Urbanic’s Soft Power Play: How the Quiet Fast-Fashion App is Winning Gen Z’s Closet, Cart, and Cravings

E-Commerce

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July 16, 2025

Image of Urbanic — Urbanic’s Soft Power Play: How the Quiet Fast-Fashion App is Winning Gen Z’s Closet, Cart, and Cravings

Fast fashion has a new face, and it isn’t who you think.

While global goliaths like H&M and Zara still make up most regular chatter on the high street, Urbanic is rapidly becoming the name on everyone’s college group chat, Pinterest board, and late-night endless scroll. The Chinese-origin, London-based fashion brand has cracked the code that most local players are still fumbling on how to sell affordable drip without looking like it’s from the bargain rack.

Urbanic’s play is simple—don’t follow trends, drop them. Their app feels less like a shopping site and more of a moodboard for Gen Z aesthetics; coquette-core, clean girl, Y2K revival, and oddly specific fits like “brunch date with your toxic ex.” Whatever the vibe is, Urbanic has a cart waiting.

And unlike other platforms that feel either overly cluttered or artificial in their casualness, Urbanic’s UX feels built for the socially integrated shopper. It’s a combo of sleek layout, curated collections, and just enough FOMO to compel a 2:30 AM purchase of that corset top you would have never put in your shopping cart elsewhere.

But, it is not just the front end that we are addressing. Urbanic has also come up with local delivery channels behind the scenes to add the speed – which is a must now in India e-commerce. Returns? Pickup is seamless. Sizes? Inclusive-ish. Packaging? Instagrammable enough to be on stories.

Value is the deal breaker. Aesthetic pieces that look luxe but cost less than Zomato, that is the charm. Urbanic is a vibe-for-a-week closet, not a wardrobe for life. And Gen Z is all for it.

Urbanic is not yelling from billboards, Urbanic whispers through reels, outfit inspo posts, projects , and ˋwhere is that from?´ comments.

It is fast fashion, yes. But make it algorithm approved!

The Curious Case of Juicy Chemistry: How a Bootstrapped Skincare Brand is Outselling VC-Backed Giants, One Organic Drop at a Time

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July 16, 2025

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The Curious Case of Juicy Chemistry: How a Bootstrapped Skincare Brand is Outselling VC-Backed Giants, One Organic Drop at a Time

In the super-slick space of skincare where brands are raising millions to tell you your pores are an issue, Juicy Chemistry is doing something radical: they’re keeping it real. No celebrity faces, no lab-coat theatrics, no “miracle anti-aging” claims. Just cold-pressed oils, transparent labels, and real customers who evangelize it like dietary supplements.

What started as a kitchen experiment in Coimbatore, has become a major D2C success story that hasn’t raised a dime from investors until this year. And that’s the magic. Juicy Chemistry didn’t grow to D2C success based on billboard spend—it grew from bathroom cabinets via WhatsApp recommendations, Instagram reviews, and painfully-clarity-providing product transparency.

Where other brands hover around the latest hyaluronic trend, JC (the regulars call it JC) went all in on organic certifications. The type that takes years, endless paperwork, and painful audits. But that green sticker? It’s the biggest flex.

The e-commerce scheme here is smoother than it appears. Products are paired around skin challenges, subscription models are seamless but juicy, average cart? Skyrocketing without much noise. The brand isn’t loud around discounts, but loud around parties. From acne-ridden teenagers to aged minimalist aunts—everyone finds their skin doppelganger.

But here is where it gets very interesting. Juicy Chemistry’s backend has been built like a brand 10x its size. Global shipping, sourced ingredients, recyclable packaging, the brand has started up and scaled up like a startup but acted like a legacy house. This is the kind of brand that earns loyalty rather than hack it.

In a sea of VC-funded beauty replicators trying to scream “clean,” Juicy Chemistry is merely whispering—and all of a sudden everyone is in on it.

There are not just bottling oils. They are bottling trust. One glass jar at a time.

How Pet Parenting is Powering India’s Cutest E-Commerce Boom—And Why Heads Up For Tails is Sitting Pretty at the Top

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July 16, 2025

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Image of Pet Parenting — How Pet Parenting is Powering India’s Cutest E-Commerce Boom—And Why Heads Up For Tails is Sitting Pretty at the Top

It all began with toys and treats. Today, we’re looking at a fully-fledged bark-and-buy economy.

India’s pet care sector has quietly transformed into one of India’s fastest-growing e-commerce categories—and at the forefront of this revolution is Heads Up For Tails (HUFT). HUFT realised early in the game what pet parents don’t just want—they want emotions.

Forget dank aisles in supermarkets and one brand fits all kibble. HUFT has ensured that pet shopping is not simply a task, there is a curated experience attached. Organic treats? Yes. Customised name-tag collars? Of course. Spa-grade shampoos infused with lavender oil? Yes, and there’s even a calming paw balm.

