Could blockchain-based insurance solve agricultural pains in the Philippines?

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The Philippines is one of the most typhoon-prone countries in the world, dealing with an average of 20 occurrences per year. According to the Philippine Climate Change and Food Security Analysis (CCFSA) study commissioned by the World Food Programme, typhoons and other extreme weather events have cost the country approximately Php 290 million in agricultural damages in the last decade. The recent typhoon Paeng alone caused Php 3.16 billion in damages to the sector.

Agriculture is a major industry in the Philippine economy, representing about ten percent of its gross domestic product. At the groundwork of the industry are small-scale farmers, usually holding less than three hectares of farmland, leading agricultural production. Despite being the major contributors to the industry, most of these farmers live in poverty. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) states that most rice farmers got a net return per hectare of Php 16,832 in 2020, which is a little more than 20% of the average Php 70,000 per hectare capital required for rice farming.

With limited financial means, farmers heavily rely on loans to raise capital for their work. This situation makes them vulnerable when they lose income when crops are destroyed by floods and droughts. With their initial mortgage unpaid, farmers often raise capital through fresh loans, exposing them to a high risk of debt accumulation.

“Farmer productivity has declined over the years due to insufficient support. Often, families of farmers decide to sell land for more immediate income amid pressing needs and what would have been the next generation of farmers are seen to pursue better-paying jobs,” shared Mario Berta, Country Manager for the Philippines at Igloo. “On top of these challenges, there are recurring natural disasters that significantly hurt the livelihoods of farmers. This calls for a strengthened initiative that will mitigate the impact of catastrophes.”

While extreme weather conditions may not be prevented, preparations can be made to ensure the fastest recovery for the agriculture sector. The provision of crop insurance can help and will enable farmers to begin farming anew after a calamity. However, the current process of insurance claims settlement takes a lot of time and requires tedious backend processing. In addition to this, agents have to brave the difficult journey of visiting farms in the wake of typhoons and manually assess the damage to the insured’s assets. This extended processing time adds to further loss of income for the farmers.

“Crop insurance needs to be automated so the farmers can receive their payouts sooner and get back on their feet quicker,” said Berta.

Igloo is a regional insurtech firm with a mission to make insurance accessible and affordable for all through technology. It facilitates digital insurance underwritten by partner insurance companies and offered in partner distribution channels such as e-commerce platforms and mobile wallets. Recently, Igloo introduced Weather Index Insurance, its first blockchain-based parametric insurance that automates claims through a smart contract on the blockchain.

Weather Index Insurance is an innovative approach to insurance provision that pays out benefits on the basis of a rainfall level, the predetermined index, for loss of assets and investments resulting from weather and catastrophic events. The claim is automatically paid when the rain index hits the flood or drought threshold. This eliminates the need to individually verify claims thereby reducing transaction costs, and allowing for a quicker claims settlement process. The business rules governing claims payout being hosted on a public blockchain help leverage the attributes of transparency, consistency, and unbiasedness thereby making the setup credible.

“We believe that Weather Index Insurance is a potential product that will reduce the vulnerability of farmers to adverse weather conditions. The expected increase in the speed of claims processing will enable farmers to have a better chance of recovery from catastrophes and increase productivity and competitiveness,” added Berta.

However, he also recognized that there are enormous challenges needed to be addressed to make blockchain-based insurance palatable to farmers. These hurdles include the country’s low insurance penetration rate, financial inclusion, and access to digital services in rural areas, among others.

“When we bring Weather Index Insurance to the Philippines, Igloo will work with organizations such as rural banks, farmer’s cooperatives, and relevant government agencies to address these pain points and ensure that the insurance solution becomes a viable option that farmers can rely on for faster recovery,” said Berta.

“The unprecedented pace of climate change coupled with COVID-19 induced supply chain shocks have made it absolutely necessary to scale up agri-insurance solutions for the smallholder farming community. Igloo is trying to bring forth an integrated approach with the wider ecosystem to strengthen farm-level resilience by focusing on product and distribution innovation,” shared Raunak Mehta, Co-founder and CEO at Igloo.

The Weather Index Insurance is available in Vietnam but is set to roll out in more agriculture-driven SEA countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. Igloo is currently speaking to potential partners that can underwrite and distribute the product to underserved farmers in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Committed to delivering Insurance for All, Igloo welcomes more collaboration with the public and private sector to guarantee the highest level of national protection.

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About Igloo:

Igloo is the first full-stack insurtech firm to emerge from Singapore. It has offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia and tech centres in India and China. With a mission of making insurance accessible for all, the firm leverages big data, real-time risk assessment, and end-to-end automated claims management to create B2B2C insurance solutions for platform companies and insurance companies. Igloo’s insurance solutions enable companies to eliminate their exposure to operational risk, create new revenue streams, optimise and enhance existing products and services. Igloo has partnered with over 55 well-known brand names across the markets in various verticals, including insurance, telecommunications, e-commerce, hospitality, health tech and financial services.

