iWorld
Influence, inbox, impulse buy: Meta’s new-age retail mantra
MUMBAI: The good old kirana might still stand, but what’s driving shoppers to the shelf is now happening on screen. A new Meta-commissioned study by GWI has revealed just how deeply influencers, reels, and dms are reshaping retail habits across India.
According to the survey — conducted among 2,548 Indian internet users aged 16–64 — nearly eight in ten shoppers discover new products via social media, with a staggering 96 per cent of that discovery happening on Meta’s platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram.
“Indian shoppers today are social-first, mobile-first, and video-first irrespective of whether the purchase happens offline or online” said Meta India director, e-commerce & retail, Meghna Apparao, “With consumers increasingly relying on Reels, messaging, and influencer content to discover and evaluate products, offline retailers have an opportunity to reach their customers across multiple touch points simultaneously and harness the power of our platforms to build unique online and phygital experiences that also move metrics across the funnel.”
Even shoppers physically browsing aisles are scrolling first — using social media to discover, research, and decide, often before they even set foot in a store. Retail displays may still exist, but the real pitch now happens on feeds.
Short-form video is turning scrolls into sales. Around a third of users reported purchasing products they saw in 2–3 minute brand videos or reels, especially in premium and luxury categories, where visual storytelling has a strong influence.
Influencer clout continues to soar. Six in ten shoppers follow national influencers, whose opinions now weigh heavily on both what to buy and where to buy it from — online or offline. Their reach is no longer just virtual; it’s walking customers right into stores.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is becoming the new storefront. Nearly 60 per cent of users said they are likely to purchase a product after seeing an offer on the messaging app — making it a silent but powerful sales channel.
In step with these shifts, Meta has launched new omnichannel advertising tools designed to bridge the digital-physical divide. These enable brands to not just chase clicks but track real-world impact — from boosted footfall to ringing tills.
Tanishq CMO Pelki Tshering said, “We’ve always believed in meeting our customers where they are — both online and offline. Meta’s solutions like Click to WhatsApp (CTWA) have helped us in that journey. By combining conversational commerce with tailored messaging, we’ve seen over 14x offline ROAS. What’s even more exciting is the potential of Meta’s omnichannel ads — allowing us to drive both online and in-store sales through a single, unified campaign. As one of the first to test the solution with offline CAPI, we’re seeing a 40% jump in ROAS for online purchases and an improvement in offline purchases. Meta’s retail solutions are helping us not just drive omni sales — but truly connect with our customers, wherever they are in their buying journey.”
Taneira head of marketing Aishwarya Omprakash, “In our pilot campaign utilising Meta’s omnichannel ads, we observed a significant boost in performance, achieving 3.5x higher purchase conversions and 4.3x higher Return on Ad Spend (ROAS) compared to campaigns optimized solely for purchases. This encouraging outcome reinforces the value of a multi-touchpoint strategy, and we’re excited to take this experiment further in the coming year.”
For Indian retailers, the message is clear: to win offline, think online first — especially if you’re not in the reel game yet.
iWorld
JioHotstar enters micro-drama space with 100 shows under Tadka banner
Short-form push targets 300M users as content meets commerce in new format
MUMBAI: JioStar has made a bold play in India’s fast-growing micro-drama space, rolling out over 100 short-form shows under its new Tadka banner on JioHotstar, timed with the massive viewership surge of the Indian Premier League 2026.
The scale of the launch signals clear intent. Rather than testing the waters, the company has dived in headfirst, releasing a wide slate of content on day one. Each show is designed for quick consumption, with episodes running 60 to 90 seconds in a vertical format tailored for mobile-first audiences.
The move comes as India’s micro-drama market, currently valued at around $300 million, is projected to grow tenfold to over $3 billion by 2030. Globally, the format has already proven its mettle, with China’s micro-drama sector recording explosive growth in recent years.
What sets this rollout apart is its built-in monetisation strategy. The shows are free to watch and ad-supported, with brand integrations woven directly into storylines from the outset. It reflects a broader shift where content and commerce are increasingly intertwined, rather than operating in silos.
The timing is equally strategic. With more than 300 million users already tuning in for IPL action, JioHotstar is effectively turning cricket’s biggest stage into a discovery engine for its new format.
The company is not entering an empty arena. Early movers like Kuku TV, MX Player and platforms backed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises have already laid the groundwork, building audiences and validating demand for snackable storytelling.
Now, with scale, distribution and advertiser interest aligning, the big players are stepping in. For JioStar, Tadka may well serve as a proving ground for the next evolution of digital entertainment, where every minute counts and every second sells.
If the bet pays off, India’s next big content wave might just arrive in under 90 seconds.
