6 Steps to Become a Successful Flipkart Seller

  

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Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal established Flipkart, now an e-commerce giant, back in 2007. The company was initially involved exclusively in marketing books but over the years, the giant has exponentially expanded the array of portfolios of the products that it has to offer and has subsequently left a mark in the field of commercial retail.

The company has acquired multiple organisations ranging from digital distribution companies to other online retailers; the most significant of such acquisitions Myntra, a major fashion e-commerce company headquartered in Bangalore. Being the flag-bearer of Indian online retail, Flipkart plays an instrumental role in enticing and empowering not only its customers but also its registered sellers and vendors through training, workshops, etc. 

Sellers are incentivised to register themselves with Flipkart for the following reasons-

• Quick Payments: The sellers swiftly retrieve the money that the customer pays for their product(s).
• Attractive Reward Programmes: Lucrative rewards and diminished commissions are some of the marketing tactics that nudge sellers to be associated with the company. 
• Reaching Customers: Flipkart has an extensive customer base and delivers products to  more remote regions of India as well. as well. 
• Dedicated Pick-Up Services: Sellers are not burdened with the responsibility of dispatching or delivering the product(s) to the customer. 

However, one should also be cognisant of the disadvantages associated with being a registered Flipkart seller. They include-

• Price-Wars: Online market-places are undeniably competitive and price-wars are imminent. Consequently, as a seller, profit margins may be small, especially during the initial stages. 
• Tackling Returns: If a product gets damaged during transit, sellers are often charged with carelessness or lax behaviour. This creates a negative impression of the firm on the customers and adversely affects sales. 
• Product Focus:. A large volume of sales is considered to have a greater importance than the seller’s aim for profit-maximisation. 

Lack of Direct Promotion: Sellers are barred from practicing   SEO / SEM for their brand or product since they do not have direct control over the pages where the products may be listed or displayed.

Steps to follow to become a registered seller on Flipkart include-

1. Business Registration 

• Selling as an Individual or a Sole Proprietorship Firm:

An individual can sell their products on Flipkart using their own name and legal standing. Regardless of the fact that such a business does not enable limited liability protection to its promoter, and cannot have investors or associates, Flipkart supports such sellers and eliminates the hassle of acquiring transfer rights and bank loans for them. Specific documents need to be submitted for the process of registration for a Sole Proprietorship Firm.

• Selling as a Private Limited Company:

Running a private limited business enables limited liability protection to the promoter, prospects of investors and partnerships and a separate legal identity. This is the preferred form of business as far as being associated with an e-commerce giant goes. Specific documents need to be submitted for the process of registration for a Private Limited Company.

• Selling as an LLP / Partnership Firm:

A Partnership Firm can also become a Flipkart seller. It is recommended to register the firm as an LLP (Limited Liability Partnership). Here too, specific documents need to be submitted.

• Selling as a Trust or Foundation:

To register as a seller, the trust or foundation must provide a legally recognised name and address for the same. Subsequently, specific documents in relation to the establishment will need to be submitted as well.

Verify Personal Contact Details, Business Contact Details, Account Details, Etc.

3. Listing Products

Listing products on Flipkart is relatively simpler in comparison to other online market-places. The platform has a self-service portal and has established ten to be the minimum number of products that can be listed under one firm. Upload images of the products with their corresponding text and price information and select the appropriate category under which the products fall.

To select the appropriate price for a product without compromising on one’s profits, choose the right wholesaler and get a warranty. Be extremely tactical because Flipkart receives a portion of the sales as commission and a fixed fee. The platform also charges for courier and collection (for cash on delivery) and to supplement it all, charges GST as well. 

• Manage the Dashboard:

Flipkart provides a dashboard to control all operations such as those of pricing, descriptions, etc. Additionally, it provides promotions, advertising and analytic support.

Moreover, in its endeavour to support sellers, Flipkart has launched a mobile application called Sellers Hub which provides real-time data on orders, payments, listings, order-fulfilment, returns, etc. 

• Shipping and Logistics:

Flipkart is affiliated with courier services across the country which provides packaging support, materials and training. Once an order is placed, the seller packs the product and the logistics partner picks it up for onward transmission. Note that Flipkart does not provide packaging  materials. Sellers have to make their own arrangements. 

• Promote Products:

Techniques a firm can adopt to ensure success on the platform include-

• Adopt the usage of Product Listing Advertisements (PLAS) which allows for products to be featured on specific pages. 
• Register to become a Flipkart Advantage Seller which requires the firm to stock their products with Flipkart. The platform thus handles storage, packaging, delivery and even returns.
• Participate in spike sales and subsequently attract the audience. 
• Advertise the products on platforms such as Google and Facebook.
• Be conscious of the reviews under the products and handle complaints with utmost care and sensitivity. 

E-commerce sites such as Flipkart are reliable and have policies which benefit and accommodate the requirements of both - the consumers and sellers. Though the market is relatively competitive, one can generate and cater to a large audience on such a platform. 

Visit seller.flipkart.com in order to register as a seller.

Written By - Saumya Seth

Edited By - Sravanthi Cheerladinne