– unicommerce.com

Top E-commerce Marketplaces in Malaysia to Sell Online

Chenxian Fu — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:56:52 +0000

Thinking of expanding your business to Southeast Asia? Asian markets have a solid cultural-economic relationship. And it’s a dynamic hub when it comes to the online market. So all you need is to know the right place to sell. In the region, Malaysia is one of the nations that has quickly adapted to technology and has much power and potential in this niche. So, is it the right place to step into? And what will be the right choice of marketplace to begin or expand with. Let’s find out!

We all know how buying anything is just a click away, and the place where the involvement is at its peak is none other than Malaysia. To prove it with facts, it records one of the highest internet penetration rates and the reason behind it is the extensive involvement of the middle class. The question that might come to your mind is, why only Malaysia? The correct answer to it is the marketplaces! Yes, designed with a customer-centric approach and easy-to-use design, it drives the middle class to be involved more on a day-to-day basis hence If I say that Malaysia is experiencing a tremendous e-commerce boom! Then you can definitely consider it as the right place to expand your business.

It’s a perfect opportunity for you to sell and capitalize on. Make your products available at every touch point. Therefore, out of all the available platforms, selling on the right marketplace is very crucial. Here we have listed the top marketplaces in Malaysia that can be beneficial for you to sell.

Top 6 E-commerce Marketplaces in Malaysia

Shopee
Lazada
TikTok Shop
Zalora
PG Mall
Youbeli

Let’s dive into the opportunity of online selling, we have prepared the following list of the top marketplaces in Malaysia to get, set, and jual! (sell)

1. Shopee

Shopee, with its powerful ASEAN presence in the sub-continent, is the first one on the list. Why is it the most popular among the sellers in Malaysia? The reason is that you don’t have to pay any registration fee to start selling. Go ahead and list your product with no registration fee, and the commission fee is also waived for the first 99 orders. Take your time to adjust to the marketplace and understand and plan your strategies. It won’t be a hefty expenditure to start selling on Shopee.

After registering and listing your product, the next most important thing is to promote it. Convert your ideas into revenues. You may think this would require a lot of money, but it’s not! step right in and make the most out of the attractive marketing deals that Shopee has for you. It even provides a live stream platform to access product-related content and interact directly with the sellers. Whether it’s the monthly campaigns or building a seller community, it has everything you need to start selling.

If you wish to bifurcate your audience into the invite-only category, then Shopee Mall also lets you create a retail space for that. Hence it not only offers communication with the seller community but also helps you categorize your audience by making a customer community that is central to the shopee and the seller. The customer-centric approach of this marketplace makes it easier for you to compete in the niche market as well. Sounds like a perfect marketplace, right?

Why should you sell on Shopee, here are the numbers:

Shipping: Fulfillment by Flashexpress (shopee-supported logistics). Some of the partners are DHL, Ninja Van, J&T Express, and Instant Delivery.
Monthly web visitors: 96.01 Million
Top selling categories: Home and Living, Health and Beauty, Food, and Beverage

2. Lazada

The next one we have on this list for you is Lazada! Founded by Rocket Internet in 2012 and with a significant appearance in six countries. It’s the customer’s favorite because of the significant discounts and attractive deals. It reaches a vast and diverse audience, which automatically increases the scope for your business to grow. Another reason to choose this as your platform to sell is the Alibaba group. The top-notch framework of Alibaba Group will benefit you in the most profitable way.

Want to step up your game from local to global? To be precise, if you are looking for a safer global reach rooted in the local marketplace, then Lazada can be a great start! It offers three types of selling on its platform. If your vision requires you to go beyond the boundaries, then Lazada will provide you with a purple ribbon and a ‘LazGlobal’ tag, and you are good to go to sell internationally!

We know that these benefits will concern you what if the commission rates are high for this marketplace? Well, for the first three months, you don’t even have to think about paying the commission fee. No matter what category of product you are dealing in. Laza will also offer you an in-house delivery matrix called Lalamove which is an efficient and reliable shipping solution. As this helps to earn customer loyalty, traffic, and exposure, You can easily rely on Lazada for your efficient selling game!

The list of reasons to sell on Lazada is quite significant because we have another thing called Lazcoins. As you start selling on this marketplace, you already have 8000 free seller coins. With this, you can attract more traffic by redeeming the coins based on the cost-per-click model.

Here is why Lazada is a good platform for you to sell

Shipping: In-house delivery matrix Lalamove and other partners like Ninja Van, Kex Express, Sky Net, Best Express, etc.
Monthly web visitors: 35.1 Million
Top categories: Consumer Electronics, Women’s Fashion, Personal Care

3. TikTok Shop

If you are looking for a standout platform to sell that keeps up with the trends, TikTok Shop is the place for you. We all know how those trendy short videos keep us tagged along for a long time, and we always see some products that leave us wondering. Searching for them is a big task, but a marketplace like TikTok makes it all easier for the customers as well as for you to sell.

TikTok shop allows you and different brands to sell products directly via videos, live streams, and product showcase pages. It will give an insightful experience to you about what the customer wants. It is a good platform that supports local SMEs for e-commerce. If you are one of them, then sell well at TikTok Shop!

When it comes to a marketplace like this, authenticity becomes a concern from the customer’s perspective. If your product is correct and you don’t want to lose your authenticity game to the fake-money-making vendors who are there for a short while but gain all the profits, then your TikTok shop is a place for you! You can earn an added stamp of authenticity after going through the approval process and become a consistent and authentic seller at the most profitable platform. This step unveils your potential growth. And even the commission fee will be 0% for the time being as you start to sell with no relation to the number of followers.

Following are the numbers why selling at TikTok is a good choice –

Shipping: TikTok Shop Logistics and some sellers can choose their own shipping carriers
Top Selling Categories: Skincare, Makeup, and Electronics

4. Zalora

Is your target market people of 25-35 years of age who are fashion enthusiasts? Then Zalora has it all for you. A large part of the audience visiting Zalora is their active customers. Isn’t this a great deal as a fashion seller? Providing authentic luxury products is something that Zalora is trusted by its audience. Hence, it can turn into a successful big shot to get exposure to this platform and compete with the brands to make a statement!

