Shweta Sijapati is the Head of Seller Engagement and Performance at the e-commerce platform Daraz. In an interview with New Business Age, she explained how businesses can benefit by becoming sellers on the platform. Excerpts:

How can someone be a seller on Daraz? What are the requirements?
It is very simple and easy to start selling on Daraz. Registered businesses from 11 different cities in Nepal - Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Birtamod, Butwal, Dhangadhi, Itahari, Banepa and Janakpur - can sell their products on the platform with just a copy of their PAN or VAT certificate and a bank account. They can easily create a seller account through our ‘Sell on Daraz” tab on our website (www.daraz.com.np) or directly call our Seller Support team at 01-5970111 for further details.

How is selling on Daraz different from selling on other e-commerce platforms?
Being the top e-commerce platform in South East Asia, Daraz offers sellers fantastic opportunities to grow their businesses online. It gives sellers access to a sophisticated backend system called the Seller Center where they can access key data and vital information to better run their business on Daraz. Through the Seller Center, sellers are able to manage every aspect of their store, including product uploads, order management, stock management, campaign participation, and much more. Additionally, as Daraz is a part of the Alibaba Group, our sellers have access to various helpful tools such as Seller Picks, Free Shipping, Bundles, Vouchers and Business Advisor that help them boost store traffic, visibility and sales.

What services and opportunities can sellers expect once onboarded?
Daraz has a dedicated team that supports new sellers during their initial three-month period. On top of training new sellers about Daraz’s system, tools, and policies, our incubation team also guides them on how they can grow their business on Daraz. New sellers are also offered support (including free packaging material for first order, free photoshoot and product listing, weekly payout etc.) and dedicated commercial campaigns which are designed to help them grow in their early stages. Additionally, as part of the Sahayatri initiative, we charge no marketplace fees for the first three months for newly onboarded merchants. This offers plenty of chances for new merchants to explore the market, attract more customers, and expand their online business.

Nepali businesses have been on the rise, but they have often struggled in comparison to international brands. Is Daraz doing anything to support Nepali brands?
Daraz launched its ‘Proudly Nepali’ initiative on May 27, 2022 in order to promote local Nepali brands through the e-commerce platform. Through this initiative, we aim to shine a spotlight on Nepali brands that have been delivering top-quality goods and services to the market. This also allows us to introduce Daraz customers to amazing Nepali brands such as Mantra, Goldstar, Fuloo, Juas, CG Digital, Virjeans, and more.

This new endeavour perfectly aligns with Daraz's basic values and mission of uplifting communities through the power of e-commerce. For improved visibility among Daraz customers, we have created dedicated sections for all of those Nepali products in our on-site channels.

Daraz announced its partnership with FNCCI back in December 2021. How effective has this partnership been in helping SMEs grow their business? Has there been a significant increase in SMEs shifting their businesses online since this partnership?
The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Daraz have signed an agreement designed to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to sell their goods across the country. This marks the first time the FNCCI has collaborated with an e-commerce company to support its SMEs base in nine cities across the country. Many businesses have already been onboarded and have begun utilising the benefits designed exclusively for this partnership. We have received notable feedback and inquiries from small businesses from all over the country.

What are the benefits that new sellers are getting from being a part of the Sahayatri programme?
The Daraz Sahayatri program is a milestone for onboarding new sellers and helping them grow their businesses online in Nepal. Some of the key highlights of the programme include marketplace fee waiver, free packaging material, free training and support, and financial support for eligible sellers from reputed banks in Nepal.

The Daraz Sahayatri programme was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid SMEs that were impacted by the global health crisis. In the two and a half years since its launch, more than 12,000 new businesses have been onboarded. We are proud to announce that many sellers that joined Daraz through this programme have now grown into key account sellers on the platform.

How does Daraz support its existing sellers to perform well and grow their business on Daraz?
Daraz is proud to be the leading e-commerce platform in Nepal, enabling thousands of sellers to reach millions of buyers. We are dedicated to helping our sellers increase traffic and sales in over 101 cities in Nepal. Every year, Daraz runs numerous mega campaigns, such as Dashain Dhamaka, 11.11, 12.12, and Nepali New Year, to assist sellers easily and confidently achieve their growth and sales goals. Such campaigns offer customers exclusive discounts and unbelievable offers, and are heavily marketed by Daraz giving sellers a great opportunity to increase sales.

Additionally, we have developed a self-learning platform for our sellers called ‘Daraz University’ that has 150+ courses that provide the knowledge and insights every seller needs to have a successful selling journey with us. We also assist our sellers by offering financing options through Nabil Bank's ‘Sarathi’ programme based on their Daraz performance. This programme provides financial assistance to both new and established Daraz sellers. Weekly payouts have also been very beneficial to sellers in managing their finances. In addition to all of these, we have a Seller Support team that is always on hand during business hours to aid sellers with any questions they may have.