For more information, please visit https://www.iglooinsure.com/.

What drives an entrepreneur to start a business?

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The rise of e-commerce platforms in recent times has made it easier for Filipinos across the country to start their own online businesses.

Apart from generating income, there are multiple factors – both personal and external – that inspire a person to start their own business. With this increasing interest, what are the motivations that drive someone to become an entrepreneur?

For overseas Filipino workers like Donald, becoming an entrepreneur meant being able to spend more time with his family. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, Donald worked in the UAE hotel industry. Although he was able to provide for his family, being away limited him from celebrating special occasions and milestones, so he decided to go home in 2019. When he got back to the Philippines, he made a living out of selling hotel-grade curtains and bedsheets to leverage his hotel industry experience. Initially, he marketed his products through door-to-door sales, but since he was away from his family for a long time, he wanted to spend more time at home. This is why he decided to start selling online.

Donald set up a shop on Shopee to expand his reach to a nationwide audience and boost his sales, all from the comfort of his own home. Today, he has over 100 employees helping him run his Shopee store, and is now able to spend more time with his family. “When I was away, I was never able to celebrate holidays with my family. I took the leap to go home and start my own business – which has changed my life for the better,” shared Donald.

“Because I started selling online with Shopee, time with my family is now a luxury I can enjoy since I can run my business from home. I’ve learned a lot from my journey as an entrepreneur, but I know that business is always changing. I need to adapt, change, and innovate, and Shopee makes it easier for me to do that with new features, tools, and online courses that I can access from my home.”

Meanwhile, for hobbyists like Heron, starting his own business enabled him to build relationships with his customers, and even foster a sense of community with those who share the same interests as him. Before becoming an entrepreneur, he was already an avid collector of imported action figures. When he chose to sell some items from his personal collection, Heron realized he could make a business out of his hobby. With his knowledge on the niche market of collecting action figures, Heron successfully set up his own store. Although he initially started out with a traditional brick and mortar store, he eventually transitioned to e-commerce and sold collector’s items on Shopee.

With Shopee, he was able to grow a customer base who have the same interests and hobbies. He maximizes the platform’s features to directly communicate with his buyers, and build affinity for his business. “I never expected that my hobby would turn into my full-time job. When I needed to sell some of my items to build my savings, it felt like a happy accident that there were many people like me who share the same interests and are interested in buying my action figures,” shared Heron.

“When I joined Shopee, it helped me take my business even further because it became easier to track my stocks, monitor sales, and reach new customers with the different in-app features. My relationship manager has also been a big help in guiding me every step of the way. I didn’t know how to start, but it became a lot easier with Shopee. Everything just fell into the right place at the right time.”

If there’s anything Donald and Heron’s stories have shown, it’s that becoming a successful entrepreneur is within arm’s reach. It takes drive, determination, and personal experience that spark a sense of entrepreneurship for one to take that leap and start their own business. Shopee commits itself to helping entrepreneurs drive their businesses forward through the multiple benefits of e-commerce.

If you want to become an entrepreneur and grow your business online with the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

How the e-commerce ecosystem enables brands to unlock new growth opportunities

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Over the last few years, the e-commerce industry has rapidly evolved into a vast ecosystem that enables mutual value creation, collaboration, and communication between consumers and sellers. Southeast Asia holds the highest e-commerce sales growth projection in the world, and is expected to continue growing[1]. In the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has set a goal to increase e-commerce revenue to $24.2 billion[2]. Given this, more local and international brands are recognizing the need to grow their businesses online.

Recognizing the need to grow businesses online and meet the changing needs of Filipinos, Shopee aims to equip brands with the necessary tools and features to grow their online presence. Through various platform features, initiatives, and campaigns, brands are able to create awareness with new customers, strengthen relations with existing ones, and drive innovation to enhance the overall online shopping experience.

The e-commerce ecosystem enables brands to increase their brand awareness to grow their customer base. They are able to reach new customers without the limitations of geographical borders. For Gaabor, a German home appliances brand entering the Philippine market for the first time, establishing their online presence with Filipinos was their main priority. With Shopee’s different initiatives, they were able to cement their reputation and establish their trust with Filipinos. Since their launch on the platform just over a year ago, Gaabor has become one of Shopee’s leading home appliance brands by actively participating in Shopee’s monthly Double Day campaigns, Super Brand Days, and Brand Spotlights.

“As a new player in the Philippine market, we knew that we needed all the support that we could get to establish Gaabor’s presence nationwide. With Shopee’s various initiatives, we’ve been able to expand our reach and cement our reputation as a trusted brand among Filipinos. From our humble launch just over a year ago, Gaabor has quickly become a top pick on Shopee,” shared Jenny Liu, CEO at Gaabor Philippines.

