Zilingo is officially launched in Indonesia. This is a second expansion of the Thailand’s fashion marketplace after Singapore. Operational has been started since February 2017 with seven people and has been expanded into 50.
In competition among similar business players, Zilingo has prepared some marketing strategies of advertisement in various platform (TV and online) and acquired merchants from all business scales. It is a necessity to increase brand awareness for millennial, Zilingo’s target consumers.
All those strategies are supported by a fresh funding worth US$54 million (around Rp744 billion). The series C funding is led by Sofina, Burda Principal Investment, and Sequoia Capital India. Amadeus Capital is joining as a new investor.
Existing investors like Tim Draper, SIG, Venturra, Beenext, Manik Arora, and Wavemaker are also participating.
“We thank all investors for showing great confidence to our team and vision for fashion trade in the region,” Ankiti Bose, Zilingo’s CEO and Co-Founder, said (4/6).
He said that Indonesia is showing a rapid business growth from the other two countries. Overall, more than 10 thousand unit merchants has joined, 15% are Indonesia-based.
“Since the last six months, Zilingo Indonesia in general has grown by 7 times.”
Zilingo Indonesia plans
Zilingo will acquire more merchants from various business scales to increase consumer’s option. The company will bring product supplies overseas to facilitate Indonesia’s consumers in looking for imported fashion product with original quality. Up until now, Zilingo’s supplies are spread across China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia ready for shipping to all operational states.
Local merchants will be directed by Zilingo to market its products globally. Thus, there will be many Indonesian products going global.
“Therefore, local designers can go international, besides we provide overseas products for Indonesia’s market.”
Zilingo business model
Zilingo’s business model is a marketplace bridging fashion merchants with users. The company will not provide warehouse and shipping but create an ecosystem that allows all merchants to make good offerings and the company will handle online marketing.
Zilingo has more than 25 payment and API logistics integration that allows merchants for shipping from one location to many countries. At the same time, it allows them to manage online shops in their chosen language and currency, sell in many different countries and accept international payment in local currency.
Zilingo helps merchants in funding, insurance, and next-day delivery. It also provides warehouse service, packaging, video production, photoshoot, business consultation, and skill-based training.
Companies opens wide opportunities for merchants to join, they didn’t charge listing fee. However, there is a commission agreed to be given to Zilingo for successful transactions.
“We have quality control team to ensure the products sold by merchant is original. If a merchant selling branded goods, our team will come and check the original certificate for proof. Therefore, merchants in our platform are previously curated,” Sarah Humaira, Zilingo Indonesia’s Marketing Director, said.
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Original article is in Indonesian, translated by Kristin Siagian
