Chanel was one of the first luxury companies to grasp the potential of the Indian market, launching its flagship shop in Delhi in 2005. Over two decades later, the company is establishing its e-commerce portal in the sub-continent, which went online on August 1. Less than a handful of companies, like Tiffany & Co. and Bally, have their dedicated e-commerce portals in India now and Chanel has joined this exclusive list. With the heart of Chanel’s online offering being fragrance, cosmetics and eyewear, consumers will continue to buy in-store for fashion, accessories and shoes.
Beauty aficionados have grown more aware of the companies they support and the goods they purchase. This unexpected spike in conscious choice has made the Indian beauty business thrive in recent years. In the last two years, worldwide beauty companies have emerged in India, fighting for a share in the market.
Amit Goyal, head of Chanel in India, said in a conversation with Vogue Business: “The e-commerce portal is an extension of our brand, providing an online source through which our clients that live outside the metro cities can access Chanel fragrance, beauty and eyewear products while experiencing exceptional luxury service.”
Chanel will now be able to cover 27,000 postcodes in India, allowing the luxury brand to serve the whole subcontinent, a difficult task in such a big country with few premium retail complexes and high streets. Chanel has already witnessed pre-launch interest in Kolkata, Pune and the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. According to a recent analysis by RedSeer Strategy, the Indian e-commerce sector is expected to increase from INR 6 lakh crore ($75 billion) in 2023 to INR 16.6 lakh crore ($200 billion) by 2030, with another report claiming that 65 percent of online shoppers are mass consumers.
The website provides a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, featuring some of Chanel’s most iconic items, like the Les Exclusifs de Chanel fragrance line, Sublimage, N°1 De Chanel and others. This means you may get the Chanel N°5 delivered directly to your home whenever you desire. Furthermore, the full Chanel eyewear collection is accessible on the website in a variety of designs, colors and sizes.
The website has introduced a virtual “try on” feature to enhance the shopping experience, allowing customers to find their ideal pair of sunglasses and lipstick shades from the comfort of their homes. In addition to selecting between a standard black-and-white bag or a recyclable organic pouch, shoppers can personalise their purchases. Each order also has the option to choose two complimentary samples, and all purchases include free nationwide delivery. There is also the option of scheduling a one-on-one meeting with any of the local shops.
Almost 20 years after its inception, Chanel still operates just one fashion boutique at The Chanakya, in Delhi, and this does not appear to be changing soon. However, the brand operates nine retail locations in India. Five are dedicated to the beauty sector, with four located in Delhi and its surrounding regions and one in Mumbai. Then there are three travel retail outlets in New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad international airports.
Plans for 2025 include a second fragrance and beauty boutique in Mumbai, a beauty and fragrance boutique in Bengaluru and a travel retail boutique at Bengaluru’s international airport.
