26.01.2022
THE "FROM BULGARIA" PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF SMALL LOCAL PRODUCERS
E-commerce is one of the fastest growing sectors and a chance for many businesses affected by the pandemic not only to stabilize, but also to develop and grow by entering new markets.
According to data from the Bulgarian E-Commerce Association from 2021, over 47% of Bulgarian consumers have shopped online, and 88% of them have done so from local retailers. At the same time, the maintenance of an online store requires significant resources and investments - for development, integration of payment methods, marketing and security.
In support of this, at the end of last year eMAG launched the program "From Bulgaria", which offers small local producers access to one of the largest channels for online trade in our country by launching their products for sale in the eMAG Marketplace. In this way, Bulgarian producers, craftsmen and NGOs meeting certain criteria are given the opportunity to use a modern sales channel, such as e-commerce, which offers market entry with over one million potential customers on the platform online.
"The marketplace model is an excellent opportunity for small local producers to take advantage of a developed, efficient and modern online sales channel, with serious experience and resources at their disposal. Over the next three years, eMAG at the group level will invest over € 50 million in technology, international market development and human resources on the platform. At the same time, investing in the local economy is important to us - our support for small producers and craft traditions will create increased demand and new jobs, and for local communities the effect of the program will be long-lasting and sustainable," said Razvan Blanita, director of eMAG Marketplace Bulgaria.
In "From Bulgaria" small producers, non-governmental organizations with self-financed production activities and craft sole proprietors can join and benefit from the program - regardless of their field of activity, except for the food industry. Their turnover, registered in the last fiscal year, should not exceed BGN 150,000.
The company's expectations are that five years after the launch of "From Bulgaria" the small producers registered in the program will have realized through the platform total sales amounting to BGN 14.2 million. Traders wishing to sell through the eMAG Marketplace within the initiative must produce in Bulgaria, in accordance with all legal rules and regulations, and their products may include handicrafts made in small batches.
To make them easier for customers to recognize, the products in the program will be marked on the website and in the mobile application of eMAG with the label "From Bulgaria".
