Flowwow co-founders; Credits: Supplied
International startup, Flowwow has accelerated the expansion of its services in the Middles East and North Africa (MENA) region, starting with the United Arab Emirates.
The company invests $6 mln into international scaling, including product localization, international team development and marketing promotion. Through the expansion, Flowwow is planning to attract UAE local brands to their marketplace. On a mission to help local businesses develop and scale their sales, Flowwow will provide a platform, marketing instruments, access to loyal repeat customers and a community of like-minded sellers.
Founded in 2014, Flowwow connects customers with local floral, pastry shops, craft brands & businesses and automates the whole process, from decision making, and ordering, to delivery. During the pandemic, Flowwow grew from a floral marketplace into a platform of local brands, offering a wide range of handmade & craft products. Currently, the platform has 7500+ sellers from 1000+ cities and operates in 24 countries, including the UK, Spain, Hungary, and Lithuania.
Commenting on the demand, Slava Bogdan, CEO & co-founder, said,
“UAE is emerging as the next big marketplace hotspot. More customers are looking for quick, safe, intuitive and personalised experiences on niche marketplaces rather than large merchandise platforms like Amazon or Alibaba. It opens the opportunities for peer-to-peer marketplaces that popped up over the years,”
Using the company’s mobile app, customers can order flowers, cakes, and handmade & craft items, from jewellery to vintage clothing. User-friendly interface together with handy tools digitalize and simplify the process of gift-giving, providing innovative customer service: same-day delivery, product photo before delivery, curated list of products from local brands. Admittedly, the startup is competing with giants such as Etsy, WayFair, to name a few.
Sharing some important insights, Slava continued,
“New report from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has revealed that the UAE retail e-commerce market reached a record $3.9 billion in 2020, and it’s expected to reach $8 billion by 2025. A growth trend is projected by key factors: high-income potential, high Internet penetration rate (99%), developed transport logistics network, modern digital payment systems, growing tech-savvy youth population, and strong government support. It creates proesprous opportunities to enter the market”.
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