Amazon takes Chai Cart to Kochi, talks to SMEs on benefits of going online

Amazon.in has brought its Chai Cart to Kochi, enabling SMEs in the city to join the company’s online market place.

Chai Cart is an initiative to spread awareness among local SMEs and sellers on the benefits of selling online on the Amazon India marketplace and introduces them to specialised seller services to help them sell and earn more. It has visited 12 cities covering over 2,040 km in three months and received an overwhelming response from small and medium-sized business.

In an interaction with

BusinessLine , Peter George, Director – Sales Channels, said Kerala is a critical market for both buyers as well as sellers, as over 3,000 sellers from the State currently trade a variety of products on Amazon.in including books, electronics, home, kitchen, and personal care.

In Kochi, he said the company’s trained professionals would discuss with sellers the process of selling online by introducing them to seller-specific services.

To a question on the concerns raised by Kerala’s trading community on booming online sales, George said selling on the online platform would not affect the existing trade and their prospects but rather improve their business with the involvement of more consumers.

On ensuring quality of products available online, he said the company initially would enter into an agreement with the trader that would cover all clauses for legitimate trade. Besides, the company conducts preliminary checks and mystery shopping to identify problematic products, as part of offering a guarantee for the products.

Asked whether they were targeting specific numbers in Kerala, he said “We wish to connect with thousands of sellers scattered around the city on the enormous e-commerce opportunity”.  

Amazon.in is India’s largest online store with over 25 million products across hundreds of categories. Over 100,000 sellers have already used various seller offerings to benefit from the thriving digital economy, he added.