For brands that already have an established presence in the Philippine market, their challenge is to strengthen and sustain their relationship with their customers. As e-commerce provides vast opportunities for innovation, brands are able to discover new ways to enhance their customers’ experience. Together, Shopee and L’Oreal Philippines revolutionized the experience of shopping for beauty and skincare products online through the launch of the SkinCam. This Shopee-exclusive AI-enabled skincare diagnostics tool identifies different areas for improvement on one’s skin and recommends a skincare routine complete with products to address each concern.

Bea Morales, Online Brand Manager at L’Oréal Philippines, shared, “Introducing SkinCam together with Shopee has enabled us to work through the many challenges that Filipinos face when shopping for beauty and skincare products online. With the use of the SkinCam on Shopee’s platform, we are able to meet the needs of our customers by providing them with a personal, simplified, and accurate online shopping experience.”

With e-commerce, brands have access to a wide variety of in-app tools and features to help them achieve their goals. For Promil, a trusted milk brand among Filipino parents, the challenge was to explore new ways to create value for their customers. Shopee has enabled Promil to offer customers a rewarding online shopping experience with their exclusive brand membership program on the platform, where customers can enjoy perks such as earning points with every purchase, redeeming exclusive vouchers, and using earned points to claim special gifts.

“Promil’s Brand Membership program on Shopee has enabled us to expand our reach and nurture our relationships with new and existing customers. Through exclusive perks and benefits, we are able to provide our shoppers with greater value for an even more rewarding online shopping experience,” shared Christine Alvarez, Customer Manager at Promil.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “We are incredibly humbled by the trust and support that we receive from our brand partners. At Shopee, we continuously maximize our platform for brands to discover new growth opportunities in the e-commerce ecosystem. Together with our brand partners, we will continue to provide Filipinos across the country with easy, convenient, and reliable access to their everyday needs.”

Each aspect of the e-commerce ecosystem works toward propelling businesses to grow in the online space. Platforms like Shopee enable brands and aspiring entrepreneurs to maximize their reach and engagement by customizing the shopping experience to meet the needs of Filipino customers. Gaabor, L’Oréal Philippines, and Promil are just some of the many brands that have found success when they ventured into e-commerce with Shopee.

If you want to grow your business online and enjoy the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

[1] Practical E-Commerce: Southeast Asia Tops Worldwide Ecommerce Growth

[2] E-Commerce Roadmap Philippines 2022

How these top-performing sellers grow their businesses through Shopee’s mega sales

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Shopee’s Seller Recognition Operations Awardees highlight how efficient operations contribute to online success

In the Philippines, double day dates such as 9.9 and 11.11 have become highly anticipated due to shopping festivals offered by platforms such as Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. In fact, last year over 2 billion items were purchased by shoppers during 11.11 alone across the region. This uptick in purchases made during mega-sales allowed more than 1,000 local sellers across the region to exceed US$100,000 in sales during Shopee’s year-end festivals in 2021.

Alongside hard work and determination, the success of Shopee sellers relies heavily on how efficiently they operate. This is especially true during mega-sales where the opportunity for growth is high. For this reason, Shopee recognizes sellers who go above and beyond in time for Shopee’s mega-sale days through its Seller Recognition Operations Awards.

Martin Yu, Shopee Philippines Director, said, “Shopee has always been committed to helping businesses create long-term, sustainable e-commerce strategies in today’s digital economy. Through the Seller Recognition Operations Awards, we are able to highlight top-performing sellers in this regard, as well as their strategies and insights which their fellow sellers can learn from and apply to their businesses.”

Jenna Indigado, owner of Small Wonders Page and a recent awardee, is among those who diligently prepares for and maximizes mega-sale days to grow her business on Shopee. She decided to become a full-fledged Shopee seller in 2020 when her agricultural business was affected by the African Swine Flu (ASF) breakout that year.

“After our hog-raising business was affected by ASF, I made the decision to sell on Shopee full-time. I already had a part-time reselling business on the platform in 2018 so I knew the potential for growth was huge especially if I committed my time and resources to it.”

She went on to hire a local seamstress to grow her reselling business into one that manufactures clothing for babies. Today, she employs more than 300 Filipinos.

“There were only two of us when we started the Small Wonders Page at Shopee. Now, we employ around 250 local seamstresses and 70 employees who have gone on to fulfill their dreams and even purchase their own cars and houses. Without Shopee, we wouldn’t be able to provide jobs for these Filipinos,” she said.

She says her experience as a Shopee seller, the platform’s features, as well as guidance from her dedicated relationship manager are key factors for her business success especially during mega-sale days.

“Having a dedicated relationship manager helps us create strategies to maintain product visibility, eliminate backlog, and fast-track order processing and fulfillment during mega-sales. During campaigns we also make sure to utilize features such as Chat Broadcast, ShopeeLive, and ShopeeAds in order to connect with our customers and inform them about our new products, discounts, and deals.”

