EasyDebit: One of the Philippines’ leading fintech solutions celebrates significant growth with transaction volumes of over 1billion pesos processed since its launch in 2017

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• Growth of 466% in transaction value 2018 v 2017
• Growth of 375%  in transaction volume 2018 v 2017
• Over 100% growth in network locations across the Philippines 2018 v 2017

Manila, Philippines -  Fexco EasyDebit, one of the Philippines most innovative fintech solutions is today marking a significant period of growth having processed over 1billion pesos in transactions since its launch in 2017. The growth is further reflected in increases of cash withdrawal amounts (up 466% in 2018 v 2017) and transaction volume (up 375% in 2018 v 2017).

EasyDebit is a unique service that uses a mobile Point of Sale (or mPOS Pin Entry Device) and a mobile phone allowing customers in the Philippines to withdraw cash using their ATM card at any number of local accredited merchants including; payment and remittance centres, retailers, rural banks and cooperatives instead of having to travel to an ATM.

EasyDebit is a ‘plug and play’ solution requiring minimal installation for merchants who simply download the EasyDebit Mobile App. The solution has the capacity to reach over 100million people, many of whom are disconnected from the limited ATM infrastructure in the Philippines. Through merchant uptake and participation EasyDebit promotes financial inclusion by providing more secure access to cash withdrawal for the millions of unbanked Filipinos. Uptake of EasyDebit increased by 100% in 2018 (v2017) and the solution is now live with over 700 merchants across the country.

Speaking about the growth seen by EasyDebit this year, Ann Chan Foley, CEO at Fexco Philippines, Inc. commented, “2018 represents a significant year for the business. We have seen hugely positive growth trends across the county in terms of transaction volume, value and merchant growth demonstrating the robustness of the solution. We are excited to continue this growth in 2019 as we further expand the EasyDebit network helping to reach more unbanked and underserved Filipinos.”

About Fexco

Recognised as one of the world’s original and most established fintech organisations, Fexco employs over 2,300 people across its suite of companies headquartered in Killorglin, Co. Kerry located in the South West of Ireland.  Founded in 1981, Fexco now has operations in 29 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, North America and Latin America.

Fexco serves some of the world’s biggest brands across multiple industries, predominantly in the payments and FX sectors, through a wide range of innovative products and services including; Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), Multi Currency Pricing (MCP), Tax Free Shopping and Retail FX. Fexco also offers bespoke Managed Business Solutions and Outsourcing services as well as a full suite of payment management solutions through its Corporate Payments business.

Since inception, Fexco has been driven by an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. This ethos has brought the company to new regions and industries of growth, connecting customers with exciting new opportunities. Through its commitment to partnership and innovation, the company has built an international network of customers. To find out more visit www.fexco.com 

About EasyDebit

FEXCO has developed a microATM card solution for merchants which allows merchants to offer cardholders cash out and balance inquiries. The EasyDebit solution acts as an additional revenue stream for merchants who earn a fee from each transaction. The solution is safe and secure, accredited to the highest security standards - PCI DSS and EMV Level 1 & 2 compliant. To find out more visit www.easydebitasia.com

Email Marketing - Some Information on Permission

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There are a lot of email marketers who are aware that permission is important but they do not understand why this is a vital part of email marketing. Do you know that email marketers who know how to do it often get emails that are clicked and opened by their subscribers? If your company would also get high revenues, then this is a sure sign that your email marketing works. 

What about businesses who do not understand what permission is for? They have a greater chance of having emails that are not opened. They miss out on things that might possibly increase their revenue and their overall sales. 

What is Permission? 

This is the process wherein you would like to get consent from your subscribers to make sure that they agree that you will be allowed to send them email messages regarding your brand. There are times when you can only get implied permission when you already have some sort of relationship with the person that you are sending the email to. 

If not, you may allow people to subscribe with their own free will to gain permission to access your newsletter. They may do this by signing up on your website. Usually, this would be done by entering their email address in a subscribe form. 

