As the festive season approaches, Flipkart is all set to kick off its highly anticipated Big Billion Days (BBD) sale, offering an array of exciting deals and discounts. The e-commerce giant has revealed that the BBD sale will run from October 8 to October 15, promising an entire week of shopping extravagance.

Notably, Amazon’s rival sale event, the Great Indian Festival (GIF), initially announced to commence on October 10, now simply states “coming soon” on the Amazon app. This strategic move indicates that Amazon is likely to adjust its sale dates to avoid losing out on the crucial early days of the festive shopping season, as has been the practice in the past.

In the partnership department, Amazon has teamed up with the State Bank of India for offers and cashback, while Flipkart has secured partnerships with ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank, as stated on their app.

Flipkart has also introduced a novel feature called the ‘lock pass.’ From October 1-3, customers can secure a specific product at a fixed price by paying a small deposit. This innovation shields shoppers from price fluctuations or inventory shortages that are common during festive sales.

In addition to the price lock feature, Flipkart is expected to roll out virtual trial rooms, personalized beauty and personal care (BPC) guidance, and other exciting enhancements, as previously reported.

During a recent company event, Flipkart announced a revamp of its loyalty program and website homepage in preparation for the BBD sale.

The BBD page on Flipkart’s platform is teasing discounts ranging from 40-60 percent across various categories, including smartphones, electronics, accessories, home and kitchen items, fashion, TVs, and more.

This year’s festive season sales are of paramount importance for e-commerce players, as the industry grapples with slower growth and inflation. The period from September to October typically witnesses a series of sales events, and these festive sales account for roughly 50 percent of the gross merchandise value (GMV) for e-commerce companies.

Despite challenges, consumer sentiment remains positive, and analysts at Redseer predict that this year’s festive season sales could grow by up to 20 percent year-on-year (YoY), reaching a GMV of Rs 90,000 crore—a testament to the enduring enthusiasm of Indian shoppers