Charles Barrientos of Mikana store, a recent awardee as well, also shares that alongside the hard work that comes with preparing for mega-sale days, these highly anticipated dates are integral to their business. His decision to launch Mikana, a store that specializes in jewelry, on Shopee was because he learned about how Shopee provides features and guidance to cater to its sellers’ growth. Besides these tools, he says constant adjustments and preparation are what help drive his business success.

“Preparing for peak days and seasons comes with its challenges because of the sudden increase in demand. There are times wherein we have to extend our operations and double our efforts especially since mega-sale days are a big part of our sales.”

He also highlights how Shopee’s user-centric platform helps them maintain a good relationship with their customers. “Shopee has an efficient customer service feature which allows us to address the concerns of our customers directly and improve how we serve them.”

Like Jenna and Charles, you can conveniently join Shopee as a seller and grow your business today. Learn more and Get Started on Shopee.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Shopee Launches First #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair of the Year

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While MSMEs still comprise the majority of registered businesses in the country, a survey conducted by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) - Ecommerce Office in September 2020 showed that 73% of MSMES still require assistance in digitizing their operations. 

Shopee remains committed to help MSMEs transition to digital easily and seamlessly as it once again partners with the DTI to launch the #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair from March 18-24. This initiative is in line with Shopee’s goal to provide local MSMEs with the support that they need to grow their businesses online.

Through the week-long virtual trade fair, Shopee users will be able to discover and purchase Filipino-made essentials from a variety of shops ranging from snack food, health & beauty, groceries & pet stores, fashion, and more, at discounted rates. This year’s #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair will feature a diverse range of local sellers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. This is among Shopee’s many initiatives to empower local businesses to shift online and encourage users to support them. Alongside these virtual trade fairs, sellers are also provided with different marketing tools, training, and initiatives to help them maximize their businesses’ growth on the platform such as Shopee University Summit, where local MSMEs can learn ways to drive their business growth from industry speakers and leaders.

The virtual trade fair will also feature products from beloved Filipino brands such as Splash Personal Care, Zenutrients, Go Natural, Ever Bilena, San Miguel Foods, EQ, Lifeline Clothing, Sweetbaby, and Tala by Kyla.

DTI’s Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion Director Marievic Bonoan says, “Being able to provide our local MSMEs with opportunities for growth and development is one of our top priorities at the DTI. We understand the important role e-commerce platforms, like Shopee, play in creating a seamless digital transition for MSMEs. Through initiatives like the #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair, we believe that we can help these businesses maximize their full potential and make the digital transition smoother.”

Shopee Philippines Director Martin Yu says, “Supporting MSMEs is at the very core of what we do. We are deeply committed to creating more opportunities to help our local businesses adapt and thrive in the e-commerce industry through initiatives like our #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair. We look forward to this opportunity to once again help our sellers in their e-commerce journey, and also allow our users to support these community-owned businesses.”

Aside from the wide range of products available at the #TatakPinoy Virtual Trade Fair, Shopee users will also also enjoy ShopeePay vouchers for 20% off with a minimum purchase of Php 300, valid on all #TatakPinoy: Virtual Trade Fair items this March 18-24.

For more information about the #TatakPinoy: Virtual Trade Fair, visit https://shopee.ph/m/tatakpinoy2022.

Shopee Continues Push to Make E-Commerce for Everyone

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Shopee always aims to give users a seamless digital experience. Since its launch, Shopee has been known for hosting some of the biggest e-commerce campaigns, and the recent 3.15 Consumer Day was no exception. It marked Shopee’s first mega sale of the year, providing consumers with the best deals, exciting initiatives, and overall fun and rewarding online shopping experience. 3.15 Consumer Day is also part of the company’s commitment to make e-commerce for everyone, similar to other initiatives that enable consumers and businesses to experience e-commerce to the fullest.

Making shopping more fun and accessible for all

Shopee has become a go-to for safe and convenient online shopping. The platform continues to create a more inclusive and convenient digital environment where both shoppers and sellers can find enjoyment and success. Last 3.15, Shopee celebrated its very first Consumer Day Sale where more Filipinos were able to avail of exclusive discounts and deals. Across the region, Shopee concluded a successful first mega sale of the year, with 5 times more items bought in the first 2 hours of March 15 and 36 million vouchers claimed per hour.

3.15 was not only a day for shopping, but a day for fun and rewards as well with Shopee’s in-app games. Shopee Pets was launched in time for 3.15 Consumer Day as the latest addition to its growing list of in-app games that includes Pera Panalo, Shopee Candy, Shopee Farm, Shopee Bubble, and Shopee Claw. During the 3.15 campaign, Shopee Prizes saw more than 27 million game plays in the Philippines.

