Last week, Meridian Group, an Indian manufacturer of budget smartphones and tablets, opened an online store in Russia.
The group’s Fly brand phones, smartphones, and tablets will be sold on the new site. Since the beginning of 2013, the Fly brand has released more than 15 new smartphone models in Russia, and the company will introduce a new line of Fly tablets next month. This year, Fly plans to sell over six million mobile devices in Russia, including sales expected via its new site.
The low-cost smartphone segment is growing rapidly in Russia. In 2012, according to a report by mobile phone retailer Euroset cited by Vedomosti, Fly was the third largest retailer of budget smartphones in Russia (7.2% market share), after Samsung (37.%) and Nokia (32.4%). Overall, Russians purchased 42 million mobile phones and smartphones that same year.
On Fly’s new website, it is possible to compare electronics filtered by model, color, and technical characteristics. Fly offers free delivery in Moscow and free nationwide delivery for orders over 2,990 rubles (approximately $90). The minimum delivery time is two days and the maximum time is three days in the regions.
As of now, users can only pay for purchases via cash on delivery – the most popular payment by far in Russia as far as physical goods are concerned – but other payment options will soon be introduced, a Flystore representative told East-West Digital News.
Founded in the UK in 2003, Fly is now active in Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries, as well as in India and Southern European countries.
- RUSSIAN E-COMMERCE REPORT – The total volume of Russian online retail reached approximately $13 billion in 2012, up 27% from the previous year, not including cross border sales. In partnership leading universities and consultancies, EWDN has published an in-depth research on this industry. To receive free insights or to order the full version (2013 edition), please contact us at [email protected].
