Snapdeal to aggressively promote handicrafts

Snapdeal will promote local weavers, artisans and toymakers. The portal has partnered with various state governments, corporations such as Tamil Nadu Small Industries Development Corporation and North Eastern Handicrafts & Handloom Development Corporation and dealers and will sell such products.

The company is selling some local brands such as Butterflies Handbags, PraSid Toys and Doyours (sanitary fittings). To make these products available from one corner to another, the company is investing more in logistics partners, such as Gojavas, as also with India Post, which is actively participating in such services. Hundreds of thousands of packets are being delivered every month.

Snapdeal believes that promoting local brands is important for the country’s economy. India has a great advantage with low-cost labor and electricity. If India also owns the brands, the combination can be very potent. Owning the supply chain as well as the brand can be a killer combination. Even China does not have brands. The country only manufactures. On the other hand the United States has been a successful and resilient economy since it owns major brands.

Indian handicrafts like a wooden horse or a wooden elephant reflect age-old traditions and deserve marketing and promotion. Very few retailers carry them.