Shopee Live, another in-app innovation, fosters a shared experience as it allows users to interact with sellers directly through a Livestream session. Users had the opportunity to join Marian Rivera, Shopee’s newest brand ambassador, as they welcomed the 3.15 Consumer Day with a live countdown on March 14. A total of 65 million Shopee Live views were recorded during the 3.15 Consumer Day Sale across the Philippines.

More than games and sales, Shopee also invites its consumers to make a positive impact through various initiatives and campaigns targeted towards helping the underserved. Support Local initiatives such as #TatakPinoy Trade Fairs continue to provide support for MSMEs and community-owned businesses.

Providing easier access to safe and reliable digital payments

ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, was also launched in 2019 to provide users with a safe and secure cashless payment experience. ShopeePay makes financial services more accessible by allowing users to make online purchases, buy load, pay bills via the Shopee app, and even send money for free to any bank account or Shopee user.

ShopeePay has partnered with thousands of merchants nationwide to make digital payments more accessible. Among these merchants that benefited from the adoption of digital payments are Buddy’s, a restaurant chain serving Filipino dishes, and Jetti Petroleum, a Filipino-owned company with over a hundred gas stations. Both brands have boosted their businesses with ShopeePay Near Me, Shopee's location-based online-to-offline feature that allows users to discover merchants near them and enjoy attractive deals.

Claudia Ysabelle Veluz, Buddy’s Jr. Operations Manager, says, “At Buddy's, we continuously adapt to technological advancements in the industry. We were able to meet the demands of our regular customers and attract new customers by offering ShopeePay as a mode of payment. This made the payment experience more convenient and seamless for them.”

Alluding to the rise in cashless transactions, Precious Que, Jetti Petroleum Brand Loyalty Officer states, “Since Jetti has no major cashless transaction system in the pipeline, we partnered with ShopeePay to give our consumers the convenience and speed of payment when gassing up. ShopeePay has a huge impact in the business in terms of attracting more customers and increasing overall sales.”

Uplifting the community with the power of technology

Apart from celebrating consumers through campaigns, Shopee uses technology to make a difference and empowers users to do the same. Users can donate to various causes via partner charities on-boarded or purchase donation vouchers directly from these charitable organizations, through Shopee Bayanihan, its umbrella CSR program. Furthermore, they can also donate to ShopeePay partner foundations by scanning the QR code of their chosen organization found on the Shopee app and entering the amount.

Shopee Philippines Director Martin Yu highlights, “Shopee will continue to host campaigns like the 3.15 Consumer Day that create more engaging e-commerce experiences that bring our customers and sellers together and connect even more people to the digital economy. We are committed to utilizing our platform in building an inclusive and safe digital environment and in serving our stakeholders with the best promotions, app features and initiatives.”

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

For These Three Women Sellers, E-Commerce Meant Empowerment

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Shopee sellers Anjelica, Emerald, and Shine share their stories on how they’ve become stronger, more independent, and more successful women in the industry

More women in e-commerce continue to excel in the industry and are stepping out of their comfort zone to pursue their dreams and transform their lives. On March 8, the world will celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and this year’s campaign theme, #BreakTheBias, promotes gender equality and a community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusivity. In celebration of IWD, three local female Shopee sellers share how they overcame the challenges they faced and how they’re breaking barriers. They hope that their stories may serve as an inspiration to other aspiring women entrepreneurs venturing into the world of e-commerce.

Embracing the Shift to Online Selling

Setting up an online business requires a lot of focus and can be intimidating. Shine de Luna was pregnant when she started selling online, and eventually decided to focus on her online business when she gave birth so that she can spend more time taking care of her child. She knew it was risky and faced many difficulties when she first set up her online shop. “I had zero orders in the beginning, but I persevered, pushed forward, and didn’t give up. I made sure I boosted my posts every four hours and replied to inquiries fast. It took months before my business picked up the pace, and now, I’m getting a hundred orders daily.” In addition to traveling to Divisoria to source products to sell, she also had to tend to her child and bring them along.

The same goes for Anjelica Tullao, who started with zero ratings and zero items sold. “Establishing the customer’s trust was my main obstacle. For them to consider buying from my shop, they need to trust me and that my products are of high quality,” she said.

Emerald Sin, on the other hand, was already selling her pre-loved clothes in college to finance her studies. She invested in a brick-and-mortar store located around the University Belt and shifted online to cater to her clients who were going home to their provinces.

Rising Above the Challenges One Step at a Time

Despite the hardships faced, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica rose above the challenges, determined to succeed no matter what. For Shine, not only was she able to provide for her family, but she also became a channel of blessing to the few workers she employed to get her business running. “I am grateful to my team for helping me through it all. It was risky, but it was worth it because I can also help others during this difficult time.” It was also through online selling that she was able to help achieve her parent’s lifetime dream of owning their own house.

