E-shopping likely to touch Rs 2,200 cr this Diwali: Assocham

NEW DELHI: Online shopping for consumer goods like electronics and chocolates is likely to touch Rs 2,200 crore this Diwali, Assocham on Wednesday said.

"The reasons for e-shoppers number multiplying are because of factors such as home delivery which saves time, secondly '24x7' hours shopping with ease and availability factors for product comparisons," the chamber said.

In 2007, consumers bought goods worth Rs 575 crore, it said.

The articles that are likely to be shopped intensively include electronic items, idols of Gods and Goddesses, sweets, flowers, clothes, jewellery, it said in a statement here.

People from Gujarat are taking lead in ordering their Diwali requirements of consumer durables online followed by Maharashtrian, Sindhi's and Punjabi.

"Keeping this boom in mind, a lot of online players have already announced exclusive Diwali deals and even exclusive diwali shopping stores," it said.

India's largest portal rediff.com has launched a special shopping store for Diwali gifts accessible at diwaligifts.rediff.com for online shopping, it said.

Besides, the other shopping sites like Sify, Indiaplaza, Indiatimes have also opened shop for Diwali offers and are enticing online buyers with discounts, it added.