TSCO website being improved to boost online handloom sales

To boost online sales of handloom products, the Telangana government is improving the website of the Telangana State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (TSCO), a senior official said here today.

The website is being improved by having better categorisation, indicating discounts, showcasing all handloom categories so that it generates people's interest to buy handloom products over the e-commerce website, Shailaja Ramaiyer, Director of Handloom and Textiles, said.

"We found that if you get into the e-commerce business, there is a much better market for the handloom sector. So we are looking to improve our own website," she said.

The modified website would be showcased on August 7 on the occasion of National Handloom Day, she said.

The director said TSCO had opened its own website about eight months back after bifurcation of APCO (Andhra Pradesh) and TSCO. But sales started to pick up this year.

"So the minister (for handlooms and textiles K T Rama Rao) wanted us to look at and improve the e-commerce website and also ensure that we have more online sales. At present, there are few websites selling handlooms directly, she said.

TSCO's franchise business model would be launched on August 7 and MoUs would be signed with the franchisees that day, she said.

There are about 46 TSCO showrooms at present.

The government's intention was also to take care of weavers' welfare, she said and explained some measures taken in this direction.

She was speaking on the sidelines of a press meet where some of the state's textiles products were showcased by models.

The state government said it would celebrate the national handloom day in a big way.

The objective of the celebrations was to highlight the contribution of handlooms,promote them and increase the income of handloom weavers in the state, an official release said.

The government had already allocated Rs 400 crore to the handloom sector and was implementing schemes like 'Chenetha Mithra' (40 per cent yarn subsidy), it said.

On August 7, the minister would inaugurate a handloom exhibition.He would felicitate eminent handloom personalities, awardees and present 'Konda Laxman Bapuji' state awards to handloom weavers who exhibited special skills, it said.

In the evening, the Department of Handlooms and Textiles would present a unique fashion show of traditional and contemporary handlooms.

Bibi Russel, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Handlooms, designers Sravan Kumar and Sunaina Sood and skilled designers from Telangana would showcase the traditional handlooms of the state, the release added.