[Exclusive Interview] This Problem-Solving Tech Startup Has Waged A War Against E-Waste | Offers High Quality Refurbished Phones

Recently, we interacted with Mr. Neeraj Chopra, Founder of Zobox Retails Private Limited, on the increase of Indian market of refurbished smartphones and other electronic gadgets, e – waste, carbon emissions and reaching to Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV cities.

Here are the interview highlights:

India’s market for refurbished phones has expanded significantly in recent years. What do you think is the cause of this increase in demand, and how has it affected Zobox’s business plans?

Over the past few years, India’s market for refurbished goods has grown exponentially. Zobox has benefited from the 19% growth index, and we have been focusing on developing more high-quality, low-cost refurbished products. We are already prepared, and the used and refurbished phone market in India will experience a spectacular rise.

The spike has caused Zobox’s business strategy to diversify, and we have been growing the reconditioned sector and fostering technology and innovation. In a few years, we anticipate a 5X growth chart.

How the idea of Zobox is formulated and how it came into being?

I started Zobox in 2020, a B2B and B2C electronics brand that revolutionised the market for used products. Our goal was to wage a war against electronic waste while also offering high-quality refurbished products at competitive costs. As a pioneer in refurbished mobile phones with a focus on high-end, cost-effective handsets, Zobox quickly rose to prominence. We offered a wide variety of products, all of which had undergone thorough performance testing, including well-known brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, and more.

What are the various challenges you have faced during the journey of Zobox?

There are various challenges you face when say head up to start a refurbished gadgets startup as it requires immense patience, funding and correct hiring. Another major factor in the Indian electronics refurbished industry is that it is highly unorganised and we have a motto to create an organised refurbished industry. This has a major aim to facilitate retailers and customers in the most convenient manner while purchasing refurbished gadgets.

The major breakthrough Solution Zobox is providing in addition to affordable refurbished mobile phones is ZRP – Zobox Rated Phones. This is a unique business model that is a direct competition to many B2B giants of the tech industry. Interestingly this model is solely created and initiated for the base level player in the supply chain. Now, how we describe our base level player/vendor, they are small retailers, unregulated vendors shop owners and usually have less amount to shell out to buy bulk large amounts of goods or lot.
According to our research, this contributes around 90% of the market share in India.
For that category of vendors we have developed ZRP.

The main attributes of ZRP are:
No Dead Phones
No Mismatch Phones
Grading/Clarity Defined of Each Phone
Memory Defined
Aggressive Pricing Model
Small Lots Are The Catch Area
Free Delivery Across Nation
Everything is enhanced and seamlessly driven by Technology to give hassle free experience.

What are the quality parameters in your startup and how you are organising the highly organised Indian refurbished industry?

As mentioned above, we have created a unique model, ZRP that is Zobox Rated Phones, it eradicates most of the common challenges that retailers face during the business of refurbished smartphones. We have been expanding in the Tier II, Tier III and Tier IV cities where consumers can buy authentic billed refurbished smartphones in aggressive pricing range. We are working in lines with ideas and thoughts of our Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to upgrade more and more renewable energy that includes refurbished industry and reduction of e – waste. Zobox is endlessly working on these lines and aims to create a difference in our nation by reduction of carbon footprints.

What are your future plans in the coming three years?

We are in complete expansion mode in the coming three years and we would love to enhance the presence of our refurbished centres across PAN India. Also, I aim to work more on research and development of the refurbished sector and increasing towards laptops in the coming time. We are in the process of setting up a recycling plant as e-waste is hazardous to our environment. Zobox also plays a pivotal role in reduction of carbon footprints and wants to enhance it more.

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