commerce platforms have seen the benefits but at an oversized cost. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/d-yZbkKt Read more at: https://lnkd.in/d-yZbkKt

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#Take2 Why the Market May Be Overestimating Quick Commerce's Future Despite Damodaran's Optimism As a genuine admirer of #AswathDamodaran and his insightful #valuation frameworks, it's fascinating to see how his evaluations cut to the core of a business's #financial #health. However, with #quickcommerce, it’s possible that the broader market has overestimated the long-term potential of these businesses. Quick commerce is undeniably enticing in terms of #growth and #marketshare grabs, but as Damodaran himself has noted, the sector faces headwinds like narrow #margins and dependency on high-frequency, low-value transactions. Quick commerce relies heavily on the temporary advantage of local #logistics and #labor #arbitrage, but as cities become more congested and labor markets tighten, these operational “advantages” could quickly erode. Furthermore, the political landscape may not always be welcoming, especially given the impact on local #kirana stores, which are integral to India’s #retail fabric. While Damodaran’s framework rightly emphasizes lifecycle positioning, it may not fully capture the #political and #inflationary risks that quick commerce facilitates and faces as it scales. This could mean that valuations, even if optimistic now, might not reflect the long-term stability or profitability the street expects. One critical factor that quick commerce models often overlook is India's regional #diversity —it's anything but a #homogenous market. Local preferences, purchasing behaviors, and infrastructure vary widely from city to city. Quick commerce platforms will need to adapt to these variations, constantly refining and expanding their product categories to cater to local demands. This could mean shifting beyond the basic groceries and essentials model and embracing more regional product mixes, which further adds to complexity and costs. The sector's reliance on ultra-fast delivery and inventory optimization only intensifies these challenges, as what works in a metro city like Delhi or Mumbai may fail in smaller towns where consumer habits and logistical networks differ significantly. This makes scaling in India particularly #complex, and could limit the profitability of the "one-size-fits-all" model that quick commerce often tries to implement. All things considered, I’m confident that these companies have the talent needed to evolve. Just look at how Zomato transformed from its early days to what it is now. The real question is: what will they evolve into, and will that future model justify the premium they currently command? For now, I’ll take advantage of my exclusive offer on Coke Zero from quick commerce and enjoy it while it lasts.

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A few weeks ago, I compared grocery prices of Quick Commerce platforms and concluded that price differences are insignificant. With Zepto Super Saver in the equation, we can 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. Zepto Super Saver is 𝟭𝟬-𝟭𝟱% 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 than rest of #QuickCommerce players, even Zepto itself. Key Takeaways: 1. BigBasket continues to be most expensive 10 min delivery 2. One product (Ariel Matic - Instamart) is enough to mess up price competitiveness 3. I need to get a life. #ecommerce

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Amazing stats and absolutely mindboggling presentation of the ECommerce Industry - Now & Future, Arjun Vaidya Fully in sync with your mentioned Key Pointers, also that... - Ecommerce in India to be massive $400 Billion + by 2030 - Customers are comfortable to order a slew of products, categories including sports gear & equipment, choosing from an endless aisle - that Covid19 pandemic has positively accentuated this ecommerce adaption and growth, especially in sports ecommerce - Finding Niches & Wedges which are underpenetrated in the market is important and there is no better time or place to build an ecommerce business in the world - True that !! We at wizbiker.com are building a Industry leading vertical ecommerce platform for Outdoor & Lifestyle Sports making sports gear, equipment & services available for enthusiast and pros to perform better #ecommerce Arun Satija Vittal Ramakrishna #startup #sports #fitness #retail #startup Pranav Marwah

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