Zalora offers two types of business models for you. It’s your choice which one suits you to make your fashion statement more bold! If you want to deal on the wholesale level, you can give your inventory to Zalora, and then they will sell it to the customers. This includes the operational management and inventory management being performed by Zalora itself. But If this is not what you are looking for, you can function over the marketplace model, which will offer you control over the operations and marketing. According to your needs and requirements, a seller can alter the degree of partnership with Zalora.

Let’s see why you should choose to sell in Zalora Malaysia –

Shipping: DHL, Ninajavan, 2Go, POS Laju
Monthly web visitors: 59 Million
Top Selling Categories: Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle

5. PG Mall

If you are already in Malaysia and your plan is to promote local products and handicrafts. Then, congratulations! Your approach lies with PG Mall and it is the right choice to sell here! PG Mall offers a no-registration model, so listing out your products becomes completely free. Along with this, the transactional fee is also at a lower extreme in comparison to the other marketplaces.

Even if you want to upload your products in bulk, you are making a hassle-free choice by selling at PG mall. With the API services and no cost, bulk uploads are another plus feature of PG Mall. They provide both online and offline marketing campaigns for free. Hence you will save a big crunch here, too!

18 nationwide studios and mega seminars, it not only facilitates selling but also emphasizes networking and community building. Sounds like a great deal, right?

Let’s see why PG Mall will benefit you as a seller –

Shipping: Easy Parcel, DHL Express, Aftership
Monthly Web Visitors: 16.8+ Million
Top Selling Categories: Fashion, Electronics, Home and Living

6. Youbeli

Owned by Youbuy Online Sdn Bhd, Youbeli is one of people’s favorite platforms in Malaysia to shop online. One thing that ensures you for this marketplace is no hidden fee model. You don’t have to worry about those annual fees, and no registration fee will mean no registration fee without any hidden tweaks. Here, transparency is not only for the customers but for you as well, so that you can have an easy going functioning to sell!

A multiple-language system and cross-border trading will inculcate benefits both for you and your customers. So, your potential reaches the best by selling at Youbeli. Another plus point is that you can list your product for free. Adding more to its features for sellers, Youbeli also has a 7-working-day settlement period which solves a lot for the back end and helps to gain trust from the customers.

With its fixed amount of a 4% commission fee and 2% payment gateway fee, Youbeli brings transparency for you and not just the customers. As it offers multiple categories, there’s a reasonable probability that it covers your product too. With its amazing deals, Youbeli has a space for you!

Let’s check out some numbers on why Youbeli is a beneficial marketplace to sell –

Shipping: POS Laju, Sky Net, TNT, Aramex
Monthly web Visitors: 113 Thousand
Top selling categories: Babies and Toys, Fashion and Groceries

Are You Ready to Dive Into Selling Online?

With all the available options of marketplaces, we have listed a few that can be a good start for you and if you are an existing seller, they can provide you with new booming opportunities. The online presence plays a vital role in the success of the selling game along with the marketing strategies, getting to know your target audience and how they are evolving with their needs.

To keep up with that, your product and service should also be top-notch. There’s a lot to do in this sense as a seller. So why not make some part of selling hassle-free? A lot from your plate can be taken over by technology, making the functioning smooth and efficient.

The right provider can manage the warehouse, your inventory, and orders with the power of clicks. As a seller, a lot of time and energy is saved from here then can be invested efficiently in other areas. The customer-centric approach is the new avenger approach of online selling, letting the technology solutions handle things at the backend. Malaysia is a dynamic, growing business potential for sellers, and we wish the best for you. Happy selling!

Key E-commerce Challenges & Opportunities in Malaysia

Team Unicommerce — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 10:56:42 +0000

Are you a seller, retailer or brand selling in the Malaysian e-commerce market or someone who is planning to launch in the online space?

Is it becoming a real hassle for you to elevate your eCommerce business, manage the extreme online demands, meet the expectations of the consumers all while maintaining a smooth operational flow?

Well, you are not alone because the rapidly growing and immensely competitive space of e-commerce in Malaysia is not that easy to make a mark at, but is also not an impossible forte to make your mark on.

With the right technological solutions, proper operational procedures and well-established customer relations, the Malaysian e-commerce market space can be your breeding ground to success.

But how to move forward in the direction of achieving the above-mentioned objectives? This blog is your one-stop guide to all your queries, concerns and possible business strategies in order to achieve maximum growth with minimized errors and hurdles.

Also read: What is a Warehouse Management System and How Does It Work?

E-commerce in Malaysia

The e-commerce industry in Malaysia has seen a massive growth of US$ 4.3 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow up to US$ 8.1 billion by 2024!

Over 25 million, a total of 80% of the overall population of Malaysia are avid internet users and online shoppers, making the region a hotspot for e-commerce advancement and growth.

The government of Malaysia works around several dedicated ministries under the National eCommerce Council NeCC and programs such as the National e-commerce Strategic Roadmap NeSR in order to drive the upward curve of eCommerce in Malaysia and to increase the GDP contribution of the country.

After Singapore in the South East Asian region, Malaysia is the second-largest e-commerce market and the increasing number of middle- earning class in the country, internet users and constant investments of big eCommerce spaces such as eBay, Lazada, Zalora, Shopee, Carousell, etc., in the country, amplifying the choices and demands of online consumers, it is soon going to level up with Singapore in terms of eCommerce growth.

But with great opportunities, comes greater challenges and the same is the case with Malaysia where you as an eCommerce business owner will face several difficulties before you succeed in becoming a top seller in the regions.

E-commerce Biggest Challenges in Malaysia

While the e-commerce market in Malaysia is booming and becoming the first choice of local as well as international businesses to invest in, there may still persist some challenges in your road to success.

Talking about how strong the entire e-commerce ecosystem is in Malaysia and how the government is constantly working around plans and strategies to uplift sellers, retailers, brands, etc., the implementation of these policies and systems still require time and a little more push for proper implementation.

The ever-changing consumer demands is another hurdle that most e-commerce businesses in the country fail to adapt successfully and rapidly because of the lack of proper technological support and assistance right from accurate warehouse management to order and inventory management, providing Omnichannel solutions and more!

