PHARMACY Alliance yesterday launched an initiative aiming to showcase emerging Australian products to Chinese 'Daigou' buyers via its network of more than 650 independently owned pharmacies.
The Slingshot Brand Incubation Program is a partnership with DaigouSales.com, an online sales platform sitting on the WeChat network enabling Australian businesses to set up e-stores to sell their products via Australian-based Chinese shoppers (Daigou) who buy items here and send them back home to friends, family and others.
DaigouSales.com founder Mathew McDougall said "unless you are an established brand, pharmacies and retail outlets don't want to know you...if you want to export your products overseas into markets such as China, your product's brand awareness needs to be on the rise in Australia and you need to be achieving strong local retail sales.
"This all leads to greater consumer credibility in your target export markets," McDougall said.
Pharmacy Alliance ceo Darren Dye said the initiative was a win for the group's independent pharmacy members across Australia and local small businesses.
"By creating shelf space across our network of independent pharmacies to showcase and sell emerging Australian products means we are not only offering the community the opportunity to purchase high quality items, we are also supporting growing Australian businesses," he said.
Dye said Pharmacy Alliance members would become known for stocking emerging Australian brands, which would bring traffic into the pharmacies wanting to support local products.
The Slingshot program gives brands the opportunity to put their products on consignment into the Pharmacy Alliance network, giving them brand visibility, warehousing, fully managed stock distribution and replenishment, a call centre for support and enquiry, and monthly payments.
The Daigou market is also being targeted by the Chemsave group, which last month formed an alliance with ASX-listed AuMake International (PD 12 Apr).
Dye and McDougall are pictured above sealing the deal at the announcement of the new Pharmacy Alliance agreement with DaigouSales.com yesterday.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 30 May 18
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