Byroots.com – Branching Lebanese Roots to the World
When a country suffers from its worst ever economic crisis, initiatives pour in to bring it out of the brinks of total collapse. Financial assistance, humanitarian aid, and increasing solidarity within the community are typical avenues to alleviate the significant sequels of the crisis. As Lebanon has been going through its darkest years, with an ever-deteriorating situation that hasn’t occurred even during the civil war, a project was born. A bridge has been created to connect the invisible roots of the agonizing country to its worldly diaspora. Byroots.com has been conceived as a platform that brings small businesses out of the shadows allowing them to present their products to consumers worldwide. When darkness is around, Byroots constitute a glimmer of hope for hundreds of families who are given a second chance to survive and flourish.
An E-Commerce Platform with A Purpose
A small group of friends have refused to drop the towel, vowing to employ their vast expertise in creatingA small group of friends has refused to drop the towel, vowing to employ their vast expertise in creating a project that will help their fellow Lebanese citizens ride through the crisis with minimal damage. A platform was designed in no time. The management team and a devoted group of developers have taken www.byroots.com to live in a record time. The backbone of the solidarity platform has therefore been created, waiting to be completed with the various products of local suppliers.
Byroots hides a unique operating model behind the fancy website. The e-commerce platform only offers authentic and non-commercial local products to external markets. These products should not be commercially sold in malls and other shopping places. Furthermore, the different products listed on the website cannot be purchased through the website within the country of origin, which is Lebanon in this case.
This weird decision hides beneath it a wise philosophy. The people behind the initiative firmly believe that as they list the different suppliers on the website, individuals within the country can directly visit or contact the local suppliers without needing a third party. The developed platform will only serve to connect external consumers to the local suppliers. The experience will undoubtedly demonstrate its success within the coming months so that the same operating model will be applied to other countries and suppliers.
A Diversity of Products and Payment Methods
In comparison to other e-commerce platforms, Byroots offers a wide variety of local products including food and “Mouneh”, art and crafts, beauty and personal care, and clothes, among others. The quality of the offerings is meticulously inspected by a dedicated group who contacts the suppliers, visits their workplace, looks closely at their products and finalizes the Compared to other e-commerce platforms, Byroots offers a wide variety of local products, including food and “mouneh,” art and crafts, beauty and personal care, clothes, and others.
The quality of the offerings is meticulously inspected by a dedicated group who contacts the suppliers, visits their workplace, looks closely at their products, and finalizes the agreements. The products are treated differently according to their type and value. Small items are generally placed on consignment while listed on the e-commerce website. Short-lived products and other expensive products are handled with care, with the Byroots team organizing the products’ handling, pick-up, and delivery.
In addition to the product diversity, the website supports most international payment methods, including PayPal. Moreover, multiple currencies are supported, saving the buyer currency exchange fees.
The Sky is the Limit
The noble cause triggered byroots.com is also continuously evolving. The team is currently helping local suppliers and producers gain exposure, leading them with branding, marketing, commercialization, packaging, and shipping.
The mission of the team does not end there. Byroots.com has recently supported the children’s cancer center in Lebanon (CCCL), channeling part of the revenues to the center. The e-commerce platform is also partnering with non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The Lebanese model will also extend to other countries worldwide, spreading the message that started in the small Mediterranean countries to other places as well.
Byroots.com is just starting, and the initiative’s prospects look very promising. The country desperately needs the dose of freshness and hope provided by the small group who selected the center of the capital Beirut as a launching platform for the world. The Byroots team has a vision “to create a better future for home societies, connect diasporas to their roots, and preserve the savoir-faire of local traditions through becoming the platform of choice for selling local products globally.” The launch of byroots.com has been massively successful, with hundreds of local suppliers committed to the new initiative. The hardworking team will foster the platform’s development and success, which will “bring the home market to their global customer.”
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