Biggest Challenges the Malaysian e-commerce businesses face may involve:

1. Managing Inventory & Orders

Malaysian retailers have struggled to adapt to the technological advancements going on in the eCommerce industry and their biggest hurdle in becoming a top online seller was to properly manage their inventory in order to serve the customer demands.

Leading Hardware company, ATKC Hardware found itself in a similar situation when they initially decided to take their business online. Coming from a small region of Malaysia, the company was looking to expand across the country and was hoping to take its brand to the next level.

The first step in the direction for ATKC Hardware was to execute accurate inventory management solutions in order for them to improve stock maintenance and provide better serviceability.

Faced with the crucial issue of managing their products, the brand decided to implement Barcode Inventory Management System to help them fasten e-commerce processes.

In absence of a proper inventory management software solution, your business can face severe problems right from maintaining stock freshness, enabling stock rotations, restricting stocks outs and dead stocks etc.

2. Handling presence across B2B and B2C selling platforms

One of the most common challenges faced by hundreds of e-commerce businesses including one of the well-renowned cleaning and sanitization product companies, Citycoin that sells its products under the name of Lovis, was to require proper product distributions and visibility to achieve sales growth for their businesses.

The brand struggled with selling its products on retail stores and offline channels and faced several financial challenges. The only solutions that helped them was to switch to online selling, which required them to integrate on leading marketplaces, carts, and online website to reach a wider pool of customers and to showcase their products better.

The brand listed its products on the leading marketplaces such as Shopee and Lazada which helped them attract more and more customers and significantly reduced their burden of deploying dedicated sales and marketing teams to take care of their sales.

Kacang Macha is another popular e-commerce FMCG seller in Malaysia that sells Halal Indian Snacks to Malaysian customers.

The company initially struggled to manage its presence across B2B platforms such as Alibaba, Daganhalal, etc as well as B2C spaces. Due to their exposure across these selling platforms, the brand has managed to overcome their challenges of taking their products across audiences.

And so, without allowing your products to reflect on multiple B2C as well as B2B eCommerce marketplaces, carts, etc., it will become an issue to gather customers and achieve higher sales.

3. Balancing Surge in Demands and Fulfilments

Another key challenge that eCommerce businesses face while transitioning and positioning themselves as rapidly growing eCommerce players is the effective management of warehouse operations to ensure faster order fulfilment rates and to supply in accordance to demand.

Herman Foods is a big name in the Malaysian eCommerce market that ships Malaysian ‘Musang King durians’ across borders. The brand ships across 18+ countries and has always wrestled with the need to balance their supply in terms of the demands they get for the Malaysian delicacy.

The brand has deployed tons of manual labour and adopted technological support in order to maximise their rate of order processing to provide higher quality exports to all the regions of their focus.

And so, not having the advanced technology assistance to tackle the evergrowing demands of the shoppers while carefully handling all your products can become a pain point for any business.

4. Tackling Manual Dependency for e-commerce Operations

When demands rise, e-commerce businesses are required to speed up their picking, packing, dispatch and delivery operations, but doing things manually can cause a lot of delays, errors, etc.,

Kait Lifestyle Store is an organic baby food company selling over 1000 products in Malaysia which struggled with managing orders and inventory manually while maintaining the freshness of all their products.

Without automation, taking care of each and every process of your order cycle can become really difficult and may lead up to poor customer service, lower customer loyalty, increased order cancellations and returns, all of which can severely impact your overall business growth.

While these challenges top the list of every e-commerce player or even the new ones starting their e-commerce journey in Malaysia, there can always be more business-specific and personal barriers each seller can face while trying to create a niche for themselves in the vastly expanding e-commerce space of Malaysia.

But for every problem, there is a solution and in the case of overcoming these challenges possessed by the Malaysian e-commerce market, the solutions are well proven and highly adaptable for any small to medium business with a little support and better business planning.

E-commerce Opportunities in Malaysia

Due to the massive development and government initiatives towards making eCommerce the biggest sector in Malaysia, the opportunity to become a leading online seller in Malaysia is huge.

1. Wider Access to Products Across Borders

The majority of the population of Malaysia consists of young, working-class, fashion and tech-savvy individuals who are constantly on the lookout for well-renowned brands, locally as well as internationally.

The consumers in Malaysia are a ‘Mobile-First’ audience with over 1.9 billion purchases made via a smartphone in the year 2019 alone and prefer to shop from apps and social media platforms rather than specifically from websites.

Due to their preference of shopping from smartphones, online shoppers in Malaysia have the ability to shop whatever from wherever irrespective of the origin of a product, right from the comfort of their homes, which plays a significant role in the success of eCommerce in the region.

2. Higher Trust of Consumers on Digital Payment Modes

If we talk about the consumer behaviour in Malaysia, It is evident to see that out of all the e-commerce markets around the world, South East Asia is one region where the consumers do not fear or are rather more comfortable paying for their products online and try to avoid physical payments or cash on deliveries.

This is a completely different and e-commerce positive behaviour that most of the other countries struggle to achieve but in Malaysia itself, online transactions and digital payments cover up over 93% of the total eCommerce payment methods, making this region a favourable space for big payment gateway companies such as PayO, Google Pay, PayPal, etc.

3. Greater Influence of Social Media

Social media holds a huge impact on the population of the entire South-East Asia, let alone Malaysia, where over 25 million people are active social media users. Online shoppers depend so much on the ratings, reviews and influencer feedback of each of the products they want to buy, that the distinction between an e-commerce platform in Malaysia and that of a social media platform is vanishing.

Social media platforms such as Facebook & Instagram have also added to the ease of shoppers as well as sellers to list their products to a bigger pool of audience, get real-time feedback on their products and work around effective sales strategies to grow and profit

4. Rapid Demands for Essential & Non-Essential Items

Essential products such as groceries and FMCG items have grown in demand in Malaysia as the country ranked 2nd in the list of fastest-growing grocery markets as per a Statista report in 2018.

Fashion & Beauty, Electronics, Toys, Furnitures etc are the most preferred non-essential categories that see increasing demands and have provided space to a number of eCommerce businesses to flourish in the region.

5. Better Geographical Conditions

In terms of shipping and logistics, South East Asian countries present tons of challenges as the topography is not favourable due to the entire region being a culmination of multiple small islands with vast forests but with Malaysia, the conditions vary as it is made up of two parts only and provides a rather smoother on land transportation opportunity enabling logistics and delivery companies to make higher profits here.

