- Shiprocket's Zop is currently in a pilot phase, featuring around 200-300 brands across eight categories, including fashion, beauty, and electronics.
- Zop charges a sales commission from brands for listing their products and aims to help smaller D2C brands generate demand and visibility outside of Meta and Google.
Delhi-NCR-based logistics tech unicorn Shiprocket has recently launched a new pilot program for its D2C marketplace, Zop. The platform began its trial phase a few weeks ago and currently features around 200-300 brands across eight diverse categories, including fashion, beauty, and electronics.
This strategic move is designed to increase demand and enhance the visibility of Indian homegrown D2C brands.
Saahil Goel, the CEO and co-founder of Shiprocket, highlighted that Zop distinguishes itself from established e-commerce giants such as Flipkart and Amazon by concentrating exclusively on boosting the profiles of D2C brands.
“D2C brands which are having trouble in generating demand or are unable to get much online exposure on their own should try Zop,” Goel told Inc42.
He further explained that Zop’s focus is on helping these brands with discovery and advertisement, aiming to generate traffic beyond the constraints of platforms like Meta and Google.
Currently, Zop charges a sales commission from brands for listing their products. The platform specifically targets smaller brands facing high advertising costs and dependency on platforms like Meta for their online presence. Goel mentioned that Zop would undertake several experimental approaches to enhance demand for these brands, suggesting a fresh strategy compared to traditional marketplaces.
Shiprocket, founded in 2017, has evolved from a shipping-focused business to a comprehensive e-commerce service provider. In recent years, it has diversified its offerings to include payments, marketing, and exports, alongside acquiring five companies to bolster its service portfolio.
As Shiprocket prepares for a public offering next year, the company is in the process of raising around $120 million. It is also reportedly valued between $1 billion and $1.1 billion, with Tribe Capital and other investors considering additional investments.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
