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When I was in Lahore I noticed MyShop billboards right alongside Inbox and Raffles ones in various places in Liberty.
MyShop is Pakistan’s first online laptop store. They let you choose a laptop from their inventory, and to pay you have to pay them with a money transfer to a bank account, after which they will shop it to you using TCS and SpeedEx.
My initial thoughts on this was that it would be hard to get over people’s trust barrier here. However, considering the fact that they are advertising in prime locations, it makes me wonder…
Are they make so much money to afford those billboards? Does that mean that they online model was a success?
My bet is is more that it was not a success (when they were called iShop), and infact someone probably bought their storefront and business, and are now investing in advertising to get sales running.
Has someone bought a laptop from them? Fill us in with your experience…
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April 23rd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
[…] MyShop does mainstream advertising? Read it here:http://greenwhite.org/2007/04/23/myshop-first-online-business-to-advertise-in-mainstream/ […]
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
It may be the first in Lahore but certainly not in Pakistan. I worked for a company back in ‘99 that launched online PC sales web site (though it closed after a year or so as the market wasn’t that mature at the time)
Here are some other sites, selling online PCs and stuff:
http://www.makarts.com/
http://www.laptopciti.com/
http://www.laptop.com.pk/
http://www.beliscity.com/
April 23rd, 2007 at 8:28 pm
Kashif,
Yes it is certainly not the first online business, but perhaps the first to advertise in mainstream billboards?
Have those other sites also done that?
April 24th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Almost all that I mentioned have their billboards around. Makarts has exhibited in the ITCN and other expos in Karachi.
April 25th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
putting up biillboards doesnt really mean they are making money. investing in marketing a preliminary step to boost sales. and primarily the advert costs come form pre-planning stage when the budget for the model was set up.
Personally i wud never buy a laptop of nething online unless there is no other choice…
i hardly shop…but when i do…i wanna know wat im buying with my own naked eyes..
April 25th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Especially laptops — for me atleast the ergonomics, size, weight is more of a visual experience than statistics on screen.
I would also typically want to try out the actual laptop before purchasing it — that was crucial when I bought my Tablet because different touchscreen vendors have very varied experiences (Wiacom tablets are great btw).
May 29th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
There is another useful website http://www.hafeezcentre.com.pk which provides free trading platforms to Pakistanis to sell or buy mobile phones & computer parts