Fashion retailers count on end-of-season sales to shore up top line

With Q4 being weak, firms are offering around 50 per cent discount on merchandise and pushing aggressive offers in June

Some of the country’s top fashion retailers, including names such as Central, Lifestyle and Brand Factory, have advanced their end-of-season sales, offering as much as 50 per cent discount on merchandise in June as the pressure to grow their top line increases. Apparel retailers reported lower same-store sales growth (SSG) for the January-March period (Q4) due to consumption slowdown. 

For Q4, average SSG hovered between 3 and 9 per cent for most players (barring Brand Factory), lower than the 8-20 per cent range seen in Q3, which was also a festive quarter. Some players such as Pantaloons from Aditya Birla Fashion