Slikk is built for speed, convenience, and confidence
Slikk is India’s first quick-commerce fashion platform, co-founded by Akshay Gulati, Om Prakash Swami, and Bipin Singh. Designed for Gen Z and young millennials, Slikk redefines convenience with 60-minute delivery in Bangalore, a unique Try & Buy model, and curated styles from homegrown brands—bringing speed, style, and ease to fashion shopping. In an exclusive interaction with Fibre2Fashion, CEO and Co-founder Akshay Gulati shares insights into how Slikk is disrupting the fashion e-commerce landscape, the role of technology and AI in driving personalisation, and the brand’s approach to balancing speed with sustainability.
How is the rise of ultra-fast delivery services transforming consumer expectations in online fashion retail?
Consumers now expect speed in every aspect of their shopping journey—be it instant deliveries, immediate returns, or real-time access to the latest trends. The standard waiting time of 3-5 days for fashion purchases is quickly becoming outdated, and we see the demand for ultra-fast fulfilment only increasing.
Slikk operates in a highly competitive e-commerce space. What key differentiators set you apart from other fashion platforms?
Slikk is built for speed, convenience, and confidence—three things that traditional e-commerce platforms struggle to offer. Our 60-minute delivery ensures customers get their fashion fixes instantly, while our instant returns and refunds policy sets us apart from competitors who take around 7 days to process them. ‘Try & Buy’ adds another layer of trust, letting customers shop without second-guessing their choices. Unlike marketplaces cluttered with choices, we focus on a curated selection, ensuring a seamless shopping experience without overwhelming users with endless options.
Slikk promises ultra-fast delivery within 60 minutes. What logistical and technological innovations enable you to achieve this speed?
Speed is at the core of Slikk’s promise, and we have built our logistics and technology stack to make 60-minute deliveries a reality. We curate trending styles to ensure high inventory turnover, keeping stock fresh and demand-driven. Our intelligent order-clustering system groups deliveries by area and location, enabling our delivery partners to fulfil multiple orders at once, reducing overall delivery time. However, what truly sets us apart is our industry-first instant returns and exchanges feature, something no other platform has implemented at this scale.
The ‘Try & Buy’ feature is quite unique. How has it impacted customer satisfaction and return rates?
‘Try & Buy’ has completely transformed the online shopping experience by eliminating the uncertainty around fit and quality. Customers can try their orders before making a commitment, which boosts confidence and encourages larger purchases. This has directly contributed to higher customer retention and an increase in impulse buying, as shoppers feel more secure in their decisions.
How are ‘Try & Buy’ and other flexible return policies shaping customer behaviour and influencing business profitability in fashion e-commerce?
This assurance reduces unnecessary returns and increases conversion rates. It also eliminates the anxiety of receiving the wrong item from an online platform. Flexible return policies, especially ‘Try & Buy,’ eliminate the risk associated with online shopping. Customers can confidently assess fit and quality before making a purchase, leading to higher satisfaction rates and fewer returns due to sizing issues. Building this sense of assurance increases order values, improves retention, and ultimately drives business profitability.
The ‘7-Day Return’ policy is quite consumer-friendly. How do you balance customer convenience with business sustainability?
At Slikk, we are customer-obsessed, and our policies reflect the same. A seamless return experience builds trust and encourages repeat shopping. While some might see lenient return policies as a risk, we see them as an investment in long-term loyalty and brand credibility. To take this a step further, we are working on introducing an instant return and refund policy, because we believe that fast, hassle-free processes are key to delighting our customers and setting new benchmarks in post purchase experience.
Loyalty programmes like ‘Explorer’ and ‘Trendsetter’ are becoming increasingly popular. How do these programmes drive customer retention and engagement?
Loyalty programmes are a great way to engage with your buyers and create a community. Our ‘Explorer’ and ‘Trendsetter’ programmes reward high-retention users with exclusive perks, fostering a sense of belonging. These programmes incentivise continued buying, pushing customers to explore new trends while feeling recognised and valued.
How has the response been to Slikk’s mobile app, and what features do you plan to introduce to enhance user experience?
The response has been great, and we are continuously refining the experience. Our app is designed to be hyper-personalised, where users see curated product recommendations based on their browsing and transaction history. We also collect real-time feedback to trending styles around them.
What role do AI and machine learning play in personalising fashion recommendations and improving the online shopping experience?
AI plays a transformative role in fashion e-commerce by helping brands understand customer behaviour at an individual level. From analysing purchase history to tracking emerging trends, AI enables platforms to offer tailored recommendations, suggest relevant styles, and even initiate targeted flash sales. AI-powered chatbots also enhance customer support, delivering real-time assistance and improving overall shopping satisfaction.
With AI and data analytics shaping e-commerce, how does Slikk leverage technology to personalise the shopping experience?
At Slikk, AI is central to how we personalise fashion. Our platform dynamically curates home feeds and category pages based on each user’s preferences, ensuring faster discovery of styles they love. We use AI-driven trend analysis to recommend fashion-forward products before they go mainstream, and our system evolves continuously based on browsing and purchasing behaviour to keep the experience relevant and engaging.
What trends in fashion e-commerce do you see influencing Slikk’s growth strategy in the next 2-3 years?
India’s fashion e-commerce market, currently valued at $11 billion, is rapidly evolving alongside the BPC (Beauty & Personal Care) sector, which stands at $3 billion. By 2025, quick commerce is expected to grow into a $5 billion industry, driven by consumer demand for instant gratification. Social media is fuelling micro-trends at an unprecedented pace, making hyper-personalisation essential for brands. In the next 2-3 years, we see fashion moving towards an on-demand, highly tailored experience where consumers expect their purchases to arrive in minutes and not days. We will be working towards delivering the same experience to more people.
With sustainability becoming a key concern, how can fashion e-commerce platforms balance fast fashion demands with ethical and eco-friendly practices?
Sustainability and speed do not have to be mutually exclusive. Platforms can focus on onboarding responsible brands, switching to eco-conscious packaging, and giving consumers options like slower, greener shipping methods. Transparency, supply chain optimisation, and waste reduction are also key to ensuring fast fashion evolves into responsible fashion.
Fast fashion often faces scrutiny over sustainability concerns. What steps is Slikk taking to ensure ethical sourcing and eco-friendly practices?
At Slikk, we are embedding sustainability into our fast-paced model. We are onboarding eco-conscious brands, using recyclable packaging, and optimising delivery routes to lower emissions. Our intelligent order clustering improves fulfilment efficiency, helping reduce our carbon footprint while maintaining the ultra-fast service our customers love.
What’s next for Slikk? Any expansion plans, new product categories, or strategic partnerships in the pipeline?
We are expanding our offerings to include accessories, beauty products, bags, home decor, ethnic wear, and footwear for both men and women. Our goal is to provide a wider range of choices while ensuring availability across all pin codes in Bangalore.
Interviewer: Shilpi Panjabi
Published on: 28/04/2025
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
