BOOST Artisans from 60 countries can sell their products on new marketplace Amazon to launch handicraft marketplace AMAZON OFFERS ZERO- INTEREST LOAN TO DELIVERY BOYS

Chicago, Oct. 8: Amazon. com Inc is launching a marketplace for handcrafted goods on Thursday that will allow customers to buy products made by artisans from more than 60 countries.

“We don’t allow any mass manufacturing, we don’t allow any factorymade products. All of these products have to be handmade and hand- manufactured,” Amazon Marketplace vice- president Peter Faricy said.

The “Handmade at Amazon” website will compete directly with sites like Etsy Inc, which made its name selling handmade goods.

A craft market will extend Amazon’s role as a middleman for thirdparty vendors, which accounts for about 40 per cent of its sales. It recently launched a platform allowing customers to buy 700 home services such as car maintenance, TV wallmounting and house cleaning.

Over 600 handmade products will be eligible for shipping under Amazon’s Prime shipping service. As the e- commerce sector is touching new highs, firms are concentrating on improving their logistic services and back- end operations.

In this regard, Amazon. in has initiated a pilot project in Hyderabad in association with Mahindra and Mahindra and Quess to provide loan to their delivery associates, which they can use to upgrade their two- wheeler to Mahindra’s recently launched four- wheeler, Jeeto.

Stating in an exclusive email interaction, Amazon India’s director transportation Samuel Thomas said, “Under the scheme the delivery associates, on the rolls of Quess, can enroll for the programme for a minimum period of five years and secure zero down payment and zero interest loans to buy Jeeto.”

The timeline for loan reimbursement is twothree years and after that the associates can retain the vehicle. Jeeto will help in making bulk deliveries faster and safer, Mr Thomas added.