<p>Realising that going online would give them a lot more visibility to the generation that is either on social network or busy surfing online, companies across the spectrum are launching their own shopping websites to gain credibility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The most recent additions are computer giants like Hewlett Packard (HP) and Lenovo that launched hpshopping.in and the thedostore.com, believe that their own shopping websites would give much more credibility and ease of access to customers. Lenovo launched the portal in partnership with Net Distribution Services (NDSL).<br /><br />“It is like experiencing an authorised dealership. Moreover, other third party websites service customers in the low and mid-market range, whereas our exclusive store would sell high-end Lenovo Thinkpads,” Lenovo India Marketing Head Bhaskar Choudhuri said.<br /><br />Choudhuri added that the website has seen 1 million unique visitors since its launch and it delivers to 7,500 pin codes across India, with orders coming from Tier 2 cities also. “We got orders for Rs 75,000-Thinkpad from remote locations like Panipat and Belgaum, showing the reach of the online store,” Choudhuri explained.<br /><br />“Globally, the model of exclusive online stores is already popular. On a third party website, it would be one brand among many other brands. However, in an exclusive store, the traffic will be exclusive and therefore, the chances of conversion into sales are higher,” Grant Thornton in India Transaction Advisory Services Partner Raja Lahiri said.<br /><br />Hewlett-Packard (HP) India store is being managed and run by Savex Computers and offers HP laptops and tablets, desktops and other HP products.<br /><br />Senior Director, Consumer GTM, PPS HP India Rajkumar Rishi said that the online store complements its existing retail strategy. “We have launched their online store, hpshopping.in, to showcase HP’s entire product portfolio on one platform.”<br /><br />However, when asked about pricing of some products being higher on their online store than other multibrand online retailers, Rishi said that online store is a strong marketing tool for them but consumers can go to other e-commerce websites and buy HP products at best prices. Apart from Information Technology (IT) companies switching to exclusive online store, companies like Titan, Coca Cola and Madura Fashion & Lifestyle are setting up their own online stores. <br /><br />Titan Company Head (E-commerce Business) Alokedeep Singh said that with online shopping emerging as another channel of choice for consumers in the last 3-4 years, it is important to be present not only through third party websites, but also through company-owned stores. “The Indian e-tail market which is evolving, already has a combination of three major models similar to developed online retail markets like US, UK and China. There are pure-play online retail sites, e-tail stores of large format and brand, or company owned stores,” Singh added.<br /></p>
<p>Realising that going online would give them a lot more visibility to the generation that is either on social network or busy surfing online, companies across the spectrum are launching their own shopping websites to gain credibility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The most recent additions are computer giants like Hewlett Packard (HP) and Lenovo that launched hpshopping.in and the thedostore.com, believe that their own shopping websites would give much more credibility and ease of access to customers. Lenovo launched the portal in partnership with Net Distribution Services (NDSL).<br /><br />“It is like experiencing an authorised dealership. Moreover, other third party websites service customers in the low and mid-market range, whereas our exclusive store would sell high-end Lenovo Thinkpads,” Lenovo India Marketing Head Bhaskar Choudhuri said.<br /><br />Choudhuri added that the website has seen 1 million unique visitors since its launch and it delivers to 7,500 pin codes across India, with orders coming from Tier 2 cities also. “We got orders for Rs 75,000-Thinkpad from remote locations like Panipat and Belgaum, showing the reach of the online store,” Choudhuri explained.<br /><br />“Globally, the model of exclusive online stores is already popular. On a third party website, it would be one brand among many other brands. However, in an exclusive store, the traffic will be exclusive and therefore, the chances of conversion into sales are higher,” Grant Thornton in India Transaction Advisory Services Partner Raja Lahiri said.<br /><br />Hewlett-Packard (HP) India store is being managed and run by Savex Computers and offers HP laptops and tablets, desktops and other HP products.<br /><br />Senior Director, Consumer GTM, PPS HP India Rajkumar Rishi said that the online store complements its existing retail strategy. “We have launched their online store, hpshopping.in, to showcase HP’s entire product portfolio on one platform.”<br /><br />However, when asked about pricing of some products being higher on their online store than other multibrand online retailers, Rishi said that online store is a strong marketing tool for them but consumers can go to other e-commerce websites and buy HP products at best prices. Apart from Information Technology (IT) companies switching to exclusive online store, companies like Titan, Coca Cola and Madura Fashion & Lifestyle are setting up their own online stores. <br /><br />Titan Company Head (E-commerce Business) Alokedeep Singh said that with online shopping emerging as another channel of choice for consumers in the last 3-4 years, it is important to be present not only through third party websites, but also through company-owned stores. “The Indian e-tail market which is evolving, already has a combination of three major models similar to developed online retail markets like US, UK and China. There are pure-play online retail sites, e-tail stores of large format and brand, or company owned stores,” Singh added.<br /></p>
