New portal to help SMEs appoint channel partners

To help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) appoint or become distributors, franchisees or sales agents in India or abroad and reach out to a larger audience, TradeIndia.com, a B2B marketplace having more than 2.4 million registered users, has launched a new website - GetDistributors.com, a search-based online platform.

Of TradeIndia.com's total 2.4 million registered users, over 1.3 million are SMEs. Bikky Khosla, founder and chief executive officer of TradeIndia.com, told Business Standard, "SMEs have limited access to capital and infrastructure, so they find it difficult to expand their business, when it comes to marketing and appointing new distributors, franchisees or sales agents."

If an SME in north India wanted to appoint a distributor in the southern region, it would have to advertise - a costly proposition. Setting up a distribution network also takes time and effort. "In order to address these issues, we have launched GetDistributors.com. Now, they will find it easy to appoint a distributor, sales agent or franchisee in India as well as outside India," he said.

An interested company needs to register (for free) with the portal, stating whether it wishes to appoint distributors, sales agents or franchisees, or become one, and naming the industry vertical in which it operates. If this elicits any response, the company that posts the notice is notified.

The website also offers an 'ask the experts' section where a member can post questions about distributors, franchises and sales agents, and get detailed answers from an expert.

The major industry verticals that the portal will cater to are agriculture, apparel and fashion, automotive, chemicals, consumer electronics, hospital and medical supplies, pipes, tubes and fittings, and scientific and laboratory instruments.

Khosla added that there are international companies operating in India which wish to make Indian companies - including SMEs - their distributors, franchisees or sales agents, and this would offer new opportunities to SMEs and help them diversify their portfolio.

Promoted by Infocom Network Ltd, Tradeindia.com is a leading Indian B2B marketplace. It offers a range of business solutions to industry through online services, directory services and facilitation of trade promotional events. It acts as a bridge between buyers and sellers, manufacturers, importers and exporters.