eBay has joined hands with one of India’s largest fabric traders body DHMA as the global eCommerce giant tries to reach out to local traders and artisans to offer more options for online shoppers.
The move is part of efforts by the online marketplace to deepen engagement with local traders and offer customers — both domestic and foreign — products that are made by local artisans and industries.
It is expanding to locations across India like Jaipur and Surat to bring local traders and artisan online so that it can provide more niche products to customers, while traders and artisans can reach out to markets — domestic and global.
Towards that end, eBay India has signed an MoU with Delhi Hindustani Mercantile Association (DHMA), a 125-year-old association of over 4,000 traders representing diverse sectors like clothing, textiles and transports.
“Our effort is to bring local and region based sellers on our platform so that they can sell their products to customers in the region, country and even across the globe in over 126 countries,” eBay India Head (Retail Exports) Navin Mistry told PTI.
It will be providing these traders an opportunity to expand their business beyond the physical reach of their establishment and connect with eBay’s 152 million active eBay buyers across the globe, he said.
Last April, eBay had signed a memorandum of understanding with Confederation of All India Traders, which is associated with over 20,000 small trader associations, to encourage small retailers to sell products through its platform.
eBay India, which had around 45,000 sellers then, saw its seller base swell by about 30 per cent following the MoU.
Asked if the firm will sign more such pacts, Mistry said: “We will sign bring online 25 such trader and artisan associations this year from places like Jaipur, Surat, Jodhpur, etc.”
On the association with eBay India, DHMA President Suresh Bindal said: “Change is important in trade. Moreover, tying up with eBay gives our traders a huge opportunity to connect to global customers and businesses.”
It will help locals traders selling fabrics from places like Chandni Chowk reach out to customers in the US and Europe and make available to them the best quality products that are their to offer, which is a win-win position for all, he added.
eBay India has tied up with bodies that promote artisans working with traditional arts and crafts like the Odisha State Cooperative Handicraft Corporation Ltd or Utkalika and Ahmedabad-based Caftroots.
It is also in talks with the Gujarat State Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corporation.