6. Greater Accessibility to E-commerce Enablement Solutions

With the constant rise of e-commerce, there also has been considerable growth seen in terms of technological and e-commerce enablement solutions in Malaysia. Internationally renowned e-commerce solutions providers have begun to shift their focus to the rapidly growing e-commerce market of Malaysia, providing sellers immense opportunities to render superior services with best in class supply chain solutions right from automated inventory, order and warehouse management, integrations to leading e-commerce platforms and much more.

In Conclusion

The future of e-commerce in Malaysia is bright and it is the perfect time for you to begin, advance and adapt to new methods and techniques of providing the best services to your customers.

Just by working your way with the right approach and with the correct technological assistance, you can grow your eCommerce business, provide superior customer services and experience higher profitability and productivity.

Want to find out more about the e-commerce market of Malaysia, check out our blog on the latest trends going on around the region and the most effective strategies and methods to follow in order to become a top seller in Malaysia.

Explore our platforms:

How to Sell on Zalora Marketplace in the Philippines?

Team Unicommerce — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:45:14 +0000

In today’s bustling e-commerce landscape, Zalora stands out as a dynamic marketplace for sellers looking to tap into the Philippines’ vibrant fashion market. Its user-friendly platform, robust logistics support, and significant online presence provide an excellent opportunity for fashion and beauty businesses to thrive in the region’s e-commerce ecosystem. With more than 85.16 million individuals in the Philippines having access to the internet, Zalora has a vast, untapped potential for e-commerce.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of setting up your seller account, creating compelling product listings, requirements for a seller, costing and commission, and start earning in the Philippines.

Why Should Your Brand Sell on Zalora?

Many International brands got significant recognition in the Philippines by selling on Zalora, which has made Zalora a hit in the region. Seeing this as an opportunity, new sellers can tap into Zalora’s immersive customer base and make their brand successful in the Philippines. So, before we dive into the “how,” let’s explore the “why.” Why should you consider selling your products on Zalora?

Vast Customer Base: 59 million monthly users
Trusted Marketplace: Proven track record of secure transactions and genuine products
User-Friendly Interface: Easy to use & one of the biggest fashion app downloads in the Philippines
Category Diversity: Having multiple diverse categories
Prominent Sales Events: Hosts major sales events throughout the year

1. Vast Customer Base: With 59 million monthly users, Zalora provides access to a broad audience base, ensuring your brand gets the visibility it deserves. With trend-setting brands like H&M, Calvin Klien, Adidas, Nike. etc. on the platform, huge traffic is attracted to the website. These potential customers searching for trendy fashion and beauty products on Zalora could be your Brand’s opportunity to excel in the marketplace.

Read – Top E-commerce Marketplaces in Philippines

2. Trusted Marketplace: Zalora’s reputation as a trusted e-commerce platform holds significant weight in the Philippines. With a proven track record of secure transactions and genuine products, Zalora offers cash-on-delivery and buy-now-pay-later options across their markets, making it easier for shoppers to buy their favorite brands.

Successful brands like Nike achieved a 73% sales uplift in their launch week and 4x weekly sales for both their 11.11 and 12.12 campaigns, as Zalora’s case study revealed. Just like Nike, the association of your business with Zalora can significantly boost your brand’s credibility and visibility in the Philippines.

3. User-Friendly Interface: Zalora’s intuitive platform is easy to use, making it effortless to navigate in the app and list products without a hassle, creating a seamless in-app experience for IOS and android users for both sellers and customers. This means that customers will easily find what they’re looking for, resulting in repeated visits to the app. Which, in turn, fosters a more sustainable and loyal audience, providing your brand with consistent access to potential customers. Zalora shopping app has been downloaded over 1.77 million times, which has been one of the biggest fashion app downloads in the Philippines.

4. Category Diversity: Sellers have the flexibility to list products across multiple diverse categories, catering to a wide range of consumer interests and needs. Zalora has an extensive range of products for customers to choose from, including brands like Calvin Klein, Adidas, Gap, and many more. Your brand can select from a range of Fashion and Lifestyle categories that align seamlessly with the platform’s core strengths, a fact clearly reflected in its top-selling products.

5. Prominent Sales Events: Zalora hosts major sales events like ZALORA Birthday, Big Fashion Sale, Fashion Festival, 11.11 and 12.12 throughout the year, which offers a platform discount up to 90% off. This provides ample opportunities for sellers to boost their sales during peak shopping seasons. These events could be your brand’s opportunity to dominate the fashion and lifestyle market in the Philippines by showcasing your unique products at competitive prices on this trusted marketplace.

Requirements to Set Up Account on Zalora

Legal documentation and business information are crucial to ensure a hassle-free account setup on Zalora. Here are the essential documents you’ll need:

Business License and Registration: Ensure you have your original ID proofs, a valid business license, and registration documents that adhere to all the relevant laws and policies in the Philippines. You must be above 18 years of age during the signing of the contract.
Tax Identification Number (TIN): A Tax Identification Number is essential for tax purposes. It helps Zalora identify your business and ensures that you comply with tax regulations in the country.
Bank Account Information: You’ll need to provide details of the bank account where you’d like to receive payments for your sales on Zalora. This includes the account number and other relevant information for seamless financial transactions.

Having these documents ready and available in digital format will fast-track the process of setting up your seller account on Zalora.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Seller on Zalora

Visit www.zalora.com
Fill out the Form
Provide Business Information
Upload Required Documentation
Set Up Payment Details
Start Listing Your Products
Manage Inventory and Update Product Pricing

Step 1: Visit www.zalora.com

Search for “www.zalora.com” in your browser. Scroll down the page and get to the “About Us” section. Click on the “Sell with us” option.

Step 2: Fill out the Form

Fill out the form on your screen and hit submit. After submission, the form is reviewed by Zalora’s Strategic Marketplace advisors. Their response usually does not take more than 7 days. Once approved, you will be notified through an email.

Step 3: Provide Business Information

After approval, log in to your seller account and provide essential information about your business. This includes your company name, contact details, company logo, and a brief description of the products you intend to sell.

