Sir Stelios Chatziioannou is expanding into e-commerce with easyShop.com, the new shopping platform of the easy family of brands, which officially launches its operation in 21 European countries, seeking to be a competitive proposition against Amazon.
The platform brings together products from independent merchants, while its technological infrastructure and operation are undertaken by OnCommerce, the company behind OnBuy and the new online platform Comet, which is expected to launch soon.
A key element of the business model is that easyShop does not operate itself as a retailer. It does not hold stock or stock private label products, with each product and order corresponding to a sale by a partner merchant.
The move comes about three decades after the establishment of easyJet, with which Stelios Hatziioannou entered the competition with the established airlines.
"Competition is good for both consumers and businesses. No market benefits when everyone feels they have only one choice," said the creator and owner of the easy brands.
As he mentioned, easyShop combines simplicity, affordability and the possibility of choice with a model aimed at the development of partner merchants, without the platform competing with them with its own products.
Access to 21 markets with one account
Through a single account, merchants can choose in which of the 21 markets to sell their products, with automatic VAT calculation. According to the company, there is no requirement to establish a company in every country, which aims to limit the cost and complexity of international expansion.
Following the gradual activation of local websites, hundreds of merchants are already making sales via easyShop. In view of Black Friday and Christmas, the platform invites more businesses from Greece and the rest of Europe to join, seeking to expand their participation during the period of increased commercial traffic.
The founder and CEO of OnCommerce, Cas Paton, argued that many merchants are growing their businesses on platforms that simultaneously act as their competitors.
"easyShop will never compete with businesses that sell through it by offering its own products," he said. He added that the goal is to compete with large e-commerce groups, in terms of cooperation that, according to him, support merchants.
What it offers to consumers
For consumers, the platform brings together millions of products from partner merchants. According to its presentation, the benefits include competitive prices, free delivery on millions of products, rewards on every purchase, flexible payment options and verified reviews.
Businesses can register on easyShop, while the Greek version of the platform is available at easyshop.com/gr.
Capital.gr
