Google Online Shopping Festival returns from December 10

Once again, Google has roped in 300 offline and online retailers and consumer companies for its Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) that commences from December 10. The shopping extravaganza is expected to hook 100 million consumers this year. GOSF will see participation of various consumer durable, FMCG and e-commerce firms in India.

The organisers will also organize a two-week run-up campaign dedicating each day to a single company to partner in a day-long offers and contests for consumers. Sources say that while along with Google and participating e-commerce companies have decided to invest heavily in online advertising, consumer brands will do offline campaigns such as hoarding and other outdoor activities.

With online shopping picking up pace in India, the third installment of GOSF is expected to garner bigger hype and interest than the last two years. This year, the organisers also plan to introduce digital walls in various cities where consumers can order through their smartphones by scanning the QR codes of the products. Google started GOSF in 2012. Last year it got almost 16 million hits on all partner sites despite technical glitches on the first day, and almost 40 percent of the traffic was seen coming from Tier II and III cities.