Step 4: Upload Required Documentation

Zalora will require certain legal documents for verification purposes. These may include your business license, tax identification, and other relevant certificates. Make sure you have these documents ready in digital format for uploading.

Step 5: Set Up Payment Details

Next, you’ll need to provide your payment information. This includes details on how you’d like to receive payments for your sales.

Step 6: Start Listing Your Products

With your seller account activated, you’re now ready to list your products on Zalora. Head to the Seller Center dashboard and click on the “Add New Product” button to start filling in the details. Remember to provide accurate and detailed information about each product, including high-quality images, clear descriptions, and relevant specifications.

Pro tip: Take your time with product listings and click high-resolution and artistic pictures of your product, as it tends to attract more potential buyers.

Step 7: Manage Inventory and Update Product Pricing

Regularly review and update your product prices based on market trends, competition, and any changes in your costs. Additionally, keep a close eye on your stock levels to ensure that you have an adequate supply to meet customer demand. By staying on top of pricing and stock management, you’ll be well-positioned to meet customer expectations and drive sales.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up your seller account on Zalora. Now, you can start showcasing your products to a wide audience in Southeast Asia and start earning.

Cost to Set up shop on Zalora

After the initial sign-up, Zalora’s fee structure comes into play when you start listing your products. They charge a nominal fee for uploading multiple images of a product, with costs varying based on the chosen category. When it comes to commissions, they usually range from 10% to 30%, subject to Zalora’s policies. Further, if a customer returns a product, sellers are charged with an additional fee. Customer cancellations do not affect seller metrics, but the combined cancellation rate of a channel and seller should be less than 5% in order to avoid penalties. It’s crucial to keep these factors in mind to plan your selling strategy effectively.

In conclusion, venturing into the growing Philippines e-commerce market through Zalora presents a golden opportunity for sellers. With a vast customer base across the globe, a user-friendly interface, and diverse category offerings, it’s a platform designed for success. With the right strategies in place and understanding the associated costs, sellers can effectively tap into this dynamic market, opening up new avenues for growth and profitability. So, seize the opportunity today and embark on your journey with Zalora!

Read how businesses are growing with Unicommerce –

The post How to Sell on Zalora Marketplace in the Philippines? appeared first on unicommerce.com.

E-commerce Apparel Industry in the Philippines: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions

Team Unicommerce — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 10:53:19 +0000

The fashion and retail industry of the Philippines is rapidly evolving. It is projected to experience strong growth in the coming years, with a CAGR of 15.01% and a market volume to reach US$ 1,363 million by 2027.

With a population of over 110 million people and a rapidly growing middle class, consumer spending power is also increasing. This has led to a surge in demand for fashionable clothes and accessories and opportunities for businesses to thrive.

Highlights of the E-commerce Apparel Industry in the Philippines: Opportunities & Trends

The Apparel market is on the rise, with a projected revenue of US$779.10 million in 2023.
Robust growth is anticipated, with an annual growth rate of 15.01% between 2023 and 2027. This will lead to a market volume of US$1,363 million by 2027.
While the Philippines is seeing growth, China dominates the market with a staggering revenue projection of US$131,300 million in 2023.
The number of users in the Apparel market in the Philippines is set to increase, reaching an estimated 34.2 million users by 2027.
User penetration in the market is growing steadily, starting at 22.4% in 2023, and is forecasted to reach 27.5% by 2027.
The average spending of each user, or ARPU, in the market is projected to be US$29.62.

However, along with these opportunities comes a unique set of challenges for the retailers operating in this region. So, let’s explore the challenges, opportunities, and solutions of the Philippines’ booming fashion industry.

Overcoming E-commerce Apparel Industry Challenges with Solutions in the Philippines

The apparel industry is known for its ability to adapt to ever-evolving styles and trends. However, this state of flux brings notable challenges, including the following:

1. Real-time Inventory Management

In the fast-paced fashion industry, managing inventory is crucial. The task of mapping an extensive SKU base with orders on various marketplaces like Lazada, Zalora, Shopee, etc., can become tedious and error-prone if handled manually. For Example, manual mapping can sometimes lead to the same products being marked with different SKUs, causing them to be counted as separate items.

Adding to the complexity, the fast-changing trends in the apparel industry lead to short product life cycles. Fluctuating demand and rapidly changing fashion trends can lead to overstocking or stockouts, both of which can be costly for retailers.

Solution – Implementing Barcode Inventory Management System

Retailers should implement a robust Barcode Inventory Management System to tackle these challenges. This system enables real-time tracking and accurate monitoring of inventory levels. The centralized SKU mapping enables retailers to streamline operations and ensure consistent product identification across various sales channels.

With precise insights, retailers can optimize stock levels, minimize stockouts, and enhance order processing efficiency. Brands like Luxurious Cravings have successfully leveraged these automated systems to stay ahead in the competitive market.

Moreover, these automated systems not only streamline inventory control but also provide comprehensive reports. These reports offer valuable data and analytics, empowering retailers to make informed decisions and anticipate future demands.

Given the rapidly changing pace of the fashion industry, these reports provide sellers with the latest trends. They provide insights into the best-selling and lowest-performing SKUs, allowing retailers to form their strategies effectively.

2. Order Processing and Fulfillment

Retailers in the Philippines face significant challenges with processing and delivering orders. Businesses need to handle this task well to uplift the post-purchase experience of their customers. The region has different kinds of areas, some with modern facilities and others with fewer resources.

Also, the presence of islands within the Republic of the Philippines adds a distinctive layer of complexity to the logistical landscape. The country consists of more than 7000 islands, and shipping and returning goods between these islands require a refined transportation and coordination strategy to guarantee timely and undamaged deliveries. This can make it tricky to process and deliver orders on time, especially in remote areas.

Solution – Automating the Entire Order Processing Workflow

Implementing a robust order management system can centralize and streamline the entire order processing workflow, from order placement to delivery. Retailers can consider investing in systems with solid integrations with 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) providers. These established logistics companies have expertise in navigating the region’s diverse landscapes, resulting in timely deliveries and higher order fulfillment rates.

Leading brands like Ellana Cosmetics have successfully achieved faster, better, and more efficient deliveries through automation. The brand achieved an impressive 99.99% order fulfillment rate by implementing a robust e-commerce order management system.

