E-commerce has made in roads in all domains and how.
Women who are taking a break from full-time corporate jobs can now easily set up online boutiques and do not need to worry about a captive audience.
Not just that, even multiple collaborators can come together to provide a variety of products for the home, or in the domain of women’s fashion accessories, online.
Be it working women, students or men who are looking to surprise their partners, everyone has a simple and sweet shopping option.
Anita Alex, 29, who sells exclusive saris through her Facebook page, said, “People do not hesitate to buy at any time of the day or anywhere.
I have a little baby, so I upload my products only at night, and even in the dead of the night orders are place.
“ Vandini G Ravindran, 26, another entrepreneur who launched a Facebook page for her line of terracota jewellery said, “In the beginning I used to upload photos of the items in the morning, and that was not well accepted by my customers as some complained that most sales take place as soon as the photo is uploaded and what is left in the evening for the working women is not exclusive enough.
” Vandini adds that sometimes all the 20 items she uploads get sold in a span of two hours.
The reach of social networking is helping small scale entrepreneurs like Anita and Vandini making the business model an efficient one.
In addition to Indians who are lapping up the products on offer at these websites/ pages, Anita, Vandini and their likes have a great customer base abroad.
Says Anita who has more customers abroad than in India, said, “Often, when NRIs come to India they go looking for saris or jewellery and they end up buying some things just because that is what is available.
But with pages like mine, they can order the saris online, get them shipped to their relative’s homes and when they are down here, it’s all ready to wear.
While there is no dispute about how retail therapy is a great stress buster, making payments online is still something the average Indian is not comfortable with.
V a n d i n i adds, “I ask my customers to just transfer the payment to my bank account, that way the customer can be at peace with the transaction.
” Vandini who sells about 80 pieces of terracota jewellery and 40 pieces of earrings in a month said, “It is not easy to launch a successful business.
Many who started similar ventures were forced to shut down because their marketing and presentation was not good or the products were just plain ordinary.
For example, ready-made salwar suits may not be a great idea as people would still like to try it on, touch it and feel it before they commit to buying.
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