Make the Most Out of Permission 

You have been given permission to provide newsletters to your customers. What are you supposed to do then? You need to make the most out of it. Since it will always be their choice if they would continue receiving emails from you or not, you have to make sure that they would always like to get your emails. If not, they would surely unsubscribe. 

What happens when you send people emails even if they have not given any permission? One thing that can happen is they will completely ignore the email. They will send the email to trash without checking what you have to say. The worse option is if they label your email as spam. This will make it harder for you to send emails not only to that email address but the other emails on the same list. 

The more that you understand what permission is for email marketing, the better.

Fashion trends to look forward to in 2019

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The New Year means new beginnings and new trends. Be the first to know the newest fashion trends. SM offers a 2019 fashion forecast and useful tips to help up your style game. 

Here are the top fashion trends for 2019:

Shine with bright, bold colors. Add a punch of color to your wardrobe with coral, the Pantone color of the year. Lurid blue, yellow and red are also expected to reign supreme this year, as well as muddy brown and electric green. Match the bright colors with near-neutrals like beige for maximum impact.

Bring on the ruffles…lots and lots of ’em. These fabulous frocks are expected to dominate everything from casual to formal wear this year. It is the new fashion statement for women who want to make an entrance without showing too much skin. 

Experiment with scarves. Scarves can go a long way to inject fun changes to your every day look. They are versatile enough to be worn as a headscarf or around the neck with a bow. Consider playing with different materials and investing in a silk scarf for a more luxurious feel.

Walk on the wild side with safari fashion. To pull off this 2019 trend, treat every day like you’re going on an African safari. That means sporty silhouettes, shirt dresses, shorts, and capris.

Oversized suits and boyfriend clothes are here to stay. Overhaul your office wardrobe with oversized suits and jackets. Own the room with these suits that preserve comfort and exude power. 

For exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM.

Fuller and sweeter offer at Robinsons Supermarket

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Life is sweeter and fuller at Robinsons Supermarket as it offers lower-priced sugar and rice. White sugar is priced at P50 per kilo while brown sugar is sold at P45 per kilo. This is lower than the prevailing sugar prices in Metro Manila which ranges at P60 per kilo for white sugar and P48 per kilo for brown sugar. 

Shoppers can also buy rice at only P34-P39 per kilo. These price reductions are a welcome initiative supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Sugar Regulatory Administration as they have been encouraging retailers to provide Filipinos with more reasonable options.

“We thank the Robinsons Group for quickly offering to support the government’s Presyong Risonable Dapat program that can bring cheaper rice and sugar to all their outlets nationwide. This would make our kababayans happier as they will surely have easy access to these better-priced basic products,” said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

This is not the first time that the supermarket lowered the price of basic commodities. Last September, Robinsons Supermarket and URSUMCO also reduced the price of sugar. This lower price on sugar is available in all Robinsons Supermarket and Easymart stores nationwide, while the special price for rice is currently available in 88 stores throughout Luzon.

Reasonably-priced rice and sugar. “Rice and sugar are staples in one’s grocery cart. Robinsons Supermarket is proud to support DTI’s initiative to provide reasonably-priced sugar to Filipinos,” said Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Robinsons Supermarket president & CEO. Joining her are (from left): JG Summit CEO Lance Gokongwei, Pure Rice Milling and Processing Corp., president Jojo Soliman, and DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.

(From left): JG Summit president and CEO Lance Gokongwei, Sugar Regulatory Administrator Hermenegildo Serafica, Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Inc. deputy director for Legal Affairs Cocoy Barrera, Sugar Regulatory Deputy Administrator Rolex Beltran, DTI Sec. Ramon Lopez; Robinsons Supermarket president and CEO Robina Gokongwei-Pe, URC Sugar and Renewables vice-president and general manager Rene Cabati, and Pure Rice Milling and Processing Corp. president Jojo Soliman. 

