Just produce a consumer focused product, we will do the rest – Snapdeal tells budding entrepreneurs

In the West, Walmart operates a direct distribution using which small entrepreneurs and innovators with new products can showcase their products. Everyone may not have access to large companies like Procter & Gamble to launch and sell their products and Walmart fills in this gap. An entrepreneur with a good product can approach Walmart and get nationwide distribution.

With such an option absent in India, Snapdeal aims to capitalize on the potential of such new sellers. On similar lines to Walmart, Snapdeal will launch Launchpad, a platform for Indian innovators to showcase their consumer products. These budding innovators will have access to more than 2.5 crore users of Snapdeal to sell their products which otherwise would take them longer and cost them more.

Through Launchpad, Snapdeal will offer the following services for new entrepreneurs who can produce good functional consumer focused products that can be produced quickly and in good quantity:

• Showcase their products

• Payment gateway

• Distribution

• Reverse logistics

Products ranging from common household goods, electronics, tools and appliances can be listed on the platform. Although Snapdeal recognizes the fact that all products may not be a success, this platform has been conceptualized to act as a catalyst and try to get consumer credibility. Following Snapdeal’s business model, Launchpad sellers will also be able to list for free and need to pay Snapdeal based on transactions and sales on the site.

To access a greater pool of entrepreneurs and products, Snapdeal has tied-up with IIM Ahmedabad’s technology incubator, Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship and IIT Bombay’s Entrepreneurship Cell, who will act as feeders and also screen products based parameters like innovation and marketability.

Opportunity for Indian Online Seller with Snapdeal’s Launchpad

Snapdeal recognizes and understands challenges faced by new entrepreneurs with good products in terms of marketing, distribution and logistics. It aims to ease out these challenges they face due to lack of necessary resources to enable them to gain wider customer reach and popularize their products.