Both Emerald and Anjelica focused on how to market their products effectively. Emerald branched out and became a direct manufacturer, hiring local seamstresses to produce high-quality fashion products, while Anjelica maximized the in-app features of Shopee to improve customer trust and retention. “Whenever I encounter issues, Live Chat is always available to answer all my queries. I am also grateful to the Shopee team who helped me become a ‘Preferred Seller’ and recommended me to join big campaigns.” With her shop’s good performances, she went from being a one-man team to having seven additional team members.  “With our shop’s growth, we were able to expand our office, rent a warehouse, and purchase two vehicles for personal and professional use.”

Supporting Women in E-commerce

This International Women’s Day, Shine, Emerald, and Anjelica encourage other women to step up, break stereotypes, and reach for their dreams. “I’m encouraging those who are hesitant, to take a leap of faith. I believe that we can do so much more. Don’t let the circumstances stop you from being successful and from helping others. A successful journey always starts with someone determined to overcome anything life throws at us,” said Emerald.

Shine, on the other hand, is proud to be both a mother and a successful entrepreneur. “Sobrang saya ko kasi natupad ko ang pangarap ng aking mga magulang na magkaroon ng sariling bahay sa tulong ng pagiging online seller ko.” (I’m very happy because I was able to fulfill my parent’s dream of having our own house, and this was made possible by being an online seller). She also adds that women should pursue their dreams and work hard towards it. “Huwag kang aasa sa magulang or partner mo. Naging makahulugan ang pagiging anak at ina ko dahil nabigay ko sa kanila ang pangangailangan nila mula sa negosyo ko.” (Don’t just expect things from your partner or parents. I feel fulfilled as a mother and daughter since I can provide my family what they need thanks to my online business.)

Anjelica also pushes aspiring female entrepreneurs to grab the opportunity. “Find your own purpose, challenge yourself, and pursue your goals. Being a successful woman in business means being your authentic self and showing up, day after day, to get to work your dreams.”

Celebrate and support local sellers like Anjelica, Emerald, and Shine at the 3.15 International Women’s Day Sale this coming March 8. Here, users can look forward to 90% off on select categories like Lifestyle, Fashion, and many more. For those who are considering online selling and want to explore the evolving digital space, they can Get Started on Shopee right now.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

 

IKEA Philippines Expands Ecommerce Operations to Pampanga and Cebu

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After a successful opening late last year, and an already-thriving e-commerce operation in Manila, IKEA Philippines has started to expand its e-commerce business to Pampanga in Central and North Luzon, and Cebu in Visayas by opening collection points in these key locations. These collection points are hubs where customers outside of Metro Manila can pick up their online purchases from the largest IKEA store in the world.

“We are always looking for new ways to make our home furnishing solutions more accessible to the many people. Through additional collection points in Luzon and Visayas, we can reach even more Filipinos and help them create a better and more sustainable everyday life,” shared Jon Cinconiegue, Fulfillment Developer of IKEA Philippines.

The Pampanga collection point, located at Cluster J, The Shoppes @ Infinity in Angeles City, has already started serving customers in Central and Northern Luzon since December 2021, while the Cebu collection point is located at Veranda Alley, Robinsons Galleria Cebu City, Gen. Maxilom Ave. Extension Cor. Sergio Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City begins operations on February 8. Fees for the Click & Collect service are Php900 for Pampanga and Php2,700 for Cebu, with XDE Logistics providing courier services for both collection points. XDE is the domestic contract logistics partner of IKEA Philippines providing door-to-door deliveries from Manila to Cebu and across the country. IKEA has also partnered with LBC in providing parcel delivery to both Pampanga and Cebu which will be offered soon.

Online shoppers can avail the collection point service in three quick and easy steps.

1. Upon check out, select the Click & Collect option.

2. Choose preferred collection point, collection date, and time of pick up.

3. After payment, shoppers will receive an order confirmation and SMS notification once order is ready for pick up at the collection point.

Online customers can also earn reward points when they join IKEA Family club. Registration is free and can be done online at family.IKEA.com.ph, using a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. The online store at IKEA.ph continues to offer the full IKEA range to customers, allowing them to shop safely and conveniently online, 24/7.

For more information on the Click & Collect service, visit IKEA.ph/collectionpoint

To Push E-Commerce Forward, Developing Tech Leaders is Key

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Shopee Nurtures Top Tech Talent with the Global Leaders Program

The continued rise of Southeast Asia’s “digital decade”, now projected to gross around $1 trillion across the region by 2030, has increased the demand for tech talents who can drive the digital economy. Amidst this growing digital landscape, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to seek for the next generation of industry leaders through the Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations. It is designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents who have the potential to boost the country’s e-commerce industry. Final-year students or young professionals with up to two years of working experience can apply for GLP and be part of a structured learning and development program. Participants will also receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Digital transformation has been an ongoing focus in several key economic sectors. As a result, the demand for tech talent has been on the rise in recent years. Shopee remains committed to developing the next generation of talents in the Philippines through immersive training and mentorship initiatives like the Global Leaders Program. We will continue to come up with various programs that aim to value-add to the Philippines’ digital economy.”

