Republic Day fever grips retailers

Importance of Republic Day is no more limited to patriotism alone -- it has also emerged as an occasion for retailers to cash on the consumers' holiday and festive spirit by an array of discounts and special offers.

While the country's most valued retail chain Future Group is back with its "Sabse saste teen din" (year's cheapest three days) offer for the R-Day weekend at its Big Bazaar outlets, another grocery chain Big Apple has decided to offer close to 26 items at a flat price of Rs 26 each.

For those inclined towards patriotism and still not wanting to step out of home on the day, world's largest online marketplace eBay has on offer some rate postal stamps, coins and currency notes among other memorabilia items commemorating India's first Republic Day in 1950.

The country's most valued corporate house, Mukesh Ambani- led Reliance group is promising up to 59 per cent discount for products at its Reliance Trends stores, which specialises in apparel and other fashion goods, to commemorate the country's 59th Republic Day.

Another retail chain, Spencer's from the RPG group, has lined up offers like free cars, bikes and holiday packages, while Ritu Wears is offering an additional discount of up to 26 per cent over and above the ongoing discount of up to 50 per cent on most items.

These offers by most of the retailers, including Big Bazaar which is running this campaign for third year in a row, started on Friday and would continue till January 27. "Sales of close to Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) were seen two years back on a single day offer. Last year, the scheme was extended for three days and it exceeded the Rs 150 crore (Rs 1.5 billion) mark and we are hoping to have whopping sales this year as well," Future Group's Corporate Communication Head Atul Takle said.

A number of Big Bazaar outlets had seen rampage-like situations in the past two years during these offer periods, but the company claims to have made necessary arrangements to avoid a repeat of such incidents this year.

The company has discounts on hundreds of products ranging from apparels, furniture, electronics and food products at the lowest possible prices, coupled with attractive promotional schemes, at all of its 70 outlets.

Big Apple, a unit of Express retail services, is also seeking to catch the R-Day spirit by offering a range of close to two dozen products at a price Rs 26 each. At present the company is offering discount and promotional schemes on more than 100 items, out of which over 20 are tailored for January 26, Big Apple's Vice President (marketing) Vikram Thaploo said. The offer opens on January 26 and will continue till January 31.

"The Republic Day is an important occasion on our annual marketing calendar. We plan to catch the consumers' excitement through great promotional offers - giving away cars, bikes, domestic and international holiday packages," Spencer's Retail Vice President (marketing) Samar Sheihawat said.

The retail chain, having a presence in 60 cities with over 400 outlets, has its Republic Day promotional offer on for three days starting 25 January.

However, for those not wanting to step out of houses on these chilly days of January, Internet marketplace eBay has enough in store to keep them shopping online sitting in their homes. India's leading online marketplace is calibrating this Republic day with an ancient appeal by offering products with a historic value, it said in a statement. It is offering rare stamps, notes, coins and historic documents commemorating first Republic Day in 1950, at price ranging from as low as Rs 29 to Rs 5,000 each.