Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Sep 30: Artisan Fayaz Ahmad Wani, has been working hard for the last 20 years to make the finest shawls.
In recent years, he saw more downs than ups in the trade due to the uncertainty and pandemic, which affected his income.
Come 2022, Wani got associated with e-commerce platforms, which not only enhanced the reach of his business but also doubled his income.
“I make very basic ruffle shawls with Kashmiri embroidery done on it. This trade wasn’t giving me good return for a long time and I was seriously trying to switch to some other business. A friend of mine introduced me to e-commerce and now the situation of my business is much better,” he said.
Wani sells his shawls on multiple e-commerce platforms, which include IndiaMart, marketplace and Amazon.
“I have my own brand name and I get good orders from customers throughout the country,” he said.
Like Wani, many artisans from the valley are exploring e-commerce to promote and make their businesses global.
Thousands of craftsmen from the valley, including pashmina weavers, paper machie artisans and leather artisans, have established online presences to market their products.
With the result now they have access to new markets. They now reach a wider audience by leveraging channels like social networking, e-commerce, and other digital ones.
Currently, a number of e-commerce websites, such as Handicraft Mall, Etsy, marketplace, and Amazon Handmade, are the platforms where the local artisans sell their products.
These sites offer features catered to their requirements, like customizable storefronts, simple tools for listing and managing products, and secure payment processing.
Many of the artisans have set up their online shops and are collaborating with logistics firms to ship their products.
“We receive packages from many shopkeepers in Srinagar. It has subsequently led to the emergence of local logistics firms in Kashmir. Every handicrafts shop in Kashmir is available on online marketplaces,” said Nasser Ahmad, an employee of Delhivery logistics firm.
