Smartphone Sales: Among the offline channels, consumers prefer the air-conditioned large-format retail (LFR) stores over the regular brick-and-mortar ones, besides the ecommerce platforms. The offline channel is also facing challenges related to staff attendance, owing to the extreme heat.
Phone Sales: "Regions such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and UP have been particularly affected by the heatwave and power cuts in Delhi, resulting in a drastic 50% decline in business," said Kailash Lakhyani, chairman, All India Mobile Retailers Association that represents 1.5 lakh mobile retailers across the country. Lakhyani added that preferred shopping hours for customers have shifted to the cooler times of the day, with most purchases happening between 9 am to 11 am and 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm in the evening.
Extreme heatwave conditions across India have significantly impacted restaurants, pubs, and bars, leading to a sharp decline in sales and footfalls, with some outlets reporting up to a 40% decrease. Al fresco dining and high street locations are worst affected, especially during lunch hours, which are seeing a notable drop in business. The heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius in some places, has led people to avoid outdoor dining, impacting sales till about 6 pm.
The property was leased to the trust in the 1950s, but in April 2022, the Defence Estate Office, Colaba, passed an order evicting the trust which challenged the decision.