The Insta business

Instagram has become a prime spot for many independent artists and even top brands to sell their products. The platform is simple and user friendly. If the product looks good, the owners get much traction through the photo and video sharing app.

While other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have a wide reading, Instagram is simple and gives information in a short and crisp format with a picture to go with it. 

For instance, Casefactory.Chennai, is an Instagram page that sells cases, headphones, speakers, chargers and cables. Started by a 20-year-old college student, the products are available only on Instagram. “I am basically a re-seller. I know some dealers where I purchase these products at a wholesale rate and then upload the picture on Instagram. The key is to have good deals. There are only a few products that I know will do well and I buy the stocks and re-sell it. I just upload the pictures and then get the product based on the order,” says M Ashik, who is a management student. 

About the business, he says, “It depends on the demand. Some days I get around 10 orders a week and there are times when the business is dry for weeks.” 

The platform has served as a perfect place for small enterprises and brands to sell their products. All one has to do is to register as a ‘business’ profile and those visiting the profile will just have to click on the call button to make any query or transactions.  

Preeti Gupta, who is the founder of a jewellery brand Aticute, says, “My jewellery brand profile is both on Facebook and Instagram and the reach is completely different. Insta is growing by the day. There are features that makes the app as good as a website.” 

However, there are several people who use the platform to sell imitation goods and knock-offs. Twenty eight-year-old Mohana P wanted to make a style statement at her friends’ engagement in London. Having the venue at the style hub, she knew that she had to up her game. A Dior watch, and Jimmy Choo shoes were on her list but way away from her budget. “How can a person doing the same old nine-to-five job could afford shoes worth Rs 40,000. If I put all the things on my list together, the numbers raise upto Rs 2.5 lakhs. I wouldn’t even spend so much on my wedding,” says Mohana, a content writer, for social media firm. “Once when I was skimming through Instagram profiles for a client, I came across a page that sold knock-offs of popular brands. Those were mostly watches. A Tag watch that easily cost a couple of lakhs was available for just 4,000. Upon digging deep, I came across many such sites that sold knock offs.” 

Imitation jewellery and accessories have been sold at flea markets for a long time across the world. There are some business minds that are making the best use of the technology to continue this. “I get all these knock-offs from around the world as I travel with my husband. Earlier, I just bought from myself and later on thought why not sell it. I buy them and put up pictures on my page on Instagram and sell it, ensuring that I make at least 50 per cent profit. From bags to sunglasses and from jewellery to belts and wallets, I sell it out. Now I have over 1,000 followers. As the business has grown I travel to Bangkok and Malaysia regularly to get the products,” says a 26-yearold Instagrammer who makes atleast Rs 25,000 month by selling these products. As glamorous as it may look, one has to be careful with what they buy as there are many incidents when customers got something that they didn’t expect. 

“The only problem with ordering from these not-so-well-know pages is that the return policy is flimsy. I had bought a dress as the images on the page looked like a dress. It turned out to be a long top. I wanted to return but they clearly said that they have no-return policy,” says Anusha P, a homemaker.