Where HUFT gets it right is with their emotional targeting. Their platform doesn’t just sell pet supplies—it’s a lifestyle where your dog is your flatmate and your cat has a skincare routine. Every item listing, email, and campaign is drenched in sentiment. And it is working.

Their omnichannel game is tight too. Walk into any HUFT store and it will feel more like a boutique than a pet mart. Add a content-first online experience with blogs, vet Q&As, and personality quizzes to get product recommendations, and you’ve got a brand that is more than selling, it’s advising, forming bonds, and building trust at tail wagging pace.

As D2C players try to niche down, HUFT is intelligently deciding to expand their category. From hamster hammocks, to golden retriever raincoats, they aren’t just following trends, they are creating trends.

The win, they have made pet care feel premium and not expensive, and in a country where “pet” is quickly turning into “first child”, that’s a powerful stance to have.

In India’s e-commerce boom town, Heads Up For Tails seems to be barking up the right tree. They planted their own tree, and built a community around it.

Robo-Rise in Warehouses: How AI and Robotics Are Supercharging India’s E‑commerce Supply Chain

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July 16, 2025

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Image of AI and Robotics — Robo-Rise in Warehouses: How AI and Robotics Are Supercharging India’s E‑commerce Supply Chain

If you ever wondered how your late-night Blinkit or Zepto order arrives before you can hit the snooze button, let’s meet the silent army behind the revamped warehouses of India.

Startup companies like Addverb, Arya, and Hexalog are putting injection level accuracy into logistics. We’re talking about AI quality checks, IoT-based stock sensors, and autonomous robots racing through aisles—all funded to the extent of $2.4 billion.

This is not a sci-fi pipe-dream; this is a backend revolution feeding the hyper-fueled shopping of today.

Quick commerce companies depend on these technology-woven fortresses. NX Logistics, whose warehouses for Zepto and others, uses robotics to pick and pack with machine-level accuracy—reducing delay, error, and headaches of return. This means fresher produce, less stockouts, and less complaints—while still keeping margins afloat.

Here’s the catch: warehouse automation is not simply a matter of speed; it is a matter of scalability. As India’s e‑commerce footprint grows to tier‑2/3 cities, these automated operations will be the only viable way to manage differing demand and deliver in a reliable manner across geography and product categories.

Robots are replacing some level of grunt work, but they are also allowing humans to focus more on logistics planning, quality control, and innovation. All of a sudden, the operating system got smarter.

So the next time your order arrives at your door before you can fully comprehend what you have scrolled through, be sure to thank the warehouse bots. The front line of India’s e‑commerce revolution is not the app – it’s what is happening behind the screen to create the invisible highways of tomorrow.

And as warehouse tech continues to get smarter, faster, and cheaper don’t be shocked when your next impulsive buy arrives before you finish the thought – the bots are already on it!

Rural E‑commerce Revolution: How “Hesaathis,” ONDC, and Assisted Commerce Are Unlocking Bharat

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July 16, 2025

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Image of Hesaathis — Rural E‑commerce Revolution: How “Hesaathis,” ONDC, and Assisted Commerce Are Unlocking Bharat

People invariably pontificate about e-commerce in metros. But the only inward revolution? It’s happening in the untapped, brown spaces out there: those with no malls, no next-day deliveries, and often no internet connection— until now.

Introducing India’s newest growth engine: assisted e-commerce. All over India, from Odisha to Uttar Pradesh, digital saathis locally called “Hesaathis” are helping rural villagers discover, compare, and transact online. No smartphone skills? No problem. The Hesaathis assist with digital payments, track and facilitate deliveries, and even assist with after-sales service, much like hired personal e-shopping agents.

Startups like Rozana are leading the charge. With an investment of over ₹180 crore accumulated, and a growing army of 18,000 partners, they are delivering FMCG, essentials, and digital conveniences to over 4 lakh rural households. They don’t view these deliveries as merely deliveries, rather as a digital trust-building activity.

And this isn’t just a B2C transaction. VilCart is quietly reinventing the rural B2B ecosystem—it connects 1 lakh kiranas in 30,000 villages with brands and warehouses through its own logistics stack. Personally, I am invested in VilCart’s proposition; its revenue has eclipsed ₹1,200 crore in FY25. There are others like ElasticRun, Shiprocket, and StoreKing building the stacked-backend for small businesses with an ambitious rural reach.

Then there is ONDC. Its open commerce infrastructure is now slowly settling into these ecosystems—shattering monopolies of platforms and allowing the smallest seller or buyer to behave like a pro.

What’s driving all this? UPI, affordable smartphones, improved logistics, and aspirations in a new rural India. The tier‑3 and tier‑4 towns are no longer on the fringes—they are buying, stocking, and expanding.

