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D2C Pulse is a newsletter written by the team at GlobalBees, curating happenings in the direct-to-consumer ecosystem of India.

India's daily advancements fill us with pride, and being a part of this journey is truly special. With the success of Chandrayaan 3, Aditya L1, and the recent buzz around India's top-notch hosting of the G20 summit, it's an exciting time!

Meanwhile, in the world of e-commerce, things are moving forward swiftly as well. According to a recent analysis by Inc42, the Indian Ecommerce Industry which is currently operating at $100Bn has a market potential of turning into not less than $400Bn by the year 2030.

🗞️Marketplace Updates

• Investment Infusion: In a strategic move to solidify its presence in the Indian e-commerce market, Walmart has announced an investment of $3.5 billion in Flipkart. Walmart’s infusion of funds will result in an increase in the ownership stake in Flipkart, thus, cementing its commitment to the Indian market.

  Walmart initially acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018 for $16 billion. Since then, Flipkart has witnessed super growth, becoming one of India's leading e-commerce players. This additional investment underscores Walmart's confidence in Flipkart's potential and its determination to compete with rival Amazon in the Indian e-commerce landscape.

• The ONDC Route: In a recent development for the e-commerce industry, more than 20 e-commerce companies have adopted Google Cloud's Open Commerce Solution (OCS) powered by ONDC. This marks a major step in enhancing the digital infrastructure of these businesses.

  The ONDC-Google’s OCS is designed to empower e-commerce platforms with cutting-edge technology, enabling them to deliver a seamless shopping experience to customers. As e-commerce continues to reshape the retail landscape, collaborations like these demonstrate the industry's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.

• Surge in Style: Myntra has reported a staggering 200% growth in its Men's Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) segment. This unexpected surge comes as a testament to the evolving preferences of Indian consumers.

  Myntra's strategic focus on the men's BPC category has yielded impressive results. Their curated range of grooming products and cosmetics has resonated well with male shoppers. The platform's tailored approach to product curation and marketing has played a pivotal role in this growth.

• JioMart’s customers surged 9X since its launch on WhatsApp in 2022. Last year, Reliance took its partnership with WhatsApp a notch higher to provide an end-to-end shopping experience for JioMart customers under which they can browse through JioMart’s entire grocery catalogue, add items to cart, and make payments on WhatsApp itself.

• Amazon is on a roll on multiple front.

  • Amazon India now has 6,000 EVs in its fleet. The company is targeting to include 10,000 electric vehicles in its delivery fleet by 2025.

  • In other news, Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five State Governments to engage with employable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to enable their participation in the mainstream workforce. The MoU which extends until 2026 aims to provide skilling and employment opportunities to PwD candidates in the five states.

  • Amazon India employees are gearing up for Global Month of Volunteering (GMV2023), an annual initiative that celebrates giving back and getting further involved in the communities where they live and work. The company has partnered with more than 10 local non-profit organisations to curate over a 100 meaningful volunteering activities across Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru.

🍕D2C Bites

• Star-Studded Play: In a strategic move, Reliance Retail has acquired a majority stake in Ed-a-Mamma, a children's clothing brand co-founded by Bollywood star Alia Bhatt. Ed-a-Mamma is known for its sustainable and trendy kids' apparel, aligning well with Reliance's vision for sustainable fashion. The conglomerate aims to leverage Alia Bhatt's star power and fashion sensibilities to bolster its position in the children's clothing market. With Reliance's vast retail network, Ed-a-Mamma is poised for rapid growth and increased visibility.

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Reads and Recommendations 📚

• The Indian Consumer market is highly dependent on celebrity endorsements. Read more about its impact and influence on the consumer.

• Read more on how PepsiCo is planning to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

• Zara is set to Launch Its Secondhand Platform

• The Dating Game: Listen to the exciting podcast to know the story of Tinder, which was launched 11 years back in September, as Matchbox.

  That’s all for this week! Bye!

Stay tuned for more.

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