Shopee focuses on growing number of transactions

ONLINE mall Shopee Philippines expects shopping activity to rise towards the end of the year, with the first half of the year comparatively more quiet on the e-commerce front.

Shopee Associate Director Martin Yu told reporters Thursday that Shopee is focusing on growing the number of transactions and gross merchandise value (GMV).

“A lot of Filipinos love shopping during Christmas and it’s just the start of that ber-months so it’s basically the time of the year, the most wonderful time of the year,” Mr. Yu said.

In Asia, GMV for the first quarter of 2019 amounts to USD3.5 billion, with Indonesia and Taiwan comprising the biggest chunk of the market.

“…between 1 to 2% of retail is now shopping online, on e-commerce, but in countries like Taiwan that number is 10 to 15% …it’s at a mire developed stage there,” he said, noting that the platform is not new in such markets. “So we can still see a huge potential to where it can get to eventually,” Mr. Yu added.

Asked to provide details on the number of transactions, he said: “We have seen sustained growth in the past months, and we’re still growing with ever-greater efficiency.”

Categories like health and beauty, women’s fashion as well as baby products were among its best-sellers.

“So now it’s between health and beauty and women’s fashion that are top categories, also mobiles and gadgets. So it’s a mix of young women’s products and electronics that are growing.”

Mr. Yu said that the motoring and the groceries categories are among the laggards because they started selling the products much later.
The company aims to raise awareness about its platform by working with more brands to reassure consumers that they are dealing with a credible seller.

“I think that’s something we want to build…how can we make it (that) you trust the online buying process, you’re confident that you do it every day,” he said.

Shopee had around 30 million downloads in the Philippines and around half a million active sellers on the platform.