Romanian online retailer eMAG.ro plans to achieve a turnover of EUR 180 million this year, after missing its targeted growth for 2011. The retailer, which was hoping to end 2011 with a turnover of 150 million, was EUR 5 million short of its target, but managed to up sales by 42 percent on the year before. EMAG.ro's operational profit was of EUR 3 million, similar to 2010.

The Black Friday special sales day brought the retailer EUR 8 million in one day, from 100,000 products sold.

The retailer, which started out with mainly IT&C products and expanded with books, music, toys and even online insurance sales, wants to cover more retail categories in the future, as well as expand into neighboring Bulgaria.

“2011 was a revival year for sales, and we proactively brought half of the growth. Another interesting aspect in 2011 was a switch in shopping behavior: clients have learned to compare, check and choose,” said eMAG.ro's general manager Iulian Stanciu (in picture).

The retailer sold a quarter of the laptop computers sold in Romania last year, around 400,000. The online retailer expects over 100 million visits to its site this year, up from 80 million in 2011.

eMAG.ro is owned by Dante International- with 80.6 percent- majority owned by Asesoft Distribution. Minority shareholders in Dante are Radu Apostolescu, with 16.3 percent and Asesoft Web, with 3 percent. Asesoft became a shareholder in 2009, when it took over 51 percent in the company.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: eMAG.ro)