Jabong.com was an Indian fashion and lifestyle e-commerce portal founded by Praveen Sinha, Lakshmi Potluri, Arun Chandra Mohan and Manu Kumar Jain. In July, 2016 Flipkart acquired Jabong through its unit Myntra for about $70 million. In February 2020, Flipkart formally shut down Jabong to shift focus completely on its premium clothing platform Myntra.[1][2] The portal sold apparel, footwear, fashion accessories, beauty products, fragrances, home accessories and other fashion and lifestyle products.[3][4] The company's headquarter was in Gurugram, NCR, India.[5]

Jabong.com
Type of site
E-commerce
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012)
HeadquartersSector 18, Gurugram, Haryana,
Area servedIndia
Founder(s)Manu Kumar Jain
ParentFlipkart
CommercialYes
Current statusDefunct since February 2020; 4 years ago (2020-02)

History

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It was co-founded by Arun Chandra Mohan, Praveen Sinha, Lakshmi Potluri and Manu Kumar Jain. All co-founders have left the company.[6][7][8]

In March 2013, Jabong was dispatching over 6,000 orders a day.[9] According to The Economist, Jabong clocked gross sales of around US$100–150 Million in 2012.[10]

As per a Rocket Internet investor presentation, Jabong had a net revenue of 32.6 million euros in Q1 2016, up 14% from 28.6 million euros in the year-ago period. For FY2015, its revenues were at 122.1 million euros [11] In September 2017, It was reported that Jabong is the 3rd largest global e-commerce partner for Dorothy Perkins.[12]

Jabong to launch technology lab for bigger innovations in Jan 2015.[13][14] CEO of Jabong, Praveen Sinha quoted, "The main focus of the lab is to innovate and focus on a lot of features using information technology and create a centre which focuses more on innovations three or five years ahead of what we’re doing today."

Profile

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Jabong sold shoes, apparel, accessories, home décor and furniture, [15] with over 1000 brands and over 90,000 products.[16][17] Other products include jewellery and gold coins.[18][19]

Marketing campaigns

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The company launched its first TV campaign in March 2012.[20] Other television campaigns appeared in September 2012 and during 2013 Jabong.[21][22][23][24]

In November 2013, Jabong, together with Puma, launched the digital fitness campaign “Gear up Buddy” with Bollywood actor Chitrangada Singh.[25][26]

Jabong.com launched the India Online Fashion Week in 2014. The event was described as a platform for young and aspiring designers, stylists, models and photographers, who were mentored by fashion industry experts including celebrity mentor Yami Gautam.[27]

Jabong.com launched a monthly fashion magazine "The Juice" in April, 2014. The magazine covers stories and features around fashion, beauty, people, trends, travel and pop culture.[28][29]

Partnerships

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In May 2013, Jabong presented a fashion collection based on the Bollywood movie Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Jabong showcased the fashion apparel used in the movie by the movie stars.[30]

In November 2012, Jabong.com and cricket equipment maker SG Cricket presented a range of Virender Sehwag cricket bats.[31]

In July 2013, Jabong associated with Bollywood again through the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and offered a collection inspired by the movie.[32][33]

In October 2014, it was reported that Amazon was in the initial talks to acquire Jabong,[34] but no take-over deal happened and none of the parties confirmed the reasons.

In July 2016, Jabong was acquired by Myntra, a subsidiary of Flipkart for an undisclosed amount. The merge has led to over 150 employees being laid off, as part of the process towards the integration of the two businesses' functions.[35]

During the 2014–15 Indian Super League season, Jabong became the main shirt sponsor of Mumbai based professional soccer club Mumbai City FC.[36]

Online traffic

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According to a ComScore report of September 2012, Jabong.com had the second highest amount of traffic on its website, among Indian e-commerce websites, within a few months of its launch.[37] In November 2013, Jabong.com held an Alexa Traffic ranking of 37 in India.[38] Jabong also ranked 10th in Google Zeitgeist India trends making it the 10th most searched term in 2012 in India.[39]

Flipkart owned Jabong fashion portal was shut down completely in Feb 2020 [40] [41] [42] and Jabong website users are redirected to Myntra website permanently.