3. Product Returns and Reverse Logistics

Returns management is crucial in establishing a solid brand reputation, especially in the apparel industry with high return rates. A cumbersome and slow returns process can result in customer dissatisfaction and negatively impact brand reputation.

Businesses must also be vigilant about fraudulent returns, where some customers may abuse the process for personal gain. For example, some individuals may return used or damaged items, claiming they are faulty, in order to receive refunds or replacements.

Solution – Using a Robust Returns Management System

To address these challenges, it’s essential to implement an efficient returns management system that facilitates smooth and quick handling of product returns, ensuring a positive post-purchase experience for customers.

The system should include features like easy return initiation, seamless reverse pickup, thorough quality checks, inventory reconciliation, refund processing, and more. This can help retailers minimize return processing time, reduce operational costs, and maintain a positive brand image.

4. Changing Landscape of the Retail Industry

One of the biggest challenges facing fashion retailers is the industry’s changing landscape. With advancements in technology and shifting consumer preferences, traditional brick-and-mortar stores are facing intense competition from online retailers.

D2C brands are investing heavily in technology to build a strong supply chain ecosystem and drive traffic to their brand websites. The convenience and accessibility offered by online shopping have revolutionized how people shop for clothing and accessories. As a result, many traditional retailers have had to rethink their strategies and find ways to integrate online platforms into their business models.

On the other hand, digital-first brands, which initially started as online-only entities, have recognized the value of offline presence and are expanding into physical retail spaces. This convergence of online and offline retail indicates a shift towards a more holistic approach to retailing, where brands are exploring multiple ways to connect with consumers.

Solution – Building a Strong Omnichannel Presence

In this ever-changing landscape, it has become essential for retailers to build a solid online presence. However, it is equally important to maintain a physical store as well. Adopting an omnichannel approach allows retailers to seamlessly integrate their online and offline channels, providing customers with a cohesive shopping experience across all touchpoints. For instance, with an omnichannel strategy, customers can order online and return offline and vice-versa, or they can choose products online and try them in person.

For this, businesses need to have a user-friendly website or mobile app that offers convenient browsing and purchasing options while ensuring that brick-and-mortar stores are visually appealing and provide exceptional customer service. By creating a seamless online and offline shopping experience, retailers can attract and retain customers in an increasingly competitive market.

Leading omni brands like Edamama have successfully implemented an impactful e-commerce strategy to strengthen their presence in the market.

Let’s Make Fashion Business Easy in the Philippines!

While there are challenges facing the fashion retail industry in the Philippines, there are also immense opportunities for growth and success. Retailers can navigate the evolving landscape by staying agile, embracing technology advancements, and understanding consumer needs. As the Philippines continues to be a hotbed for fashion innovation and consumption, it is crucial for retailers to stay ahead of trends and constantly innovate to stay relevant in this dynamic market.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What factors affect the fashion and retail industry in the Philippines?

Factors affecting the fashion and retail industry in the Philippines are the shifts in consumer preferences, the economic fluctuations of the country, the changing landscape of the e-commerce industry, the growing online penetration, increased competition, and the ever-changing supply chain dynamics.

2. What is the weakness of the fashion industry in the Philippines?

The weakness of the fashion industry in the Philippines lies in various factors, such as its reliance on imported raw materials, limited infrastructure, and inconsistent regulatory frameworks across different regions in the country.

3. What are the popular fashion trends in the Philippines?

Fashion trends in the Philippines can vary from city to city, but some popular trends in the region include a fusion of traditional and modern elements, vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and a mix of Western and local fashion influences. Moreover, streetwear, sustainable fashion, and athleisure are gaining popularity among the younger demographics.

Explore our platforms:

Related read on E-commerce in Philippines –

The post E-commerce Apparel Industry in the Philippines: Opportunities, Challenges and Solutions appeared first on unicommerce.com.

E-commerce Trends in Malaysia: Become a Top Seller With The Right Approach!

Team Unicommerce — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 19:43:00 +0000

The growth of e-commerce in Malaysia can be assured due to the fact that over 50% of the entire population of the country relies only on online shopping via mobile devices to search, purchase, review and promote a product.

The biggest reasons behind the massive success of e-commerce in Malaysia consist of the fact that the products sold have a higher margin, user penetration for online shopping is expected to grow up to 53.1%, and the e-commerce revenue of the region is analyzed to reach almost at $11.65 billion in 2023 growing at a CAGR of 14.24% to reach $19.84 billion by 2027.

If we specifically analyze the growth rate of the different modes of e-commerce, then we see that each of the three modes of e-commerce viz a viz Cross Border, B2B and Domestic e-commerce (B2C) have their own strengths and differentiators in the Malaysian e-commerce ecosystem.

E-commerce Growth in Malaysia: Different E-commerce Selling Models

1. Cross Border E-commerce

Starting off with Cross Border e-commerce,the top countries in the list of every Malaysian online shopper include Singapore, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and China, from where a variety of products, right from beauty to electronics, are purchased and paid for via online transactions due to the superior safety and trust of consumers around Malaysia.

Seeing the opportunity, even the government has several business regimes and foreign business strategies in place to support Cross Border e-commerce in Malaysia, making the growth rate of this mode quite high.

2. B2B E-commerce

If we talk about the B2B e-commerce mode in Malaysia, the current numbers show a growth of USD 3.4 billion and indicate that B2B e-commerce is a quickly growing section for SMEs. Over 61% of small to medium businesses and brands trust the growth vertical of the B2B e-commerce mode in Malaysia and continue to adapt to high-functioning technological advancements, right from mobile shopping to online payments, to enhance their products and services.

3. B2C E-commerce

For Domestic e-commerce or B2C e-commerce, Malaysia is turning out to be a profitable market as local businesses, sellers, and retailers are being offered immense opportunities by the government to upscale their business offerings, rising cash flow, etc., to help them grow more and contribute towards Malaysia’s overall GDP.

With the strengthening of local as well as cross-border e-commerce practices in Malaysia, the sellers, the consumers, and the overall country is expected to become the next battleground for brands and businesses to provide the best of services to the shoppers, gain more and more profits and experience a vertical growth curve.

