Amazon recruits almost 9,000 Northeastern retailers

According to e-commerce behemoth Amazon India, over 9,000 sellers from the Northeast have registered with the company and are currently conducting business on its online marketplace.

The company has eliminated 50% of the selling cost for the next holiday season in an effort to entice more local dealers to its platform.

Kshitij Jain, Director of External Fulfillment at Amazon India, stated that the company will keep investing in enabling sellers to expand their operations and serve customers wherever in India and the world through e-commerce.

"More than 9,000 sellers from the Northeastern region are looking forward to benefiting from this festive season and will showcase genuine and wide range of products," he said. "These products include raw honey, Santipuri Bengal cotton handloom sarees, handmade wicker accessories, and grass and bamboo items."

In order to help new sellers get started on their digital journey, the business is waiving referral fees for them by 50% from August 28 to October 26 when they register on Amazon.in, according to Jain.

At a press conference held here on Tuesday, he said that this fee, which is a portion of the total sales price paid by the customer, is one that all vendors must pay in order to offer their goods on Amazon India.

Businesses of all sizes, including small shops, traditional weavers and craftsmen, female entrepreneurs, startups, and digital entrepreneurs, who are assisting in expanding the breadth of goods offered on Amazon India, are eligible for the fee waiver, according to Jain.

Amazon has teamed up with government organisations like Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd (TRIFED), North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corp (NEHHDC), and Manipur Handloom & Handicrafts Development Corp Ltd to support artists and weavers (MHHDCL).

Through these activities, the official said that "about 3.5 lakh craftsmen and weavers from the region have so far been empowered." Jain added that the Amazon Saheli programme, through which the company partnered with several government agencies and NGOs, had benefited more than five lakh women business owners.

He continued, "Amazon started the Spotlight Northeast storefront last year with the goal of enhancing the regional economy, generating jobs, accelerating financial inclusion, and empowering women across the eight states of the region.