Ethnic etailer Craftsvilla plans to diversify

Mumbai-based ethnic e-tailer Craftsvilla is India’s largest seller of saris. The company now plans to diversify into categories like yoga, herbal and ayurvedic products and tribal handicrafts. It’s looking at acquiring startups with such product offerings. Currently, it sells saris, anarkalis, salwar suits, apparel, jewelry, bags and home decor on its platform. Every day more than 10,000 new designs are uploaded. Conceived in 2011, the name Craftsvilla signifies a treasure house of arts and crafts of India. The driving force behind it was to showcase India’s culture and diversity and give a fair deal to artisans who make these products.

Craftsvilla is now looking at technologies in the data spaces and is in talks with Malaysian and Indonesian startups to help with expansion. Craftsvilla is looking at a valuation of at least a billion dollars in the next 12 to 18 months before it goes public.

Margins in the ethnic category are between 60 to 80 per cent. Craftsvilla typically gets a 20 per cent commission on products sold. Many e-commerce online marketplaces like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Amazon are also pushing their presence in this segment.