February 7th, 2013. That’s the day everything started.
We opened our doors with nothing but hope and determination. We had no idea this journey would span over a decade, that we would evolve in ways we never imagined, or that we would find our true calling along the way.
Thirteen years later, as we celebrate our foundation day, we are not just looking back at time passed, we are celebrating a journey of growth, learning, and transformation.
Where It All Began
Back in 2013, e-commerce in our region was still finding its footing. We started as a B2C platform, serving individual customers one order at a time. People were still getting comfortable with online shopping, trust was hard to earn, and every single order felt like a small victory.
Those early days were tough. Really tough. We were learning everything from scratch: how to source products, manage inventory, handle logistics and build trust in a digital space where people couldn’t see or touch what they were buying.
We made mistakes. Plenty of them. Deliveries went wrong, products did not meet expectations, and we wondered if we would make it to the next month. But there were also beautiful moments: the first glowing review, the repeat buyer who told their friends about us, the feedback that said we were doing something right.
The Learning Years
We learned to read what customers actually wanted, not what we thought they wanted. We learned that good service was not about perfection, it was about how you handled things when they went wrong. We learned that building trust takes time, but losing it takes seconds.
By 2015, we would survived the hardest phase, the phase where most startups do not make it. The years from 2016 to 2018 brought steady growth. We refined our processes, built a team that genuinely cared, and became a name people recognized and trusted.
The Pattern We Couldn’t Ignore
Around 2018-2019, we started noticing something interesting.
Some of our most loyal customers were not just shopping for themselves. They were small business owners placing bulk orders and asking, “Can you give us better rates for regular purchases?” We need a consistent supply for our shop. Do you work with businesses?
At first, these were occasional queries. But they kept increasing. These business customers had very different needs; they needed reliability at scale, predictable supply chains, and a partner, not just a vendor.
“This evolution was the result of the ideas we received from our small mom-and-pop shops. We thought we could accelerate their business and solve their problem by empowering them through technology.”
– Asikul Alam Khan, CEO
The more we listened, the more we realized we would accidentally become really good at serving business needs.
The Pivot that Changed Everything
By 2020, the world was changing in unprecedented ways. We spent months in deep discussion: looking at our strengths, our market position, and where we could make the biggest impact. And we kept coming back to the same conclusion: our future was in B2B.
In July 2021, eight years after we started, we made the biggest decision in PriyoShop’s history. We officially transitioned from B2C to B2B.
It was scary. We were walking away from the familiar, from the model we had spent eight years building. We were essentially starting over.
But it also felt absolutely right. This evolution was the result of the ideas we received from our small mom-and-pop shops. We thought we could accelerate their business and solve their problem by empowering them through technology.
We had learned enough to know where we could create real value and that value was in empowering businesses, in being the reliable partner that retailers and shop owners could build their own success on.
Rebuilding for Business
Everything had to change. Our pricing structure had to be reimagined for business margins. Our inventory management had to handle bulk orders efficiently. Our logistics had to meet business timelines. Our entire customer service approach had to shift from handling consumer queries to understanding business needs.
We had to learn a new language: wholesale, supply chains, business partnerships. We had to understand what it means when a retailer runs out of stock, how much pressure a shop owner faces during peak season, and why delivery timing can make or break a business day.
We made a critical strategic decision early on: we would operate as a marketplace platform, not as a traditional distributor. We don’t buy goods, we don’t carry inventory, and we don’t sell anything. This asset-light approach meant we could focus on connecting stakeholders rather than managing warehouses and inventory ensuring high capital efficiency and manageable expenses.
We listened to every business owner who gave us a chance. We adapted. We refined our approach based on real feedback from real partners.
And slowly, we found our rhythm.
Finding Our True Purpose
The past five years in B2B have been the most meaningful of our entire journey.
When a retailer partners with us, they are trusting us with their reputation, their customer relationships, their livelihood. That responsibility drives us every single day.