The impact is not just economic—it is also cultural. Rural women are becoming micro-entrepreneurs. Small town businesses are becoming digital-first. And entire communities are moving from being passive consumers to active participants.

India’s next great wave of e-commerce will not come from a Silicon Valley-like disruption—but from dusty lanes, noisy mandis, and WhatsApp groups.

And this time, everyone gets to check out.

Nasher Miles Unveils Flagship Store at Phoenix Palladium, Mumbai—Kickstarts Major Offline Expansion

Retail & Ecommerce

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July 16, 2025

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Image of Nasher Miles. — Nasher Miles Unveils Flagship Store at Phoenix Palladium, Mumbai—Kickstarts Major Offline Expansion

After making its mark online, luggage brand Nasher Miles is going big on brick-and-mortar. The company just opened its newest—and most prominent—store at Phoenix Palladium in Mumbai, marking a significant move toward building a stronger offline presence.

This is the brand’s third store in Mumbai, with outlets already up and running at Warden Road and Capital Mall. And they’re not stopping there. New stores are already on the way in Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, expected to open within weeks.

From a brand born in the digital age, Nasher Miles is now setting up shop across the country in a big way. It’s currently present in over 1,300 multi-brand outlets and operates across 200+ Indian cities. What started online is now showing up in malls, high streets, and even quick-commerce platforms.

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“This flagship store isn’t just about selling luggage—it’s about creating a real-world identity for our brand,” said Shruti Kedia Daga, Co-founder. “We’ve connected with people online for years. Now it’s time to show up physically, where they live, travel, and shop.”

Co-founder Lokesh Daga echoed the same spirit. “Whether you’re scrolling through your phone or walking through a mall, we want Nasher Miles to be within reach.”

Alongside this retail push, the brand is investing heavily in local manufacturing and back-end upgrades to support demand. It recently debuted on Zepto, with Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart already in the mix. Offline, it’s also found a spot at Broadway, Vivek Biyani’s curated D2C retail space.

For a brand that began online in 2017, Nasher Miles seems ready to travel far—literally and figuratively.

Shark Tank’s Namita Thapar Dives Into D2C: Launches ARTH by Emcure with Sleep Gummies, Intimate Creams & More

Entrepreneurship

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July 16, 2025

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Image-of-ARTH-by-Emcure — Shark Tank’s Namita Thapar Dives Into D2C: Launches ARTH by Emcure with Sleep Gummies, Intimate Creams & More

Shark Tank India judge and Emcure Pharmaceuticals Executive Director, Namita Thapar, has launched a new direct-to-consumer (D2C) wellness brand called ARTH. The inspiration, she says, comes directly from her experience on the hit business reality show. ARTH marks a bold move by Thapar to branch into consumer-facing health products within the Emcure ecosystem.

Personally curated by Thapar in consultation with top medical experts, the ARTH product range promises high-quality, medically-backed supplements aimed at both men and women. It includes products such as sleep support gummies, iron gummies, and intimate creams, which she says are among her top favorites. She adds that the products have been created with a commitment to quality, transparency, and consumer well-being.

ARTH is already available across major e-commerce platforms, the brand’s official website arthbyemcure.com, and in retail chains such as Reliance, Apollo Pharmacy, and QC stores. While currently promoting the brand from Milan, Thapar emphasized her love for the range and the personal connection she shares with it.

Her post announcing the launch also featured a touch of flair, joking that the new venture deserves “a new hair colour and cut.” The entrepreneurial move comes as part of a broader trend in the Indian pharma and wellness sectors, where legacy companies are spinning off innovative, lifestyle-focused verticals for a younger, more health-conscious audience.

With her credibility, Shark Tank fanbase, and the trusted Emcure brand behind her, ARTH by Namita Thapar is poised to make waves in India’s booming wellness and nutraceuticals market.

GST Crackdown Reportedly Triggers UPI Exodus in Bengaluru: Vendors Say ‘No More Digital Payments’

Business

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July 16, 2025

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Image of online payment — GST Crackdown Reportedly Triggers UPI Exodus in Bengaluru: Vendors Say ‘No More Digital Payments’

Once hailed as the poster city for India’s digital payments revolution, Bengaluru is witnessing an unexpected turn—small vendors are ditching UPI and going back to cash. The reason? A growing wave of GST notices and fears of tax scrutiny linked to digital transactions according to a report by TOI.

In local markets and bustling neighborhoods, handwritten signs that read “No UPI, only cash” are becoming more common. Small shopkeepers, food vendors, and kirana store owners are urging customers to pay in physical currency rather than through QR codes and apps. Many say they are doing this to avoid drawing attention from tax authorities, especially after receiving GST-related notices that cite discrepancies or question transaction volumes.

