Why tech savvy Indians are building their own marketplaces
The iPhone is India’s most sought-after status symbol. Gadgets are where it’s at, and as consumers get more confident buying and selling them online, they’re taking ownership of Facebook to tailor the digital marketplace to their needs.
When it comes to splashing their cash, nothing does it for India’s Gen Y like fashion. The rise of global brands is fuelling fanaticism for labels like Zara and Forever 21. But what’s behind the spending spree – heady consumerism pure and simple, or a new brand of self-expression?
The used goods market in India is expected to grow to $18.4 billion in 2015. Who’s driving it? Savvy young married couples in urban areas – they’re buying anything from books to cars online. But it’s also this group that are selling. How is a desire to de-clutter fuelling India’s second-hand market?
IKEA is the world’s largest supplier of home furnishings; it's a household name around the globe. A fifth of British babies are conceived atop the Swedish giant's mattresses and IKEA’s world domination won’t stop there. It's got big plans, and amongst the biggest is engaging the Indian market.
Public transport may be a more sustainable way to travel, but between its unreliability and heavy traffic, young urban Indians entering the job market are avoiding it for commutes. But with car prices soaring too, a market has opened up for car-sharing services.