Xiaomi, Maybelline, and The SM Store Named The Most Popular Brands on Shopee Philippines in 2018

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Kickstart the new year at Shopee with the best brand deals at the first Payday Sale of 2019 

Building on the buzz of the new year, Shopee Philippines unveils the top categories and brands in 2018 ahead of the first Payday sale of 2019 from 10 to 18 January. Electronics, Health & Beauty, and Home & Living emerged as the top categories for 2018, with Xiaomi, Maybelline, and The SM Store topping the charts for each category.

Martin Yu, Associate Director, Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee Philippines achieved many exciting milestones in 2018, including the launch of Shopee Mall which cemented our position as a one-stop online shopping destination and delivered increased convenience for users seeking a more diverse online shopping experience. Since its launch, Shopee Mall has seen tremendous growth due to strong support from both brands and shoppers in the Philippines. In 2019, we will continue to expand our assortment on Shopee Mall to give users even better deals from leading local and international brands and retailers.”

Xiaomi emerges as best-selling electronics brand in Shopee Philippines

The electronics category recorded around 300% increase in orders in 2018, becoming one of the top 3 categories on Shopee Philippines as Filipinos shopped for tech products online more. Shopee catered to this trend by onboarding leading electronics brands on Shopee Mall and also launching Shopee Gadget Zone, a dedicated portal featuring Lowest Price Guaranteed deals on tech products from top brands including Xiaomi, Samsung, and Oppo. 

Xiaomi emerged as the top electronics brand on Shopee Philippines in 2018. Xiaomi enjoyed a strong debut on Shopee Philippines as the Redmi 5 smartphone sold out in less than a minute during the brand’s first flash sale in April. It was also one of the most sought-after brands for Filipinos, as “Xiaomi” was searched around 900,000 times on Shopee Philippines over 2018. Finally, one of its most awaited smartphones, the Pocophone F1, sold out in 16 minutes on flash sale during Shopee 11.11 Big Christmas Sale.

In addition, televisions were also popular among Shopee users in 2018, as TV brands Ace, Mass, and Avision ranked among the top 5 electronics brands on Shopee Philippines.

Consumers snap up bath and bedroom supplies as The SM Store leads Home & Living

Home & Living was also among the hottest categories in Shopee Philippines in 2018. Bath and bedroom supplies were especially popular among Filipino users; on average, over 2,000 bath and bedroom-related products were sold every day. In line with the global trend of cutting down on plastic use, around 400 stainless steel straws were sold per day on Shopee Philippines in 2018.

The SM Store, the largest department store chain in the Philippines, was the number one brand in the Home & Living category in 2018. Insulated tumblers, oil diffusers, and hard case luggage bags were the hottest products on The SM Store as the brand saw robust performance over the year, ranking among the best-selling brands during Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.

In line with the growing popularity of online shopping among men, there was also an increase in demand for electrical appliances and power tools as TCL, Bosch, and Lotus ranked among the top 10 Home & Living brands.

Maybelline crowned the queen of Health & Beauty

Health & Beauty rounds off the top categories on Shopee Philippines in 2018 as Shopee users continued to snap up skincare products and cosmetics.

Maybelline emerged as the top beauty brand on Shopee Philippines after a fruitful Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale, where it sold over 50,000 items on 12 December alone. Maybelline’s success was driven by several hit products launched in 2018, such as the Superstay Matte Liquid Lipstick, Hypercurl Mascara, and the Fit Me Liquid Foundation.

Filipino users were also interested in skincare and personal grooming, with P&G, Nivea, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Garnier also named among the top Home & Living brands.

Shoppers can look forward to even better deals from their favorite brands on Shopee in 2019, starting with the first Payday Sale of the year from 10 to 18 January. Users can enjoy free shipping with a minimum spend of ₱150, up to 7 rounds of flash sales daily, and the return of the new interactive live quiz game Shopee Quiz after a strong debut during Shopee 12.12 Big Christmas Sale.

For more information, https://shopee.ph/.

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