From September the Association of Estonian E-commerce will start giving out quality marks for trustworthy e-shops.

According to Sirja Mäekivi, head of the association, the goal of the quality mark is to certify e-shops and build trust between the shops and consumers. The quality mark will show that the shop is not failing its customers, the owners are honest and if you buy from this shop you will also get the goods you paid for.

So what makes an e-shop trustworthy?

Mäekivi said that they ensure this through a number of requirements for the shop. For example the shop must be active for at least one year, the owners and people behind it will all be identified by the association.

The association of Estonian e-commerce was founded in March 2009 with the primary goal of enhancing e-commerce and to unite and represent e-shops. The association has already 30 members and is growing rapidly.

They have signed partner agreements with innovative companies like Smartpost and Internetirevolutsioon to make internet-trading easier for the shops. Thanks to the association the e-commerce industry will be better regulated, the rules will be clearer and it will be easier to do e-shopping  for the consumers and to run an e-shop for the enterpreneurs.

E-shopping not very popular in Estonia

Until now e-shopping has not been very popular amongst Estonians, but the economic downturn is due change that. During recession people have less money and more time. Therefore the cheaper prices of e-shops might be able to change the habits of consumers.

But according to Mäekivi the owners of ordinary shops should not be afraid of e-shops! On the contrary, it would be wise to open an e-business in addition to the traditional shop.

The quality mark will also help Estonian e-shops to sell abroad as it is even more difficult to build trust between a consumer and a shop residing in different countries.  There are already a number of association members running shops outside of Estonia.