How To Become A Great E-Commerce Seller

Technology advancements paved way to the invention of e-commerce. E-commerce is the activity of buying or selling something via the Internet. From Instagram to Carousell, various websites and apps enable Singaporeans to practice e-commerce. That being said, here are tips on how to become the best online seller out there!

STEP #1: DEFINE YOUR BRAND

What are you willing and not willing to sell? What are the teens buzzing about these days? Pearl hair-clips or vintage headbands? How about the working adults? Are herbal oils in demand for pain management? Before you decide on putting a collection of products online, you must do your research.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Look for sellers that offer the same products and see which products are on top. This ensures that your products are attractive and in demand without having to lose money in the process. As you diversify your product range and start selling more, you may need to find a warehouse.

STEP #2: NARROW DOWN THE COSTS

Opening a physical store entail a painfully long list of operation costs. It comprises of rent, interior design, electricity, utility, and other expenses. Not to mention, you have to maintain the overall look of your brick and mortar store.

Fortunately for you, you have avoided these expenses by opening an online store. You must start your business right by deciding which costs are necessary. Cut down unnecessary costs such as hiring additional staff.

STEP #3: OPEN AN ACCOUNT

To become an e-commerce seller, you can either open your own website or sign-up under an established one. For instance, you may set up a seller’s account at Lazada. It is easy!

As a prospective seller, you must provide basic contact information about yourself and the shop that you want to open. Next, you have to list down your products using Lazada’s Store Builder app. Ensure that you build appealing pages to increase client engagement. Lastly, you have to provide legitimate documentation. This documentation includes:

a. Your Business Registration Certificate or Business Owner Identification (NRIC),
b. Your list of directors,
c. A bank statement, and
d. GST letter (if applicable)

STEP #4: MARKET YOUR BRAND

Last but not the least, you must increase the visibility of your brand. Already established e-commerce websites have a lot of traffic, so you are at an advantage. You do not have to shell out more marketing budget. Nonetheless, you can always promote your products or services on Facebook and on Instagram.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

I cannot deny that many Singaporeans turn to social media for product or service reviews. So, make these reviews count!

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How To Not Get Scammed While Shopping Online

Whether a victim shops from an unverified website or replies to a phishing email, online shopping scams are transactions that can take advantage of you. Avoiding these scams starts with the awareness of its existence and reading the fine prints!

Maximize Your Credit Card Protection

As an international payment platform, PayPal is subjected to the presence of schemes. More often than not, PayPal scams happen when victims are made to believe that they are paying through PayPal. Scammers mimic the PayPal website and its confirmation email to lure their preys.

Or, “interested buyers” may send fake confirmations that the payment has been made. This will prompt you to ship your product.

Stay vigilant! The PayPal community highlights that they will never send an email asking for the following:

* full bank or credit card number,
* debit card PIN number,
* driver’s license numbers,
* a listing of your email addresses,
* a listing of your physical addresses
* your full name,
* your password to PayPal or any other accounts, and
* the answers to your security questions

Shop At Legitimate Sites

It goes without saying that the first thing you have to ensure is the credibility of the website. You must check if the URL begins with an “https”. Having this means that the website is secured. The “s” indicates an additional layer of security known as the SSL or Secured Socket Layer.

For websites you have not heard about, it is recommended to read reviews about the company and its products. You may also make a small initial purchase to see whether the company is legitimate or not. This way, you can feed your curiosity while staying on the safe side.

Beware Of “Too Good To Be True” Offers

Three years ago, I was rummaging through several websites to find an iPhone model and price that I am comfortable with. I realized that I have to be cautious when it comes to filthy cheap deals. There are hundreds of those online! After purchasing, I checked the authenticity of an iPhone through its manufacturing numbers as well as through the Apple support. Much like this scenario, you must steer away from out-of-this-world offers.

Consider your health and wellness as a top priority while shopping online. Do not believe grandiose claims or get sucked into fake offers.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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Double Your Online Shopping Deals this September with Maybank!

From 7 to 10 September 2018 only, Maybank is doubling their rewards for your next online purchase! Enjoy a S$25 cash rebate when you spend S$150 with ZALORA, Lazada, Taobao or RedMart with your Maybank Credit Cards.

On top of that, ZALORA, Lazada, and RedMart are EACH giving a separate promotion for Maybank Cardmembers directly on their respective websites.

So Maybank Cardmembers, you get to enjoy BOTH promotions!

Read on to find out how to maximise these deals!

Lazada

Be it Electronics, Fashion, Appliances, Furniture or Baby Needs, find all that you ever wanted on Lazada.