From day one of our B2B journey, we have been laser-focused on building a sustainable business. “From the beginning, we have been 100% focused on unit economics. “When you are a startup in a new vertical, it is a challenge. Regardless, we have tried to build a sustainable business from day one.”
We have built a product range that serves real business needs. We stock what the market demands, in quantities that make sense for businesses of different sizes. Our pricing is structured for business success. Our team has evolved from customer service representatives to business partners who understand that when a shop owner calls with an urgent need, it’s about their ability to serve their own customers.
The Growth that Matters
From 2013 to 2026. Thirteen years. Eight years learning the fundamentals in B2C. Five years thriving in our B2B calling.
Today, we are proud to serve nearly 200,000 MSMEs across the region, partnering with 288 brands. What matters most to us isn’t just these numbers; it’s the real impact we’re creating for businesses every single day.
We have seen remarkable transformations. A small tea stall owner who started with us now runs a thriving retail shop. A vegetable vendor expanded into a full-fledged grocery store. These aren’t just business evolutions; they are dreams realized through better access to supplies and reliable partnerships.
Our retailers tell us that working with Priyoshop typically improves their revenue by 20-30%, not because we are doing anything magical, but because we have eliminated inefficiencies in their supply chain.
We have built a network of business partners who know that when they order from Priyoshop, it’ll be right. The products will be quality. The delivery will be on time. The service will be reliable.
Stories that Define Us
There’s the retailer who’s been with us since our B2C days, who made the transition to B2B with us, and whose business has tripled in size over the years. They tell us we are not just a supplier, we are part of their success story.
One of our partners once said, “In thirteen years, you guys have figured out what really matters, not being the cheapest or the biggest, but being the one people can count on.” That feedback captures everything we have tried to build.
We have celebrated with partners who hit major milestones. We have problem-solved together through challenges. We have built relationships based on mutual respect and genuine care for each other’s success.
Deep Gratitude
Thirteen years is a long time. We are still here because of the people who believed in us.
To everyone who supported us in those early B2C years you taught us the fundamentals that became our foundation.
To every business that partnered with us after our B2B transition you took a chance on us when we were reinventing ourselves.
To our team who have been with us through different phases and challenges, your dedication to understanding our partners’ needs is what makes this work.
And to everyone who gave us honest feedback, the criticism that made us better, the suggestions that improved our service, the expectations that pushed us to raise our standards.
What Thirteen Years Means
Thirteen years ago, we started with a simple idea. Eight years in, we had the courage to completely transform. Five years later, we are exactly where we are meant to be.
This foundation day is about more than longevity. It’s about evolution. About listening to the market and adapting. About having the humility to change course when you realize there’s a better way to create value.
We are not the same Priyoshop we were in 2013. We are better. Wiser. More focused. More impactful.
But the heart remains the same: a genuine commitment to serving well, to building trust through consistent action, to being a partner people can count on.
Looking Ahead
Thirteen years down. And we are more energized about the future than ever.
We know who we are now. We are the B2B partner that businesses can rely on without hesitation.
But we are not stopping at just being a supply platform. Our vision is to build a complete ecosystem for Bangladesh’s MSMEs, one that provides not only supplies, but also financing, operational management solutions, and sales support. We want to be the partner that helps businesses grow in every dimension.
Our goal is ambitious: to serve one million micro-merchants across Bangladesh, from Teknaf to Tetulia. We’re expanding methodically, adding new regions, onboarding more suppliers, and continuously improving our platform based on what our partners need.
Your growth is our growth. Your challenges are our challenges. Your wins are our wins.
As we step into year fourteen, we are committed to being even better to be the partner that businesses don’t just work with, but build alongside.
Here’s to thirteen years of Priyoshop. Here’s to the journey from B2C to B2B, from learning to leading, from surviving to thriving.
And here’s to everyone who’s been part of this story. Thank you for making this journey possible.