Craftsvilla is an Indian e-commerce portal that sells cultural apparel, footwear, fashion accessories, beauty products, handcrafted home accessories and other cultural fashion and lifestyle products. The company is headquartered in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra
Overview
Craftsvilla.com uses an online marketplace model by aggregate artisans, designers and retailer from all over India onto a single platform and connects local artisans and designers straight to global customers.
The model focus on remove middlemen, growing the livelihood of local artisans and designers, serving them create/promote their brand, and preserve the Indian culture, traditions and values. The company is pegged at around $300–500 million in size. The start-up claims to have over 25,000 artisans and designer selling over 4 million products. At present, Craftsvilla charge a 20% commission on each contract not including service tax.
Partners
Craftsvilla has joined up with the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, for e-marketing of handloom products from petite weavers. As per this contract, Craftsvilla has tied up with Weavesmart, an online marketplace that offer handloom weaves from India.
History
The company was co-founded by Mr. Manoj Gupta, a venture capitalist, and Mrs. Monica Gupta in 2011 with financial support from India-based Nexus Venture Partners and US-based Lightspeed Venture Partners. The startup was launched with around about 80 employees and five offices across India. By 2012, the startup completely exhausted the Rs10 crore series-A round of financial support, next to which it downsized to a 10-member team and continued operations out of a one-room office.
According to an article in the Economic Times, the startup saw a 6% month on month growth in 2013 and 2014. In April 2015, Craftsvilla raised about $18 million in a series B round of financial support from Sequoia Capital India, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Nexus Venture Partners, Global Founders Capital and Apoletto. In November, the startup raised an extra $34 million in series C funding from the same investors. Following this new round of funds, the startup claimed to have seen a 10% month on month growth and hired close to 200 people. In December 2016, Craftsvilla launch a women’s cultural wear brand ‘Avanya’. In April 2017, Craftsvilla launched its third in-house brand Anuswara in Bengaluru.
Acquisitions
In February 2016, Craftsvilla acquired on-demand shipping service provider start-up Send for about $4.5 million, to make stronger and streamline its logistics capabilities. Mumbai-based Send was founded by Nav Agrawal, Sumit Wadhwa and Sargun Singh in April, 2015. The company is backed by Kae Capital, and after attainment the firm will get an equity in Craftsvilla.
Sendd had its services in Mumbai and was enable over 1,500 orders a day with average ticket size being INR 160, before getting acquired.The team at Sendd has created a virtual logistics platform, using which any e-commerce company can send its parcels using a number of obtainable courier partners.Apart from Craftsvilla, it has now 10 other customers.
Later in February, Craftsvilla acquired PlaceofOrigin, a marketplace for ethnic food. The startup, found by two ex-bankers Sudarsan Metla and Ashish Nichani in 2014, brings together food producers of Indian foods and local specialty foods. In April 2016, the startup acquired women’s clothes rental stage F2SO4 in an all-stock deal.
Marketing
In 2015, Craftsvilla fêted World Ethnic Day on June 19. It roped in the Bollywood actress Vidya Balan as the face of the campaign. In the same year, Craftsvilla had launched Miss Ethnic Contest to promote ethnic wear among women. Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor was the face of this movement.
Craftsvilla Seller Registration
On Craftsvilla, sellers can make a shop on the platform and offer goods or services for sale. On completing a sale through Craftsvilla, the company deducts a charge of 20% + service tax and provide the funds to the seller within 15 working days. The seller is responsible for shipping of the product to the purchaser within 3 working days.
To begin the Craftsvilla seller registration course, visit the Sell on Craftsvilla link. Craftsvilla accepts sellers selling goods like women, mens as well as children clothing, jewellery, sarees, home decor, home furnishing, bags, spiritual products, organic foods, organic clothing, natural food, natural soaps, unique products, retail and wholesale, dance & music classes, art & craft guidance.
Step 1: Complete Seller Registration
Step 2: List products on Craftsvilla Shop
On completion of the Craftsvilla seller registration process, the seller is taken to the seller dashboard wherein details pertaining to the product or a product listing can be shaped. To list products on Craftsvilla, details like product SKU, category, price, name, description, discount particulars, photos and inventory quantity should be provided.
Craftsvilla Registration – Requirements
To complete the above process and begin selling on Craftsvilla, we advise the following registrations and licenses.
Business Registration
There is no requirement for a specific type of business entity to become a seller on Craftsvilla. But, we suggested Craftsvilla sellers to be registered as a LLP or Private Limited Company to enjoy limited liability protection and easy access to credit. Further, being registered as a corporate entity would ensure that the business is scalable and transferable in the future. In addition, listing on other ecommerce portals would also be easier and sooner while being registered as a corporate entity.
VAT or Service Tax Registration
To sell on Craftsvilla, VAT or TIN registration is not at all mandatorily required. VAT registration or service tax registration maybe necessary if the seller proposes to sell taxable goods or services through the platform. However, to complete the seller registration procedure, VAT or service tax registration details or documents is not mandatorily necessary.
PAN and Bank Account
PAN of the seller is mandatorily necessary on Craftsvilla. In addition, bank account details of the seller along like account holder name, account number, IFSC code and bank details are necessary to process payment to the seller.
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