WE’LL DELIVER!

Alosra, one of the kingdom’s leading supermarkets, has launched a shopping website as the battle to woo the hearts of shoppers in the kingdom moves online, writes Stan Szecowka.

The upmarket retailer’s portal – alosraselect.com – is the first online service in Bahrain allowing customers to make online purchases, to be delivered straight to their doorstep, anywhere on the island.

By offering this online service, the website will further enhance Alosra’s focus on ‘the best customer experience’ by providing greater convenience and a tailored service, says the store which describes itself as the ‘fresh and friendly subsidiary of BMMI’.

Pavlos Manousos Babiolakis, buying manager-Alosra Supermarket, said: “Gone are the days of walking aimlessly around a store, waiting in line to pay for your purchases and then hauling them to your car, only to realise that you have forgotten to pick something up!

“alosraselect.com’s convenient pick, pack and pay options have made shopping painlessly easy.

“The launch of Alosra Select further adds to its exceptional offerings as a response to the changing shopping habits of its customers and the high demand for its products.

“The online shopping portal is a further sign that Alosra is ramping up its expansion locally, as well as across the region, and is now encouraging its customers to use Alosra Select to make their shopping experience an effortless one.”

Advanced safety precautions have been put in place to ensure that products remain safe and fresh while being transported, with refrigerated delivery vans used to carry all items.

The site offers a growing portfolio of more than 7,500 products with a commitment, it says, to keep sourcing new, innovative and premium products to satisfy the needs of its growing band of loyal customers.

The available products not only include grocery items, but many others, such as baby care, personal care products, as well as toys and games and home and kitchen appliances, some found exclusively on the website.

Mr Babiolakis added that Alosra’s team of friendly customer service agents would ensure that the shopping experience was a pleasant one.

“If you cannot find what you are looking for or have a special product you would like them to source, the team will go the extra mile to try and accommodate your needs,” he promised.

The website uses an interactive delivery calendar, available at checkout. Visitors to the site can choose the best delivery time to suit their needs.

Free delivery is available on all orders above BD15, anywhere in Bahrain and with convenient payment options. Customers may pay online with debit or credit cards or choose to pay on delivery with either cash or credit or debit cards.

The move comes just weeks after bricks-and-mortar retailers were urged to compete with online rivals and each other by offering the best of both worlds – online sales with the option of store pick-ups, delivery and returns.
 
When successful, this so-called omni-channel shopping – allowing customers the choice of buying in a physical store or online – can provide better service, more inventory and faster delivery options, e-commerce experts believe.

“The promise is there, the potential is there, and when it works, it’s a lovely thing,” said Fiona Dias, referring to omni-channel shopping. Dias is chief strategy officer at ShopRunner, which provides e-commerce services to major US retailers.
 
Alosra has stores in Saar, Amwaj Islands, Riffa Views and Durrat Al Bahrain with another set to open in Juffair in the near future.