As the world moves more and more towards online commerce for consumer goods, Macedonia has been slow to pick up on this trend. In order to quicken the pace, the government has announced a program to stimulate e-commerce by “building” more virtual stores. Since there are no legal obstructions to establishing these kinds of businesses, all that needs to be done is to assemble the necessary pieces and put them together: ready retail businesses, capable developers, a credit card processing system, and a system for logistics and support.
In order to stimulate development in this area, the government plans to design, implement and host 100 e-stores for 100 different companies in 2012 and 2013, including stores from start up companies as well as established firms. This incentive is intended to increase the number of electronic services available for consumers, encourage growth of small and medium enterprises and artisans’ workshops, increase Macedonian exports, and make it easier for the rest of the world to try out Macedonian products.
During 2012, the government foresees the production of virtual stores for 50 entrepreneurs. They will be taught to operate their virtual stores employing the latest technological trends and internet technologies, so that they can sell their products both domestically and abroad.
The choice of entrepreneurs will be carried out through a competition, within which each entrepreneur will make a presentation of their business plan. The best 50 business plans will qualify for an e-store after which they will be given a ready-made online storefront, including a design of the store’s website, e-commerce software, a logistics back end, credit card processing, and one-year hosting). After the first year, the entrepreneur will begin hosting their store alone. The products are intended to have descriptions in both Macedonian and English. In addition, the entrepreneurs will receive help implementing search engine marketing, search engine optimization, and social networking.
There will be one special e-store, called the Super Store, which will contain the products of all the e-stores in the system. When a prospect chooses a product, the link will lead them to the individual e-store where the purchase can be made.
In 2013, additional 50 e-stores will be subsidized, and the government will establish a commercial drop-shipping distributor intended to deliver the products abroad for all the e-commerce stores.
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