New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) As festive sales enter their final leg, quick commerce platforms are gearing
New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) As festive sales enter their final leg, quick commerce platforms are gearing up to tap into India's Rs 1.97 lakh crore festive spending opportunity, as urban households defer purchases until closer to Diwali amid uncertainty, turning to convenient, last-minute shopping options instead of crowded markets.
''Urban households will spend about Rs 1.97 lakh crore on festive purchases this year. Even after a moderation from last year's GST-boosted high, this is about Rs 12,000 crore more than in 2024. 57 pc of urban households plan festive purchases, at an average of nearly Rs 20,000 each,'' according to a survey conducted by LocalCircles.
With Diwali around the corner, 71 per cent of quick commerce users pick a platform that offers value, while product quality was an important criterion for 65 per cent of users, and 43 pc do not want to pay any extra fee, the survey said.
Festive demand has been strong. The season began with Navratri on October 11 and is now in its last leg ahead of Diwali on November 8. Amazon reported its biggest-ever opening for the Great Indian Festival, with products ordered up 100 per cent year-on-year, and said that in 120 cities where Amazon Now is operational, it delivered two products in minutes. Flipkart Minutes order volumes rose 3.5 times over a normal day at the start of the Big Billion Days, and by the close of the sale, Flipkart's orders were reported to be up about 20-22 pc year-on-year.
The survey noted that clothing, footwear and accessories (72pc), home appliances and furniture (45pc), travel (45 pc), and gourmet foods and gifting (39pc) top the shopping list.
Households are also spending more carefully, with 83pc planning to dip into savings, which puts value at the centre of festive choices, the study projected.
Usage and ratings do not always match. Blinkit is the most used platform for everyday purchases and leads on speed but scores low on value and transparency of charges. BigBasket leads in product exclusivity, the report noted.
The LocalCircles findings, drawn from a large consumer base, show that the winners will be those that offer the best value, consistent quality and a final bill that matches the price first shown, not just the fastest delivery.
Platforms have expanded rapidly to meet demand. Blinkit has crossed 2,750 dark stores, Swiggy Instamart has 1,240, Flipkart Minutes has about 1,200 micro-fulfilment centres, and Amazon Now has expanded to over 120 cities.
By the close of the Big Billion Days, Flipkart's orders were up about 20-22 pc year-on-year. 71pc of users will pick a platform for the best value and 65pc for product quality. 43pc will favour platforms with little or no extra fees.
Offers matter less during festive shopping than in everyday buying. This matters because the festive basket is different from the everyday one. It includes gifts, sweets, puja items, décor, beauty products, and electronic accessories, where users want the right product at a fair price.
Fast delivery, at 22pc, is the least cited festive factor, showing that speed is now expected rather than a reason to choose a platform. The move by Blinkit, and reportedly Zepto, earlier this year to drop the "10 minutes" delivery promise fits with this finding. Delivery in minutes is now the norm across platforms, so users are looking at what they get for their money: the range of products, their quality and the final amount they pay. Extra fees remain the biggest irritant. Six in 10 users say additional charges often push the final bill higher than expected.
Growth is spreading well beyond the metros. Flipkart says its Minutes customer base in smaller cities such as Ambala, Bhagalpur, Kanpur, and Siliguri has grown nearly 25 times year-on-year, and Amazon Now is on track to reach more than 300 cities. Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart and Zepto remain the leaders, but Amazon Now was estimated to have about 10 pc of quick commerce orders by September 2026, while a Bank of America report based on Sensor Tower data shows Blinkit's monthly active users rose 53 pc year-on-year to about 5.8 crore.
Order values remain modest, with 69pc of users spending Rs 200-Rs 999 per order. At these order sizes, even a small handling, delivery or small-cart fee forms a noticeable share of the bill. Amazon Now and Blinkit lead in last-minute festive shopping, the survey added.
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