German e-commerce player aims for No. 1 spot in PHL online shopping

A fairly new player in the e-commerce industry is determined to become the number one online shopping company in the Philippines by yearend.   Led by five managing directors of different nationalities – Italian, Turkish, Brazilian, Danish and Filipino – Lazada Philippines is owned by Germany-based Rocket Internet GmbH.   As an online shopping company, Lazada sells various consumer items, including perfume, travel bags, electronics and computer, and bed and bathroom accessories, according to its managing directors in an interview with reporters   Lazada Philippines caters to the whole of Metro Manila and across the islands were third-party delivery services are available.   Mattia Perroni, one of the five managing directors said the goal is to be the number one e-commerce company in the Philippines.   Perroni, who hails from Italy, said the company’s goal is achievable on the back of the high energy and passion of its employees, the attractive Philippine market and the quality of Lazada’s products.   The company started in January with only three people, Perroni said.   Now, it counts 260 employees.   “We are looking forward to keep generating job places for excellent and talented people,” said Perroni.   Turkish Inanc Balci said Lazada is able to keep the prices of its goods low because of its low over-head costs. “We have one single location. We can afford to keep cost low,” he said.   Balci, who is in charge of sourcing electronic products, said the company is also in touch with a network of suppliers who believe in Lazada.   “The economic indicators are super good. Philippines is growing great. To start an e-commerce company, the Philippines is a perfect country. We come at the correct time, correct location,” he said.   Dannish Steffen Petersen noted the Philippines as a great country with great demographics, making it a good place for setting up a business.   Petersen is the managing director in charge of Lazada’s warehousing and logistics.   Gabi Goncalves, a Brazilian and is in charge of buying non-electronic products, said the Philippines is a good place in Southeast Asia for putting up an e-commerce business.   Tim Go, the Filipino in the group, believes in the potential of e-commerce in the Philippines, because Filipinos are heavy Internet users. An e-commerce business can’t go wrong in the Philippines, he added. — VS, GMA News