Now in its 4th year, the program continues to provide its participants with eye-opening experiences and regional exposure

CJ, a GLP participant, shares why she chose Shopee to grow her career in e-commerce. “Shopee has been taking big strides to enhance the user experience and keep up with the recent changes in the retail market industry. It’s evident that the company is constantly growing bigger, better, and faster—and I want to be part of this growth.”

Among the many interesting components of the GLP, CJ says what caught her attention the most was the regional experience and exposure it offers. “Working with other teams from various countries is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and gain new perspectives and insights that can help further the industry in our country.”

Currently working with Shopee’s Business Development team, CJ’s exposure to different functions allowed her to grow, adapt and learn new things every day. “I am constantly pushed and supported to become a better version of myself every day. The projects that I handle allow me to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, good leadership, and proper time management skills. Seeing how e-commerce campaigns are brought to life, and how people communicate and collaborate to achieve success regularly definitely inspire me to keep growing and eventually contribute.”

CJ takes pride in being part of the GLP. “If you want to become a future tech leader and be part of the growing digital economy in the Philippines, the Global Leaders Program is the best way to jumpstart your dream. You get the best training and development possible: close mentorship from Senior Management, rotating stints in different markets, and you get to drive crucial projects across the business. The program is truly for those who are willing to push themselves every day to be better and keep growing. I am grateful and humbled to be part of all this.”

Are you an aspiring tech leader and interested in learning about the e-commerce industry? Apply to be part of Shopee’s Global Leaders Program starting February 14, 2022. For more information about the program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP.

12.12 double day sales projected at PHP 15-B across multiple shopping platforms — LOCAD

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·        LOCAD, a cloud logistics platform and e-commerce integrator, estimates PHP 15 billion in sales this 12.12 across major shopping platforms.

·        Strong e-commerce adoption and higher spending due to the holidays continue to drive growth in online shopping.

The 12.12 mega sale this year is estimated to have made PHP 15 billion in total sales across major online shopping platforms, according to multi-channel e-commerce integrator and cloud logistics platform LOCAD.

This represents an uptick of more than 10 times the average daily e-commerce sales and is seen to be driven by strong e-commerce adoption and higher spending during the holidays.

Running the numbers

“Our estimate is that 12.12 sales have reached 298 million dollars or 15 billion pesos in single-day sales volume across all the sales channels online. This is massive – and a testament to the continued dynamism of the Philippine e-commerce market,” according to Constantin Robertz, CEO of LOCAD, an end-to-end fulfillment provider that integrates with top e-commerce platforms.

12.12 total sales are estimated at PHP 15 billion driven by strong e-commerce adoption and higher spending due to the holidays, according to multi-channel e-commerce integrator and cloud logistics platform LOCAD.

This computation sets the 2021 Q4 GMV of e-commerce at USD 4 billion or PHP 200 billion. With the higher consumer spending during this holiday season, this figure aligns with the e-Conomy SEA 2021 data of Google, Temasek, and Bain wherein e-commerce GMV for 2021 is reported at USD 12 billion.

The continued rise of e-commerce

Online shopping continues to rise in the country with e-commerce growing by 128% — the highest amongst all internet economy sectors in the Philippines.

Based on a report by Facebook and Bain, Filipinos are posting high customer satisfaction ratings with net promoter scores jumping from 26% last year to 64% this year. However, e-commerce brands should not be complacent as poor delivery experiences and difficult return processes are among the top complaints of detractors.

To combat this, partnering with end-to-end fulfillment solution providers such as LOCAD would help e-commerce brands deliver a great customer experience.

According to Robertz, “We visited our warehouses in the LOCAD network on December 12, and they were all very busy, bustling throughout the night. The morning after, LOCAD was able to fulfill 90% of the orders of 12.12 – most were dispatched already to the last-mile delivery providers.”

Through LOCAD’s multi-channel e-commerce integration, on-demand warehousing, and automated picking, packing, and shipping, e-commerce brands can be at peak performance whether it’s a normal day or during hectic seasons such as 12.12.

About LOCAD

LOCAD empowers the business growth of brands and merchants in the e-commerce landscape with an international fulfillment network and flexible on-demand warehousing and shipping. The company strengthens brands’ distribution with a scalable and distributed supply chain network, run on a fully digital and integrated platform with real-time visibility of order and inventory movements.

For more information on the aggregated data from shopping platforms by LOCAD, visit: https://golocad.com/blog/1212-estimated-to-have-made-php-15-billion-in-total-sales-across-major-shopping-platforms

For further information, please visit: https://golocad.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram.

