FOUNDERS OF MOUSE-E.COM SHOW THE WEBSITE AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BHUBANESWAR. PICTURE BY ASHWINEE PATISANDIP BAL

Bhubaneswar, April 11: Buying a Sambalpuri sari has never been easier. These handwoven gems are now available just at the click of a mouse.

All one needs to do is log on to a new online shopping portal and place their order.

Three Odia men have taken the initiative to create this web portal that would sell different products, including Sambalpuri saris, online.

The website has a unique name — www.mouse-e.com. Mousee in Odia means aunt.

The founders of the site said it was the online forum of their company, Mouse eRetail Private Limited. It had been launched to provide the customers a platform to shop online and responsibly.

The three men — Subhendu Tripathy, Tapan Kumar Das and Chitta Ranjan — started this website with its head office in Bangalore in December 2011.

Subhendu, an MBA graduate, used his 16-year experience in marketing research and analysis in the corporate sector.

Tapan Kumar Das, a chartered accountant, had over 13 years of experience in marketing. Earlier, he used to work as a chief financial officer for a well-known online shopping portal.

The third member, Chitta Ranjan, an MBA pass out, worked as sales manager in many companies for 16 years before he joined hands with the other two.

Subhendu said he dreamt of owning a company and was motivated by the Hindi film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, which inspired him to pursue his dream.

“We had the requisite marketing and technological knowledge and this business did not need high investment. Hence, we got together to begin the venture,” said Subhendu, the chief executive officer of the company.

He said they contacted several weavers in Balangir to collect Sambalpuri saris and stock those in Bhubaneswar from where they sent them to those who seek them online.

“We are going to sell home décor and appliqués of Pipili. Once we establish the company, we would add organic products to our list. We would also include Kandhamal turmeric in the list,” said Subhendu.

Tapan, who is the director of “mouse-e.com” said the Indian online shopping market is valued at about Rs 5,000 crore with more than 70 lakh people shopping online.

This website has already crossed a customer base of 7,000 within three months with 250 Internet users visiting it regularly.

The website sells sports products, electronic gadgets, computer accessories, home appliances, consumer durables goods, books and personal care products.

“We offer these products at 10 per cent discount on the maximum retail price and the customers do not even have to pay for the shipping charges. We have tied up with different companies to provide our customers with branded products,” said Tapan, adding that they wanted people to spend responsibly through their website instead of becoming spendthrifts.