Today, October 28, at the Italian Embassy in Santiago, the agreement between the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and falabella.com, a leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, was presented to the Chilean public. It aims to create a new virtual space dedicated to promoting and selling online authentic Italian products.
The agreement provides for creating the Italian Products Digital Pavilion on the Linio.com platform, a marketplace part of www.falabella.com, for Italian companies in the apparel and accessories, footwear and leather goods, cosmetics, eyewear, jewellery, sporting goods, furniture, and tools sectors. An advertising campaign will be launched to increase their visibility in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.
The activity related to the ICE – falabella.com project started on October 19, when the project was presented to potentially interested Italian companies through a webinar.
Falabella Group, a company founded by a family of Italian origin, is one of the leading retail operators in Latin America. With total revenues of USD 14.6 billion, the company operates through 503 DIY and household items stores, department stores, supermarkets, 46 shopping centres and distribution centres in 7 countries in the region: Chile, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, and Argentina. The company currently ranks first in the countries where it operates in sales of clothing, electronics, and household items.
According to data published by the holding company, Falabella online has exceeded 35 million followers on social networks.
In the last twelve months to June 2021, the digital channel grew 200% over the comparable period, accounting for 25% of total sales. falabella.com recorded more than 180 million visits per month. In 2020, online sales reached USD 4.1bn with more than 35m deliveries.
“The Made in Italy Showcase on the b2c platform falabella.com represents an important novelty for the growth perspective of Made in Italy products in the Latin American market where they are increasingly appreciated,” said the Ambassador of Italy in Chile Mauro Battocchi. “Made in Italy consumer goods have seen an increase in exports to Chile by 70% in the first six months of 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year,” confirmed the Director of the ICE Office in Santiago, Alessandra Marcarino. Director Macarino specified that “the project involves a minimum of 30 Italian companies initially selected by ICE according to criteria agreed by the parties. Falabella will then proceed, after evaluating the companies, to confirm their participation with a 15% fee on product sales.”
ICE will provide companies with the necessary assistance in finding local importers according to the procedures provided in the ICE Service Catalogue. When the participation of 30 Italian companies is reached, ICE will finance a digital advertising campaign to increase online traffic to the new platform through the main social networks and cable TV.
Benoit De Grave, CEO of falabella.com, comments that thanks to this initiative, the e-commerce platform that brings together the offers of Falabella Retail, Sodimac, Tottus, Linio and those of a thousand entrepreneurs will continue to strengthen and expand its value with first-class products.
“One of the main purposes of falabella.com, and also an objective of our alliance, is transforming and enriching the shopping experience of our customers, allowing them to access exclusive items, high-quality brands and the great tradition that Italy represents,” follows De Grave. He adds that falabella.com will be one of the gateways for Italian companies and entrepreneurs in the region, helping them expand in the countries where our company operates.
“For Made in Italy companies looking for new E-Commerce outlets,” said Ambassador Battocchi, “there is now a relevant opportunity to grow in Chile and Latin America.”
