Global e-commerce giant Amazon launched its new initiative, Amazon Chai Cart, in the city on Friday.

The initiative aims at spreading awareness among local SMEs and sellers on the benefits of selling online and introducing them to the specialised seller services on the Amazon India marketplace.

Amazon will run the campaign till Saturday and cover areas such as Diamond Park, Dabagardens, NAD, Gopalapatnam, Gajuwaka, and Jagadamba Junction.

According to Ram Papatla, Director-Seller Product Management, Amazon India, the concept will connect thousands of sellers scattered across the country and give them an e-commerce opportunity.

Elaborating on the concept, Mr. Ram said that the sellers can list themselves under specific product heads and, after receiving a sale query, Amazon India would either allow the seller to send the product to the buyer directly, or pick the product and deliver to the buyer under the Amazon Easy Ship scheme, or the seller can send the product to Amazon’s warehouse from where it would be shipped.

There is no upfront payment for hosting the seller’s catalogue on Amazon site, but the revenue model will start after the sale is initiated and the percentage depends on various factors such as product category and shipment mode.

“Using Amazon’s reach to over 19,000 PIN codes in the country, in association with India Post, sellers and small entrepreneurs can leverage on this aspect,” said Mr. Ram.

“It is not just India, we intend to give the seller a global presence,” added Mr. Ram.

The concept was launched about four months ago, and it had reached already one lakh sellers across 22 cities, with over 5,000 in Andhra Pradesh.

The concept also facilitates the seller to create a digital catalogue, by connecting them to the service provider network.

Aim is to spread awareness among local SMEs and sellers on the benefits of selling online

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – September 12th, 2015