Itella opens a new cross-border e-commerce route to Russia

Itella is currently developing a solution for cross-border e-commerce where companies are offered a new way of marketing, selling and delivering their products directly to Russian consumers. Itella and Balmuir have begun testing the service.

Itella and Balmuir, a company focused on high-quality interior design products and accessories, have launched a project to develop a new type of e-commerce concept for Russia. During the project, to Russian consumers will be marketed and offered the opportunity to purchase Balmuir products in an online store directed at Russian consumers. Itella has designed the online store and will attend to the marketing of the test products, handling of orders, warehousing of products and the logistics, including customs clearance. The first orders have already been delivered to Russian customers.

-We wish to help companies succeed and to lower the threshold of European companies to reach the Russian market. Russian e-commerce has many special features in relation to customs clearance, language barrier, etc. The idea of our concept is to manage online trade over the border as an overall service, whereupon companies can focus their efforts on their core competency, says Vice President, E-commerce Aku Happo, from Itella.

Russia is already one of Balmuir’s largest export countries, but the market potential there is still extensive.

-Russia has long-standing gift culture traditions and appreciation of high-quality products. This project combines many interesting elements; we get more experience of the market and local consumer behavior, new sales, and feedback on the functions of the online store, lists Juha Jaara, Balmuir Sales Director.

E-commerce is growing in Russia with an annual growth of 20–30 percent. At the moment, Itella takes care of online store transportations to Russia in cooperation with local operators. There will be a one-month testing period, the objective of which is to find a solution to even more effectively promote over-the-border trade of European online stores to Russia.

Further information:

Itella Mediadesk tel: +358 20 4523366

Balmuir, Juha Jaara, Sales Director, +358505973001

Itella is your first choice for postal, logistics and e-commerce services managing the flow of commerce and everyday life in 11 countries. Globally we deliver services via our trusted partner network. Our net sales in 2013 amounted to EUR 1,977 million. There are about 26,000 professionals serving our customers. www.itella.com. www.itella.com.

Balmuir online store & marketing campaign: http://balmuir.ru/dream-delivery