Vaeshnavi Kasthuril, Mint Bengaluru, 11 February 2026 Sales of winter wear were underwhelming for the second year in a row as an unusually delayed and milder winter disrupted demand for heavy winter wear, particularly in north and west India, executives at two of India's top clothing retailers said. Initial optimism for a bumper season this year compounded the disappointment for retailers. While early signs of a La Niña—a weather pattern typically known for bringing freezing temperatures to India—triggered some early buying in the previous quarter, the season remained unusually mild, leaving stores with a surplus of winter clothing. Excess rainfall…
Anees Hussain and Kartikay Kashyap, Financial Express / Brand Wagon 6 February 2026 Swiggy Instamart's Noice has consciously rejected every aesthetic that defines platform house brands. Its visual identity doesn't sport minimalist colours or whites, no clean sans-serif, no 'discount alternative' signalling. Instead it uses Indian truck art inspired design with neon colours and bold text. That design architecture also personifies Swiggy's big gamble. Noice isn't just a private label chasing margin expansion. It's a differentiation play by a company that's losing ground in a war in which being faster and cheaper is no longer enough. Early data suggests that…
BRND.ME CEO Ananth Narayanan (source: company video)
Sakshi Sadashiv, MINT Bengaluru, 02 Feb 2026 BRND.ME, a roll-up commerce company, expects to complete its reverse flip (change of headquarters) from Singapore to India by March, clearing a key regulatory hurdle as it prepares to tap Indian public markets with an IPO. Despite the rise of private labels from quick-commerce giants such as Swiggy Instamart and Zepto, CEO Ananth Narayanan remains confident. He argues that BRND.ME's core categories—spanning complex, value-added products such as specialized haircare and niche party supplies—possess a level of brand loyalty and complexity that is difficult for generic retail labels to replicate. While private labels are…
Surabhi Prasad, Business Today Print Edition: 01 Feb, 2026 The last two years—2024 and, more notably, 2025—saw a wave of protests by a new generation of students and young professionals looking for political change, better economic conditions and more climate awareness across countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and the Maldives. But beyond these uprisings, Gen Z, the term used to describe those born in late 1990s to the early part of the 2010s and currently aged around 13-29 years, are not only questioning but also bringing forth changes in societal norms and economic behaviour. It’s not just a generation gap!…
Vashnavi Kasthuril, MINT Mumbai, 30 January 2026 Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) plans to enter the bottled iced tea market this coming summer with the relaunch of "Brew House", three people close to the development told Mint. The people added that the brand—for which the company received approval on 23 July 2025, according to the commerce ministry records—is expected to be relaunched within the next two months. The oil-to-retail conglomerate acquired the brand in 2024 for an undisclosed amount. The iced teas will be launched in two flavours, lemon and peach, for an entry price of ₹20 for a 200ml…
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Speaking with @Priyamouli1812, @devangshu explained that new-age lab grown diamond players are forcing traditional jewellers to introduce LGD options or risk losing younger customers.
New tax & labour rules: What rising compliance costs mean for e-comm platforms.
Industry analysts say new rules have lifted per-order costs and platforms will now have less room to burn cash on promos; Discounts and zero-fee offers may also be a thing of the past.
India’s retail media growth: Will new players find room against Amazon and Flipkart?
New retail media platforms are emerging, but with Amazon and Flipkart holding the largest share, challenger brands face an uphill task of driving incremental sales and reaching unique audiences.
