Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
GiftBag.ae, an online platform in Dubai that specialises in delivering gifts, intends to expand to Saudi Arabia and other countries as internet use and demand for online shopping grow amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The company, which sells items such as chocolates, cakes, flowers, balloons and sweets on its website, was started by Latika Chawla and her husband Sandeep Chawla in 2011.
It also offers gift consultations and personalised services through live chat sessions and several other products.
“With the advent of Covid-19, we saw a huge surge in demand during the second quarter. In general, the economy has [registered] a sudden increase in online shopping. We had to increase our marketing budgets to reach out to end consumers and added more on-demand delivery partners to facilitate deliveries,” Ms Chawla says.
Sales increased by more than 150 per cent during the second quarter, compared to the same period last year, she says.
The company received orders from clients in Egypt, India and other countries for the delivery of gifts to their loved ones who remained in the UAE due to movement restrictions put in place after the outbreak of Covid-19.
For instance, a wife in Egypt wanted personalised chocolates delivered to her husband in Abu Dhabi on their 17th wedding anniversary – the first anniversary they have spent apart.
The company also took a sales order from a father in India who wanted a special cake to be delivered to his daughter on her fourth birthday in Dubai, as he could not travel to the UAE due to the travel restrictions.
“We realised just how many people were stranded in other parts of the world, away from their loved ones, and their need to connect on special occasions with a special gift.”
Ms Chawla first identified an opportunity in the e-commerce sector about nine years ago as Amazon.com and Souq.com were becoming popular. She had taken note of the absence of an online platform to sell gifts on special occasions such as Eid and other festivals.
“The aim was mainly to bridge the gap in the e-commerce sector for gift deliveries. There were many bakeries and florists out there who did not have the right platform to reach the growing audiences moving towards online shopping,” Ms Chawla says.
The couple were keen to make their mark on the business world.
“We [had] just got married and were a new couple at that time and thought: ‘let us do a venture together’. E-commerce was just starting up and we thought it was the right time to start with gift deliveries,” says Ms Chawla, who was born and raised in Dubai.
She did not reveal how much they invested to launch the company, which is currently profitable, with 15,000 to 20,000 people visiting the site each month. It also receives between 150 to 200 orders a month from customers looking to buy gifts.
“We aim to move towards a gift-focused marketplace – both multi-vendor and multi-category. Currently operating in the UAE only, we are looking forward to establishing our presence in Saudi Arabia, India and Australia.”
The company plans to raise money and is seeking investors “who will help us grow and take our expansion to the next step as a gift delivery marketplace, in [the] UAE and beyond”.
Start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa secured $659 million (Dh2.4 billion) in funding in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 35 per cent, according to data platform Magnitt.
The UAE received the largest share of funds raised while Egypt was ranked first in terms of the number of deals, accounting for 25 per cent of the Mena region’s total. E-commerce accounted for 14 per cent of all deals, the data shows.
The UAE is supporting start-ups with various investment initiatives. Abu Dhabi committed Dh535m to a new fund that will invest in start-ups as part of the emirate’s Ghadan 21 programme.
Dubai, which has formed a number of technology accelerator and start-up hubs, recorded an 83 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of e-commerce business licences issued in the first half as consumer demand for online shopping grew during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The emirate’s Department of Economic Development issued its DED Trader licence to 1,947 new businesses during the period, up from 1,064 in the first six months of last year, it said this month.
Competition in the local marketplace “is fierce, with the big players and their funding hijacking market share and visibility”, Ms Chawla says.
“In addition, almost all individual bakeries and florists have set up their own e-commerce stores.”
Q&A with Latika Chawla, co-founder of Giftbag.ae
What already successful start-up do you wish you had started?
Just out of university, in 2004, Sandeep created a social portal for our group of friends to connect, post pictures and message each other after we all went separate ways. Little did we know that Mark Zuckerberg was creating something similar at the same time that took the entire world by storm. If only we had the vision and a Harvard degree. At that time, we could have also pursued our concept further.
What is your next big dream?
To be the "go to" app or brand for gift delivery in the region – for both vendors and consumers.
What new skills have you learnt in the process of launching a start-up?
Running a business, especially a small business, has taught us that no task is smaller than the other. We have invested as much time and effort in delivering gifts and personally talking to our customers as we have in accounting, marketing and other business tasks. Being a marketer, I have tried to be up to date with digital and social marketing skills to help with my business.
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
Company%20profile
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MATCH INFO
Mainz 0
RB Leipzig 5 (Werner 11', 48', 75', Poulsen 23', Sabitzer 36')
Man of the Match: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlanRadar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2013%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIbrahim%20Imam%2C%20Sander%20van%20de%20Rijdt%2C%20Constantin%20K%C3%B6ck%2C%20Clemens%20Hammerl%2C%20Domagoj%20Dolinsek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVienna%2C%20Austria%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EConstruction%20and%20real%20estate%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400%2B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Headline%2C%20Berliner%20Volksbank%20Ventures%2C%20aws%20Gr%C3%BCnderfonds%2C%20Cavalry%20Ventures%2C%20Proptech1%2C%20Russmedia%2C%20GR%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
TOUR RESULTS AND FIXTURES
June 3: NZ Provincial Barbarians 7 Lions 13
June 7: Blues 22 Lions 16
June 10: Crusaders 3 Lions 12
June 13: Highlanders 23 Lions 22
June 17: Maori All Blacks 10 Lions 32
June 20: Chiefs 6 Lions 34
June 24: New Zealand 30 Lions 15
June 27: Hurricanes 31 Lions 31
July 1: New Zealand 21 Lions 24
July 8: New Zealand v Lions
Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
Born: September 30, 1998
Age: 20 years and 26 days
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
The Bio
Favourite Emirati dish: I have so many because it has a lot of herbs and vegetables. Harees (oats with chicken) is one of them
Favourite place to go to: Dubai Mall because it has lots of sports shops.
Her motivation: My performance because I know that whatever I do, if I put the effort in, I’ll get results
During her free time: I like to drink coffee - a latte no sugar and no flavours. I do not like cold drinks
Pet peeve: That with every meal they give you a fries and Pepsi. That is so unhealthy
Advice to anyone who wants to be an ironman: Go for the goal. If you are consistent, you will get there. With the first one, it might not be what they want but they should start and just do it
Summer special
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
The%20stats%20and%20facts
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The years Ramadan fell in May
PROFILE OF STARZPLAY
Date started: 2014
Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand
Number of employees: 125
Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
