OREANDA-NEWS. August 03, 2015.  In a first ever move by a B2B product company, Essar Hypermart, part of Essar Steel, has announced the launch of an online platform (www.ehypermart.in) for selling steel and other related products. Branded EHypermart (EHM), the online platform will target B2B segments. EHypermart is an extension of Essar Steel’s pioneering retail venture, Essar Hypermart to enable its customers to buy steel online. EHM has already registered over 3,000 online anchor customers. Currently, EHM is a web based market place and will soon launch a mobile app for the convenience of its customers.

In the first full year operations, EHM targets revenue of USD 100 mn..It also targets 30% of sales of Essar Hypermart to be done through EHM.

EHM has introduced nine products that include steel, steel products, material handling equipment, industrial paints, generators, cutting tools, steel furniture, TMT bars, angles & channels, and power cables. 

Unique Business Model
This online market platform is built on a unique model – “Buy- >Create - > Sell”. Customers can buy their steel, create a product, and sell their end products on this platform. Hence it supports the marketing efforts of its customers and also aids in reducing their marketing costs. The customer’s. Website will have a link to EHypermart that will give end customers / buyers a feeling of buying the products directly from the manufacturer. EHM is a comprehensive B2B marketplace covering product range and prices.

Commenting on the launch of the online market platform, Mr. Firdose Vandrevala, Executive Vice Chairman, Essar Steel India, said, ”We have always believed that steel demand can grow only when steel becomes easily accessible. It has been our endeavor to make steel easily accessible to user segments irrespective of their geographic location. Essar Hypermart, our pioneering steel retail venture addressed this issue. We are confident that the launch of EHypermart will help grow the steel market further.”

Certified quality vendors
In order to ensure credibility and reliability, all vendors on EHM will be certified after proper due diligence, before they are enrolled, with regard to the quality of products, delivery capability and integrity.

EHM expects to enroll 1,000 vendors by the end of current fiscal. This is a scalable model and provides enrolling as many vendors as possible

Mr. Vikram Amin, Executive Director, Strategy & Business Development, Essar Steel said, “Through EHypermart, we attempt to build a community of customers and vendors to support each other. This will not only be cost effective but also provides them an additional avenue for selling their products.”

Payment
EHM has tied up with CC Avenues which provides internet payment gateway to 38 Banks. In addition, payment can also be done through Credit/Debit cards.

Mr. Ravi Singh, CEO, Essar Hypermart, said, “EHypermart will bring a lot of convenience and transparency in dealing with various industrial products and provides ease of buying which is just a “click away”. EHypermart  has the potential to be the game changer in the market.”

After successful operation of our pioneering venture, Essar Hypermart, this is another initiative by Essar Steel to support our customers by providing them the platform to sell their products. This will create a steel users community which will go a long way in supporting Essar and its users to grow the market together.
 
About Essar Steel
Essar Steel India is one of India’s leading integrated steel producers with an annual production capability of 10 MTPA. The state-of-the-art facilities comprise iron ore beneficiation, Pellet making, iron making, steel making, and downstream facilities, including a cold rolling mill, a galvanizing  and pre-coated facility, a steel-processing facility, an extra-wide plate mill and  3 pipe mills with coating facilities.

Essar Steel uses information technology extensively for its operation to ensure consistent quality of its products. It produces over 300 grades of steel conforming to quality standards of international certification agencies like API, ABS, NACE, Lloyd’s Register to name a few. The products cater to the requirements of a wide cross section of industries, many of which are import substitute products.

Essar Hypermart, a pioneering initiative of Essar Steel, caters to the requirements of the SME segment, which normally does not have access to mill material directly.

Sustainability has been given due importance and the company is on course to becoming a zero-waste company.