 

Users Can Show their Appreciation For MSMEs Through ‘#TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local’

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia, and Taiwan, continues to support local sellers and uplift the digital economy with the launch of the #TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local contest. From November 19 to December 5, 2021,  users can vote for and support their favorite sellers in time for the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. 

#TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local recognizes 12 Filipino sellers who offer locally made products and their inspiring journeys to success with Shopee. Besides having to source and offer goods that are proudly Pinoy, the brand also shortlisted these entrepreneurs, who come from various categories such as lifestyle, fashion, and FMCG, based on shop ratings and number of reviews. 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “As we rebound from the impact of the pandemic, we want to strengthen our efforts in aiding economic recovery. Supporting local sellers is a very impactful way to do that, and we want to rally our users to support these sellers as well. This is what Shopee Supports Local is for -- highlighting the local sellers in our platform, and giving our shoppers the opportunity to show their appreciation as well.” 

Supporting Local Sellers, Key to Aiding Economic Recovery

With the pandemic driving consumers to rely more on e-commerce platforms for their needs, more brands and sellers continue to embrace digitalization to sustain their livelihoods. Recently, the Philippines saw an increase of 12 million new digital consumers since the start of the pandemic, of which 63% are from non-metro areas. Shopee continues to improve the platform to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) catering to the needs of the Filipinos. 

The top three sellers, based on total user votes, will win gadget prizes that are useful for their online business. On top of that, theirs and a few other shortlisted sellers’ inspiring stories and sought-after products will be featured on Shopee Live on December 8 and 11.

Meanwhile, users who will participate in voting and share why they love their chosen seller on social media will have the chance to win special vouchers. 

Getting to Know the 12 Sellers 

Indianajanemnl
Launched in 2019, Jess opened a clothing store, Indianajanemnl, and went from a one-man shop and grew into a 30-person team this 2021. With the desire to build deeper connections with their consumers, she maximized Shopee Live and all its features. Through Shopee Live, she received customer feedback which helped them improve the store.

Chelssydresstaytay.ph
Considered as one of the pioneer stores in the well-known Taytay Tiangge, Rochelle of Chelssydresstaytay.ph decided to shift to online a few months before the pandemic hit. It proved to be a good move, with the shop hitting its targets consistently. 

Luxeessential

As a form of self-care, Hani of Luxe Essential decided to put up an online store where she can earn while staying at home. Despite the ups and downs of online selling, her determination eventually paid off, and can now support not only her family but her staff’s family as well. 

Uniq.mnl

Uniq.mnl is owned by Ireen and Ira, two sisters who combined their stores into one. Transitioning wasn’t easy and they worked hard to maintain customer satisfaction by utilizing Shopee’s in-app tools. With clear goals, the shop ended 2020 with an 8-figure gross profit.

Orangeandpeach

Orange and Peach Philippines is a 100% Filipino Mom and Baby Essentials Store owned by Jasslyn. She struggled to convert sales due to some limitations but even with the setback, it didn’t stop her from trying, and eventually gained the consumers’ trust. 

Randashoesofficial

Randashoesofficial started as a small shoe manufacturing facility in 2014 and Ric joined Shopee as a seller in 2019, making it a full-time commitment. The challenges pushed him to do better and are now growing on the platform - even surpassing their previous sales. 

Mightyclean

Wanting to share their expertise in the homecare industry, Mico from Mightyclean started his Shopee Seller journey during the height of the pandemic last year. Even though he had become one of the best-selling brands on the platform, he never stopped learning new things and continued to sharpen his entrepreneurial skills.  

Dnemnlph

Dana of dnemnlph started selling online when she was in high school and has had her fair share of ups and downs before she first joined Shopee in 2015. Despite having to close her shop temporarily, she stepped up and worked with her Shopee Relationship Manager to learn how to build brand awareness for her store. To date, she has more than 225,000 shop followers.

Localidad.ph

Daniel of Localidad began his Shopee journey last year and got his break in November 2020. His experience on Shopee was a great opportunity to learn about e-commerce in general and eventually succeed in the industry, with more than 60,000 products sold and counting. 

Emsalvadorpunzalan

Em used the power of technology to offer a wide array of DIY car care detailing products through her shop Prestige Trading. As a former saleswoman, the main proprietor found joy in interacting and connecting with their customers.

Gratitudebar

Faced with a financial crisis in 2017, Ces of gratitude bar launched her Shopee store which offers skincare products that are simple, affordable, and effective. With the use of in-app features, the brand gained more loyal customers.

Mareclothingph

When Zel started selling on Shopee, she knew it was a learning journey and discovered a lot of new things. Now, she has a strong customer base and feels grateful for the overwhelming support and trust from her loyal customers

To know more and vote for your favorite sellers in #TatakPinoy: Shopee Celebrates Local, visit https://shopee.ph/m/tatak-pinoy.