Apparel July 2019 Apparel July 2019 issue | Página 168

FEATURE
DEMAND DRIVERS
Apparel nowadays is becoming an important part
of the purchasing decision as far as grooming is
concerned. This is the result of the plethora of
choices, which are accessible now more than
ever before. Add to that the attractive discounts
that platforms offer today, leading apparel to
continue to drive a lot of business. “Due to the
fact that B2B is fast and quick, has an organised
auto-approach system for better planning that will
eventually make the scaling of businesses easy,
this segment is certainly growing the market,”
says Aggarwal.
Ester John Mathew, owner of Esthu Willys, a
newly launched formal and casual shirts brand,
says, “The apparel business is growing in India,
especially through online platforms.” The brand
has recently launched a range of formal and
casual shirts, which are made from Giza cotton.
“Though many cotton brands are highly priced,
we offer affordable prices for our products. Our
shirts will be available through online platforms in
the forthcoming festive seasons.”
Online B2B platforms are a boon for small-
and medium-scale apparel businesses and
manufactures of the country, in terms of
generating revenue. They are crucial because
they connect the industry globally and are
major venues for global wholesale trade too.
B2B platforms are prominent marketplaces for
cross-border trade in the apparel business,
helping small and medium businesses to expand
to overseas markets. “B2B platforms are a
great opportunity for the overall apparel market,
wherein businesses can showcase products
ranging from raw materials to finished goods.
This also means that manufacturers do not have
to go through the physical hassles of importing
as they can procure raw materials on the click
of a button. The sellers can display most of
their products online and buyers would have
a variety to choose from at competitive prices
since it is a single platform, which is common for
small, medium, and large enterprises, as well as
individuals,” explains Bhotika.
ONLINE B2B PLATFORMS ARE A
BOON FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-
SCALE APPAREL BUSINESSES AND
MANUFACTURES OF THE COUNTRY.
146
I APPAREL I
July 2019