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While UPI brought convenience and speed to everyday purchases, it also left a clear digital trail. For micro businesses that have traditionally operated in the informal economy, this transparency has proven to be a double-edged sword. “We embraced UPI because it was fast and easy for customers. But now we’re being penalised for it,” said one shopkeeper in Jayanagar.

Experts believe this move could signal a troubling trend, undermining the government’s push towards a cashless economy. The fear of compliance burdens and perceived harassment is driving honest vendors away from platforms that once empowered them.

This shift also raises concerns about how taxation frameworks are being applied to small businesses, many of whom may not fully understand GST protocols.

With Bengaluru leading the retreat from digital, this moment could serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to balance tax enforcement with handholding and clarity for small enterprises.

If not addressed soon, India’s digital success story could face a serious credibility crisis—starting with the very city that once symbolised its future.

Smart SMEs, Smarter Sales: How India’s Small Vendors Are Going AI‑First and Slipping Past The Big E‑Commerce Gates

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July 15, 2025

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Image of AI led SMEs — Smart SMEs, Smarter Sales: How India’s Small Vendors Are Going AI‑First and Slipping Past The Big E‑Commerce Gates

Since 2022, a new relationship has formed in India’s e-commerce world: small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which have been working under resource constraints for some time, have tapped into the AI wave — quietly and are getting some serious traction.

Whether it’s democratized AI tools like ChatGPT, or even microbrands, there are whole SMEs in Tier-2 towns that now use machine learning to deliver product recommendations, demand forecasting, customer support, or inventory management. The result: they are delivering more personalized experiences, more efficiency, and are narrowing the gap between small e-com competitors and its corporate counterparts.

Imagine a handcrafted tea vendor in Guwahati sending you an email that automatically recommended a new Assam chai blend from your last sip-and-scroll session. Or an artist in Udaipur, who makes ceramics, improving her stock records with predictive inventory tools so she never over-sells.

And, these regional chatbots backed by AI are bringing support around the clock and to local preferences – so whether you ping in Hindi, Tamil, or Marathi the chatbots will reply back in regional language support. And it’s not just chatbots that are going regional: voice commerce is too. Customers are asking for “best oiled rice in Odia”, and getting results, all due to the vernacular training on AI.

In 2025, these AI led SMEs will not only survive, but thrive. They will compete through scale, not just price, and will break through into markets that were previously only seen as unattainable.

Bad news for the big players? This competition is not coming from a boardroom but from the next lane over. These guerrilla entrepreneurs are using AI to level the playing field, and allowing them to go into battle without spending millions. For customers, this means hyper-localized offerings in regional language styles and regional language support, and surprise quality at surprise pricing.

So, next time you are online shopping and you land upon a really tiny handcrafted brand that just makes sense to you – congratulations – you just became part of India’s ecosystem of small local SMEs through the power of AI. The future may not just be flash branding, wrapper effect pricing, etc., but it will be local and personal, and smarter.

The Social Commerce Tsunami: How Instagram, TikTok, and Live Streams Are Making Bharat Checkout-Crazy

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July 15, 2025

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Image of Instagram — The Social Commerce Tsunami: How Instagram, TikTok, and Live Streams Are Making Bharat Checkout-Crazy

When Instagram and TikTok go far beyond just scroll-and-chill apps and introduce a checkout button—change is coming (welcome to India’s social commerce explosion).

The shoppers in Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 cities aren’t waiting for Black Friday—they’re buying straight off reels, shoppable posts, and livestream drops. DHL estimates that over 80% of Indian online shoppers have already purchased through social media and that figure is projected to rise to 90% by 2030 indanretailer.com indiashippingnews.com. Social commerce is no longer fringe—it’s the new everyday.

Several platforms like Meesho and Trell make money when they stream—not only do they merchandise in vernacular languages; but they also have regional influencer trust. A pop-up livestream from your local foodie can deliver a snack box to your door-step; same hour. Syndication style selling is on fast-track full throttle.And brands are catching on quickly.

Hyper-personalization is not an algorithm talking point anymore it is baked into the feed. AI is tagging, upselling, and tuning your product feed based on the last video watch or voice query. A “silent meditation cushion” ad pops up after a reels binge—and you type nothing.

Sustainability is not a passenger in the back seat, it’s also now riding shotgun. Eco-friendly drops, resale fashion and returnable rentals are hitting “live” buttons — entering the world of digital meet sustainable — consumers are checking out with green values, saying yes to instant gratification.

For touchpoint traditional e‑commerce apps, it’s a reckoning. Mobile first, sure…exclusively a screen-first, experience. Trust from consumers has transitioned from cart pages to community conversation, albeit in their own dialect as opposed to English.

In other words, the sale starts at a scroll. It sells through a story. It closes in your chat. The commerce wave won’t wait.. It’s streaming.

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