Online experience for Sri Lankan shoppers
Online shoppers will get an opportunity to participate in the world’s largest online sale for the second occasion when Daraz, a subsidiary of Ali Baba, launches its biggest sales pitch in Sri Lanka on November 11, Managing Director Daraz Sri Lanka, Rakhil Fernando said at a media briefing held at the Hilton Residences in Colombo this week.
He said the Alibaba Group that acquired the Daraz group in 2018 did a huge US$30 billion in sales within the Alibaba group in one single day.
“We have 700 employees in Daraz Sri Lanka to process over 15,000 packages every single day. There are over 700,000 different items stockpiled for the Daraz launch on November 11 with discounted prices up to 80-85 per cent on certain items to bank credit card holders,” he said.
Meanwhile over the course of its three years in Sri Lanka, Daraz has grown its network of sellers resulting in one of the biggest assortments available online. Compared to last year, the seller community has grown from 8,000 to almost 26,000 and a thousand more are joining every month. Special discounts on many of the electronic products will be available to customers on November 11. Two motorbikes will be up for grabs via a special raffle draw that will take place at the Daraz show. Discounts of up to 40 per cent will be on offer for selected brands while freebies galore and shake vouchers will also be available to customers.
Chief Commercial Officer Daraz, Muditha Thebuwane said they are expecting $2 million in sales during the five days of the Daraz launch supported by 2000 key sellers. “We are going to offer 200,000 products with deep discounts by taking e-commerce across the country making it available and attractive for buyers. This is a game changer for us giving visibility and driving huge amount of traffic to our sellers.”
Daraz’s Head of Partnership Dulika Jayamanne said that Daraz partnered with four banks last year at the Daraz launch but this year eight banks including the state banks will participate at the launch. The banks will offer 10 per cent discount on top of the already discounted products available amounting to 80-90 per cent of the original price in addition to having a 60 month instalment plan. “If you do not have a credit card, get one to take part in the Daraz launch.”
National Accounts Manager, Unilever Sri Lanka, the Platinum Partner of Daraz, Pemal Pandita said that although e-commerce platforms are growing faster globally in Sri Lanka the pace has been somewhat slower. Unilever Sri Lanka will help Daraz to penetrate the Sri Lanka market to connect with shoppers in the country, he said. Chief Operations Operations Officer Daraz, Darshika Attanayake also spoke.