JOIN USFor Bengaluru’s hyper-creative startups, the hugely popular flea markets have offered retail opportunities galore.
But now, they now have a platform to quickly magnify their brands across the City: Online platforms such as Junglee.com that have now launched city-specific networks between the buyers and sellers.
Here’s why the dynamics of their presence could change dramatically: Having established itself as Bengaluru’s premier fleamarket organiser, Sunday Soul Sante (SSS) has tied up with Junglee, an online shopping service by Amazon. Junglee’s recently unveiled “Bangalore Local Store” fits perfectly with the SSS’s strategy to offer an online experience to its regular sellers. So has Kitsch Mandi, another niche flea market organiser with a theme-based approach.
For artists and craftsmen, this gives an option to go beyond the flea markets, which offer only a day’s exposure. The benefit for shoppers is this: They could now find that unique artwork or hand-crafted item spotted in a market, online and get it delivered within the city.
About 75 sellers, many of them artists and designers, have already signed up with Junglee through SSS.
Intra-city transactions
“Our experience is that intra-city transactions work well. Many sellers prefer to remain within the city for a variety of reasons,” said a Junglee spokesperson.
The objective is many fold. “Typically, customers are used to a very high touch experience. We are trying to recreate that experience online. For instance, there are video testimonials about how a product took shape, what went behind it,” the spokesperson explained to Deccan Herald. Incidentally, creative products occupy a special place in the fleamarkets although they are not in high volumes.
Sellers not charged
Sellers are not charged to list their products, product photos and videos or contact details. However, they would have to bear the delivery charges or get into an arrangement with Amazon.com “Most sellers are capable of in-city deliveries. However, we are also piloting a delivery mechanism.”
No Strings Attached, a city-based entrepreneur outfit vending costume jewellery at SSS and other shows had signed up with Junglee a month back.
“For vendors like us, who find it tough to tap into a bigger market, the online option has made big sense. The reach of my jewellery has expanded,” said Prachi Garg, the brain behind the jewellery design startup.