Bata Joins Brands To Use WhatsApp To Push Sales

After JioMart and Bharat Gas (BPCL), Bata India, another household brand in the country, has started taking orders over WhatsApp. The footwear brand is focusing on its online sales channels as the COVID-19 outbreak forced the company to put its expansion plans on hold and immediate plans to reopen all stores remains uncertain.

Talking to reporters in a video conference call, Sandeep Kataria, CEO, Bata India Ltd according to a PTI report said, "More than 50 percent of our stores are operational, whether they open for a few hours in day or few days in a week as per the local considerations."

It has reopened more than half of its 1,400 stores in India with those in residential areas and smaller cities seeing sales recovery to pre-lockdown levels. Those working from home and in big cities have turned to its online portal.

On Monday, Bata reported a 56.6 percent decline in its consolidated net profit for the March ended quarter to Rs 38.40 crore as the lockdown had forced the company to close all its stores.

Brands are looking at online sales and home deliveries making strategic partnerships with popular apps to push sales amid the social distancing measures.