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Hello reader,
I love having a convenience store near my house – my only wish is that it operated 24/7 so I can get some snacks late at night.
The products might not be as cheap compared to the supermarket, but the convenience really is unmatched.
On some level, it also feels good to support them, as they’re usually family-owned or at least belong to smaller chains. Sometimes, they even sell more niche, interesting things that you wouldn’t find easily at big supermarkets.
Whatever the case, it seems that in Indonesia, online brands have taken to minimarts. And if locals love having these stores just like I do, then that’s probably going to be a really good decision.
Today we look at:
- Why some brands are moving into the minimart space
- An Indian startup’s US$40 million series B round
- Other newsy highlights such as Ola Electric slashing its monthly cash burn and Scopely acquiring Niantic’s gaming division
Premium summary
Store Trek
Image credit: Timmy Loen
On the voyage of online brands, minimarts have become the final frontier in Indonesia. The mission: to explore strange new markets, seek out new customers, and boldly go where no some companies have gone before.
- Offline enterprise: Offline retail is still a huge market in Indonesia. As online brands face tougher conditions and push for profits, expanding to minimarts is one way companies can claim the “convenience product” angle, capturing a different customer segment.
- Discovering new channels: Many of these online brands will have to face logistical challenges, as their products will need to be stocked across numerous outlets at the same time. This may not be something they’re used to.
- Voyage to the consumer: With that said, simply expanding into offline retail doesn’t guarantee success. The important thing is to meet customers where they are.
Read more: Indonesia’s minimarts: the next frontier for online brands?
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