Known as “Cidade Modelo”, “Cidade Sorriso”, “Cidade Ecológica do Brasil” and as “Capital of the Araucaria”, Curitiba is an important national tourist center, which has dozens of attractions such as the Botanical Garden, the Oscar Niemeyer Museum and the Panoramic Tower.
For 17 years, a network of physical stores known as Leve Curitiba has operated in the region, selling tourism -related items . They are managed by the Instituto Pró-Cidadania (IPCC) , a non-profit association created in 1984 that annually serves 600 people in situations of risk and social vulnerability.
At the end of March 2015, the Leve Curitiba network launched an e-commerce website , with which it intends to bring a little bit of the city to the world. The profit obtained from sales is destined for the social projects of the IPCC.
Still in its early stages, the Leve Curitiba online store currently sells around 200 types of products (800 fewer items than the physical stores) in the following categories:
• Accessories
• Craftsmanship
• Welfare
• Tshirts
• Mugs
• House and decoration
• Childish
• Books
• Gifts
• Souvenirs
All the items sold in this IPCC store chain are meticulously crafted to delight tourists. Each one contains an element that symbolizes the city.
The Leve Curitiba online store features a wish list, shopping cart, payment via credit card and PayPal, privacy policies, exchange and delivery times, as well as readily available addresses and contact information, which reinforces the e-consumer 's confidence when making purchases.
This is yet another example of how e-commerce has advanced in Brazil. Here on the E-Plus Digital Marketing Agency blog alone , I 've already cited several case studies of e-commerce in tourism , sports , senior citizens , and religious e-commerce , the reading of which can provide some insights for those – like the Leve Curitiba chain – who intend to open an online store soon.