Latest E-commerce Trends in Malaysia

1. Rapidly Growing Online Marketplaces

User penetrations for online shopping are expected to hit 53.1% by 2025, and as the online audience grows, multiple businesses, sellers, and retailers are moving towards either creating their own websites for users to have an uninterrupted shopping experience or integrating on leading marketplaces including Shoppe, Lazada, Zalora, 11Street, etc.

Post understanding the benefits of selling products via these online mediums, especially on marketplaces, brands, and businesses have managed to experience the change in numbers for their sales, profits, and overall growth.

2. Booming Economy

The e-commerce consumer goods market in Malaysia is expected to grow to US$5.9 billion by 2024 due to the huge mobile shopping audience. This indicates the rapidly growing economy of the nation, which plays a key role in deciding the success of e-commerce businesses in the region.

As Malaysia is set to surpass even Singapore in being the fastest growing and immensely successful e-commerce market, the government of the country has put forth several policies and national laws to help brands and businesses to invest in the e-commerce arena and in turn strengthen the economy of the nation even further.

3. Quality Over Price

Malaysian online shoppers prefer to buy high-value goods and services and can easily oversee the pricing put on a product if that suits their needs. This happens because of the relatively younger population of the nation in comparison to other Southeast Asian countries.

Also, as the frequency of customers shopping online is more than 59% a month in the region for major categories of Fashion, Electronics, Home Decor, Groceries, etc., it is quite evident that the market can substantially increase its revenue by simply providing good quality products no matter the rates.

4. Flexibility to Try New Products

The audience of Malaysia is fearless to trying new things, and as the major population comprises youngsters with a social influence bigger than anything in the region, businesses that offer unique, quirky, and fun products will not vary among customers and can expect good profits.

Also, the majority of the Malaysian audience is happy with the services and the variety they can find whenever they shop online, making it even better for niche businesses to go online and sell their products.

5. Last – Mile & Same Day Delivery

Faster and last-mile delivery not only plays a crucial role in increasing the customer experience for any business, but for the Malaysian audience, it is a key factor because most of the population expects their online purchases to be delivered to them as much as in 3 days’ time.

These expectations are a basic requirement for any e-commerce business or seller to speed up their dispatch and shipping processes and ensure that the products even reach the most remote customers.

E-commerce Strategies for Successful Business in Malaysia

New businesses, products, and services are emerging at a very fast pace in Malaysia, and in no time will the country define new avenues of e-commerce growth.

So what should you, as an online seller or brand just starting their e-commerce journey, do to make the most of the growing market?

1. Strengthen Your Social Media Presence

Having a strong social media presence is vital for businesses today, especially with a mobile-first audience. This is because most people access social media platforms through their mobile devices, making them a crucial tool for connecting with customers. Businesses can effectively engage with their audience and build a loyal customer base by having a solid social media presence.

2. Sell on Multiple Leading Marketplaces and D2C Websites

Integrating with the big and multiple selling platforms in the Malaysian e-commerce market can maximize your customer reach, strengthen your brand presence and increase your overall profitability. You can also launch your own D2C website to connect directly with your customers and offer a personalized shopping experience. Using multichannel order management system can optimize your business processes and ensure seamless transactions on multiple selling platforms.

3. Ensure a Wider and More Diverse Product Range

When you are constantly working on building your brand presence and aiming to provide a seamless experience to your customers, one of the ways that could help you is to keep on adding, revising, and maintaining your product listings. This can help you appeal to a broader customer base and increase your sales potential.

Keeping a well-stocked and updated product range can also demonstrate your commitment to providing a high-quality customer experience, which can enhance customer loyalty and satisfaction.

4. Manage Inventory in Real-time to Avoid Stock-outs or Dead Stocks

Inventory management is a critical aspect of any e-commerce business. A proper inventory management software can help you stay organized, ensure that you never run out of stock, and make informed decisions about restocking, promotions, and other aspects of your business.

5. Provide a Seamless Omnichannel Shopping Experience

If you’re an established business looking to grow in the Malaysian e-commerce market then leverage an omnichannel approach. Ominchannel is one of the most effective way of providing streamlined services to your customers, as it ensures that no matter where or from which medium your shoppers are browsing or purchasing items, they always get the same user experience.

6. Track Customer Behaviour and Preferences

By tracking and analyzing your customer’s behavior and preferences, you can better understand their needs and offer tailored suggestions that cater to their specific tastes and requirements. This can be done by rendering automated tracking systems that analyze your customer’s buying patterns, choices, needs, etc.

7. Empower Your Warehouse Operations

To achieve higher sales, increase customer satisfaction and to enhance your serviceability, it is very important to strengthen your warehouse operations. A robust warehouse management system can help you streamline operations and improve order fulfillment, stock keeping, and overall serviceability.

In Conclusion

The road to success in Malaysia is relatively easy to achieve if you are determined and have a clear vision of where you want to be and what kind of services you want to offer. Success in e-commerce requires analyzing market trends and implementing effective strategies.

An e-commerce enablement solution can be an essential tool for businesses looking to grow and succeed in the fast-paced world of online retail. It offers a comprehensive approach to managing all aspects of the supply chain, from inventory management to order fulfillment and warehouse operations.

Don’t wait up; get the right support and start your successful e-commerce journey today!

Explore our platforms:

Discover Leading Brands Success Story –

The post E-commerce Trends in Malaysia: Become a Top Seller With The Right Approach! appeared first on unicommerce.com.

How To Sell On Shopee: The Ultimate Guide To Sell On The Marketplace [Updated 2024]

Team Unicommerce — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:58:07 +0000

The e-commerce market is ballooning in Southeast Asia like never before. While most of the penetration in e-commerce is from urban consumers, the growth opportunities are targeted to lure consumers from tier-2 and tier-3 cities in a few years.

From the growing consumption of online marketplaces to e-tailers going digital from their brick and mortar stores, the entire region is flooded with the demand for e-commerce. As per e-Conomy SEA 2021 report by Google, 40 million more internet users came online in 2021 while bringing the digital penetration to 75% in SEA. Additionally, 350 million consumers in SEA have made at least one purchase online last year.

So do you not want to leverage this underlying opportunity?

