Ankand Albania is striving to change how Albanians buy and sell online by giving items a second chance and challenging the idea of unchecked consumption. In this interview, Arisela Hebovija, co-founder of the startup, shares what lies ahead and what she hopes to achieve with this platform. With solid experience in HR strategy, talent management, recruitment, labor law, diversity, and HR systems—along with a dose of coaching—she has a strong foundation to lead this initiative. From logistics to building user trust, this conversation with Arisela sheds light on how Ankand Albania plans to make a difference in the local and regional market.
What are some key challenges you anticipate during the development of Ankand Albania, and how do you plan to overcome them?
One of the main challenges will be changing the mindset around online buying and selling. The Albanian market is still in the adoption phase for such platforms, and trust in remote transactions remains an obstacle. For this reason, we will invest in security, transparency, and a user rating system to create a reliable environment.
Another challenge will be logistics and streamlining the delivery process for both sellers and buyers. Partnering with trustworthy transport companies will ensure that every transaction is smooth and hassle-free.
Of course, unexpected challenges will always arise, but we see them as opportunities for innovation. At the end of the day, if everything were easy, it wouldn’t be called a startup—it would be a well-established business!
What are the biggest achievements you aim to accomplish with Ankand Albania?
Our goal is to create a platform that is not just another online marketplace but a space where items, clothing, gadgets, and products, in general, find their true value. We want to empower different social groups—young people who can sell and earn from things they no longer need; parents, especially stay-at-home moms looking for a new way to engage without sacrificing childcare; and collectors searching for unique items with history.
Another important achievement will be educating the market about the concept of anti-consumerism. At a time when impulse buying has become the norm, Ankand Albania will promote a more conscious approach to consumption, encouraging the reuse and circulation of new, unused, or lightly used products.
How do you see Ankand Albania evolving in the next 3-5 years?
In the next three to five years, we aim to become the leading platform in the region for online auctions, creating a strong user community that not only buys and sells but also interacts, shares stories, and values each other’s products.
From a technological perspective, we will continuously improve the user experience by integrating smart tools for authenticity verification and real-time offer management.
From a social impact standpoint, we expect Ankand Albania to become a practical solution for those who want to monetize their items without having to lower their value in traditional markets.
Are you planning key partnerships for the development of Ankand Albania?
Absolutely. We are working on forming strategic collaborations with logistics companies to ensure that the shipping process is as easy and affordable as possible.
We are also exploring partnerships with institutions and organizations that promote the circular economy and anti-consumerism to raise awareness and bring change in the way people approach buying and selling.
You were selected as one of the startups in the Challenge Fund. What projects do you plan to implement with this support?
The support from Challenge Fund, to be honest, is what is bringing Ankand Albania to life—turning it from an idea and a business plan into a fully functioning digital platform. This fund will help us develop the platform sustainably by ensuring a solid technological foundation and an effective strategy to engage users.
Our initial focus is on building an optimized auction system tailored to the local market, educating users on how the platform works, and increasing trust in online transactions. Additionally, we will work on creating an ecosystem where every user feels part of a community that shares the same values of reuse and reducing excessive consumerism.
What is your vision for the future of Ankand Albania, and how do you want your startup to be remembered in the industry?
Our vision is for Ankand Albania to be more than just a commercial platform—it should be a movement that changes how Albanians view their belongings, giving them a second life and contributing to building a more conscious and sustainable economy.
We want Ankand Albania to be remembered as the platform that not only made buying and selling valuable items easier but also played a key role in promoting an economic model where things are not bought to be forgotten but are valued and reused smartly.
0 comments