International store

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Jabong also had an international online shopping store called Jabongworld.com, which receives its highest amount of traffic from the United States, closely followed by Malaysia and Mauritius among other countries.[43]

Jabongworld.com was shut down in mid-2016.

Awards and recognition

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According to The Brand Trust Report India Study - 2013 by Trust Research Advisory, Jabong ranked among the top 25 trusted Online brands in India.[44]

Year Association Category Nominee(s) Result
2017 Diversity in Media Awards Marketing Campaign of the Year Be You Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Flipkart formally shut down Jabong to shift focus completely on its premium clothing platform Myntra".[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Jabong out of picture. Flipkart to focus on Myntra".
  3. ^ "Excl: Groupon promoters to launch new e-commerce biz". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Indian Online Retailer Flipkart Raises $200 Million". WSJ. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  5. ^ "India absent in top global e-tailing market rankings". Livemint.com. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Jabong bangs into top rung of Indian e-commerce; Can it sustain?". Techcircle.com. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Indian businesses have patience tested over online ventures". BBC. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Jabong co-founder quits to launch own venture". Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Myntra's Big Leap Forward". Forbes. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Excl: The screen revolution". The Economist. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  11. ^ "Flipkart-owned Myntra acquires Jabong for $70 mn". The Times of India. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  12. ^ Kumar, Meenakshi. "For Dorothy Perkins Jabong is the 3rd largest global e-tailer". Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  13. ^ Gooptu, Biswarup (12 January 2015). "Jabong to launch technology lab for big innovations". The Economic Times. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Fashion & Lifestyle Ecommerce Player Jabong Is Launching Tech Lab in Bangalore". Inc42 Media. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Jabong to raise $ 100 million in fresh round of funding". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Jabong fuels the shopping madness". Best Media info. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  17. ^ "Must haves for 2013 by Jabong.com". Right Column Media. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  18. ^ "Browse for the best". New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  19. ^ "E-shopping for the unusual". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  20. ^ "Excl: Now, an online portal with a strange name comes knocking". 4Ps Business & Marketing. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  21. ^ "Bolder attempts". Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  22. ^ "Jabong.com does a fun take on 'shopaholism'". Best Media Info. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  23. ^ "Jabong fuels the shopping madness". Best Media Info. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  24. ^ "Jabong.com invites shopaholics to 'Go Crazy Shopping'". CampaignIndia. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  25. ^ "Jabong, Puma launch digital fitness campaign with Chitrangada Singh". Financial Express. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  26. ^ "Chitrangda Singh dazzles Delhiites with her fitness". Times of India. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  27. ^ "India's first e-fashion week starts July 25". India Today. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  28. ^ "Jabong launches its fashion magazine, The Juice". Afaqs. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  29. ^ "Arun Chandra Mohan - The pacemaker". Mint. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  30. ^ "Social media drives 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' marketing blitz". Exchange4Media. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  31. ^ "Online shopping portal offers Virender Sehwag's special cricket bats". India Today. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Running for eyeballs". Afaqs. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  33. ^ "'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' to be promoted through shopping websites". IndianTelevision. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  34. ^ "Amazon in talks to acquire Jabong; move a counter to Flipkart's Myntra buy?". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  35. ^ Variyar, Mugdha (17 November 2018). "Jabong merged with Myntra, over 150 laid off". The Economic Times. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  36. ^ Iyer, Krishnan (11 October 2014). "Indian Super League: Mumbai City FC announce Jabong as Principal Sponsor for ISL 2014". India News, Breaking News | India.com. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Excl: Jabong bangs into top rung of Indian e-commerce; Can it sustain?". Techcircle. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  38. ^ "Excl: Statistics Summary for jabong.com". Alexa. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  39. ^ "Excl: 2012 Search Trends India". Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  40. ^ "Flipkart shuts down fashion portal Jabong, to focus fully on Myntra". Livemint. 6 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  41. ^ Mittal, Aarzoo (5 February 2020). "Finally, Flipkart shuts down Jabong". Entrackr. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  42. ^ "Jabong Out Of Picture, Flipkart To Focus On Myntra". Inc42 Media. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  43. ^ "Excl: Jabong Goes International With Jabongworld.com". MediaNama. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  44. ^ "Google, Facebook, eBay, Naukri among most trusted internet brands". exchange4media. Retrieved 22 February 2013.