Are you looking forward to starting your e-commerce journey? Or maybe you are looking to expand your e-commerce business in the region? If yes, then Shopee is the right fit for your business.

Now the question is, what exactly is Shopee?

With absolutely no commission and listing fee, Shopee is a mobile-only e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia that pays extra attention to enhancing both buyers’ and sellers’ shopping experiences. Covering seven markets of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia, Shopee has its presence all around Southeast Asia.

The marketplace has been predicted to be the top player in the coming years as it records almost 457.9 million visits per month, making it one of the leading platforms in the SEA. Additionally, the third-quarter report by Sea Limited documents that Shopee recorded gross orders of 1.7 billion and a GMV (gross merchandise value) of $16.8 billion.

Why should you sell on Shopee?

Shopee is a kind of marketplace where sellers give extra attention to their brand reputation as there’s a scope for enhancing buyers’ shopping experience to the most. Want to know more about why Shopee is the best for your e-commerce business? We have got you covered!

Zero financial stress: With a commission-free and no listing fee model, Shopee offers you an amazing marketplace without any financial overload. However, if you want to expose your portfolio to a wider audience, you can always go for paid advertising.
Broader networking: Shopee has a broad presence across ASEAN countries. So if you choose this marketplace, you’re going to represent your brand to a border customer base, which is a good opportunity for brand expansion.
Free shipping: With Shopee, you can enjoy the perks of no shipping cost, selling your products at cheaper prices while luring more customers than you can gain via any other marketplace. (Note: Shipping may differ by country and regulations.)
Low transaction fee: Shopee involves a transaction fee of 1.5%, which is very cheap when compared to the commission of other marketplaces, which revolves around 2% to 8%.
Gives multiple payment options: Sellers can offer a plethora of options to their customers as Shopee accepts bank transfers, ATM transfers, Debit and Credit cards payment, Over-the-counter (OTC) payments, Cash on Delivery (COD).
Supports multiple languages: Shopee offers a truly multilingual experience by serving operations in six languages, making it best at the global level.

Hot tip: If you are confused about what products you should sell on Shopee, then here are a few top-selling product categories: Fashion, Home and Living, Baby products, Mobile phones, and accessories, Health and beauty, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Seller on Shopee

There are two ways to sell on Shopee. You can sell on the platform either through the app or via the website. Both ways are quite easy and similar to each other. Let’s first check how to sell via the Shopee app.

#1 Start Selling On Shopee Via App

Step 1 – Click on the sign-up button and put the important details while verifying your phone number.

Hot tip: It’s important to provide your number, else you won’t be able to sell your products.

Step 2 – List your products by going to the Me tab and clicking Start Selling. There, you can select Add New Product where you can insert product images and information related to your product, such as product name, details (size, type, etc.), category, attributes (price, stock, variations, weight), and shipping details. Once it’s done, click on Submit.

Hot tip: Add high-quality images because you know how customers love to get in-depth visual details of the product they want to buy. It increases the chance of selling. Moreover, you must put emphasis on curating precise and concise product description that has the power to catch attention.

Step 3 – Complete your shop set up by going to Seller Assistant and then Shop Profile. There, choose your Shop Name, which should be both unique and easy to memorize. Then add up to 5 images or videos of your brand. The last step is to add the description of your shop, highlighting your USPs, history, and shipping location. The next step is to Save.

Read how Businesses are growing with Unicommerce –
How PayO Asia achieved 10X Growth in Sales?
How Ellana Cosmetics achieved 99.99% Order Fulfillment Rates?

#2 Start Selling On Shopee Via Seller Centre

Step 1 – Start by creating an account on shopee.com.my and click on Sign Up. After that, add and verify your phone number and email ID.

Step 2 – The next step is to set up your shop. For that, you need to go to the Seller Centre where you can go to Shop Profile. Then you need to choose the shop name, which is unique and easy to memorize. After that add up to 5 images and videos. Lastly, you need to add a description, highlighting your shop’s history, USPs, and location.

Step 3 –

Your next step is to add your product. Go to the Seller Centre and click on Add New Product. There you can add the product name and three categories will appear automatically. You can either choose them or configure them as per your choice. Then click Next.
After that, you need to add information about your product, including Product Name, Product Description, and Product Attributes.
Then insert the price, stock count, and variations (if any) for your product. Your next step is to take high-quality photos.
Lastly, update shipping settings, such as weight, dimension (parcel size), and shipping fee. Then Save and Publish once everything is done.

Hot tip: Shopee offers you multiple fulfillment models, so you can choose any of the below models as per your preference.

Fulfilled by Shopee
Third-party fulfillment centers

4 Ways to Manage your Operations and Increase Sales on Shopee

The most important aspect of selling over Shopee is the way you manage your backend operations. If you know how to smoothly manage them, you can seamlessly increase your sales. Here are a few tips for you to grow your business sales on Shopee.

Manage multiple integrations via a single platform: Right from accounting to CRM, you can perform a plethora of tasks by integrating your Shopee with a supply chain technology platform like Unicommerce. With multiple integrations, such as ERP/POS, accounting, and more, you can manage your order and inventory management easily.
Track your performance using analytics: Choose a platform that offers your in-depth reports and dashboard so that you can analyze your orders, inventory status, returns status, and more. Some platforms offer inventory snapshots to let you learn the availability of stock in the warehouse.
Expand product portfolio: Insert a variety of products while updating your product line with a catalog manager. You can bring diversity to your products by seamlessly syncing your catalog using a backend management system.
Manage customer relationships: Track your order routinely and offer an immersive shopping experience to your customers by fulfilling their orders timely. This lets you maintain a long-term relationship with your customers, increasing the customer retention rate.

To conclude it all, if you are serious about starting your own e-commerce business or expanding your product line in Southeast Asia, then there’s no better platform than Shopee. While it has a presence across buyers in Southeast Asia, it offers many benefits. Moreover, you must optimize your offerings via tips we have curated at the end. Apart from backend operations, you can indulge in marketing and account management activities to enhance your virtual store, which is necessary to pull off buyers’ attention on Shopee.

Explore our platforms:

Recommended read:

The post How To Sell On Shopee: The Ultimate Guide To Sell On The Marketplace [Updated 2024] appeared first on unicommerce.com.