Helping Hand for ‘Her’: Amazon launches ‘Amazon Saheli’ to empower women entrepreneurs of India
Hyderabad, November 29: Amazon India has introduced ‘Amazon Saheli’ which aims to empower women and enable women entrepreneurs across the country to sell their products on the Amazon.in the marketplace. To encourage women entrepreneurship, the program is in line with Amazon India's vision to transform the way India sells.
Currently, the partner organizations include SEWA (Self-Employed Women Association) and Impulse Social Enterprise. Amazon Saheli, in collaboration with its partner organizations, will offer women entrepreneurs' access to nationwide customers on the Amazon India marketplace, the most visited and transacted marketplace in India.
Thousands of women entrepreneurs associated with these partner organisations will be able to offer their products to Amazon.in customers through a dedicated storefront, 'The Saheli Store'.
The store will feature unique products produced locally by these women entrepreneurs. Initially comprising handicrafts, apparel, handbags and home decor items, the store will gradually scale up to on-board women entrepreneurs selling in different product categories.
Also Amazon Saheli will help them gain world-class logistics and fulfillment facilities to help their businesses soar.
Women entrepreneurs under the program will be able to enjoy a slew of benefits such as subsidized referral fees, free imaging and cataloging during launch, account management and post launch support and enhanced discoverability and differentiation of products through specialized storefronts.
"We are delighted to join hands with partner organisations such as SEWA and Impulse for Social Cause that have done remarkable work to aid marginalized women entrepreneurs and help them scale up for a multiplier impact. Through Amazon Saheli we aim to bring a change in the lives of thousands of women entrepreneurs with the help of our partners," said director and GM Seller Services, Amazon India, Gopal Pillai.
"SEWA is happy to partner with Amazon which share the same vision to not only provide women entrepreneurs access to millions of new customers and become economically secured and will generate employment opportunities for many more young women," said Reema Nanavati who leads SEWA.
"Promoting entrepreneurship among women has become a key focus area for companies everywhere - globally and in India. E-commerce and specifically the e-marketplace model is a great avenue for women entrepreneurs to benefit from the fast-growing digital economy. We are very encouraged by the creativity and drive we see among India's women entrepreneurs and are excited to see how Saheli can inspire their innovative spirit," said senior vice president - Global Corporate Affairs, Amazon Inc., Jay Carney.
Amazon Saheli will be conducting extensive training and skill development workshops to help women entrepreneurs understand nuances related to online selling and, develop skills and capabilities necessary to grow their business on Amazon.in. The workshops will be free of cost and will offer several exclusive benefits including assisted on-boarding and mentorship programs.