Check out deals of up to 90% off during the Lazada 9.9 campaign!

Shop on Lazada’s app between 1 to 30 September 2018 to get 50% OFF* your first purchase when you apply the promo code: MBLAZ10.

*Discount capped at S$10, minimum spend of S$20. Applicable only on the Lazada app. Limited to the first 250 new shoppers.

ZALORA

ZALORA is Asia’s Online Fashion Destination, providing the region’s style enthusiasts with the latest high-street looks through an extensive collection of global and local fashion. Go on an endless fashion shopping spree for the latest trends from the fashion runways. Just one click from your computer screens and mobile devices, and have them speedily delivered straight to your doorstep.

Shave 20% off when you shop between 7 to 10 September 2018 on ZALORA with the promo code: MBSPECIAL20, using your Maybank Card.

Only for 3 days, there is no minimum spend required on ZALORA!

Taobao

Affordable shopping can’t get more affordable! From 9 to 10 September 2018, slash 50% off flash deals and get free shipping on selected products exclusively on Taobao’s Tmall Signature Store!

RedMart

Can’t quite wrap around the idea of an online supermarket site where you can shop online for fresh groceries, baby and household essentials and specialty products at low prices and have them delivered to your doorstep? Here’s an incentive to try out RedMart!

All new RedMart customers get S$15 OFF when you spend S$60 and above on your groceries with the promo code MBRM15.

Only limited to the first 500 redemptions, so mai tu liao!

Whether it is shopping for tech gear, apparel, household appliances or groceries, online shopping just got easier, faster, better and cheaper with Maybank Credit Cards!

To claim your extra S$25 cash rebate on your online Maybank card purchases, simply SMS to 79898 in this format: MB99 <Name of Principal Cardmember> <NRIC> (E.g. MB99 Jasmine Tan S1234567A) to participate after charging to your Maybank Credit Card. This deal is capped at 200 redemptions per day, and limited to 1 redemption per Cardmember.

Please visit maybank.sg/mb99 for more details. Terms and Conditions apply.

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You Don’t Want To Miss These Online Shopping Hacks

THE INCOGNITO MODE

If you keep clicking on a particular item, a website is likely to offer it at a higher price. Furthermore, it may bombard you with advertisements of that item. The incognito window will help you save money through private browsing. It blocks third-party cookies and disables search history. This way, websites such as Hotels.com and Expedia cannot practice price discrimination.

CHECK ITEM AVAILABILITY

The Editor’s Market is one of my favorite stores due to its emphasis on modern street-wear. However, their items sell out fast! Fortunately for me, consumers can check out the item availability and reserve it via the online shop. Simply become a member by answering this form: theeditorsmarket.com/membership.

GET FREE SAMPLES

Free beauty samples are usually given at checkout. It gives you the opportunity to test out products without having to waste your money on a full-sized bottle. Sephora, a mecca for makeup addicts, offers free samples in its online store. Go to sephora.sg/pages/free-samples and follow the basic rules.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

a. Add a sample to your bag at checkout.
b. Only one sample may be added to each order.
c. Samples are available while supplies last.
d. If a sample goes out of stock, Sephora will provide a substitute.
e. Samples are not available during sale periods.

ENJOY FREE RETURNS

Whether you admit it or not, you do not always like what you purchase online. That is alright! International brands such as ASOS and MANGO allow you to process free returns. For ASOS, returning an item is a hassle-free task. Start by filling out the return form and printing out the shipping label. Then, drop it off at your local SingPost branch.

For MANGO, the prices on its website is the same as the prices in its physical stores in Singapore. You can return an item at any of its multiple outlets. It saves you the effort of heading down to the post office.

THE 24-HOUR WAIT

Last but not the least, you can subscribe to delayed gratification. Leaving your items in the shopping cart for at least 24 hours can help you decide whether you really want or need to purchase it. Some companies such as ZALORA Singapore will lure you with a special discount code to encourage you to checkout your cart. Apply this savvy shopping tip then.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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Get exclusive discounts when you shop online with your Maybank Card from 9 to 25 March 2018!

Although the excuse to shop for Lunar New Year may be over, the shopping deals don’t stop there! Maybank is back again with another round of awesome promotions and discounts for its Cardmembers.

With more and more people purchasing products online, we decide to bring the ultimate experience to you – Maybank’s March Online Fair. With over 30 merchants ranging from marketplaces, home & living, beauty brands, fashion, grocery, jewellery & accessories and cashback partners, there is a sweet online deal for everyone!

1. EZBUY

Dubbed as “Engineers of Easy”, Ezbuy  is a name that’s synonymous to good e-commerce products for practically everything you need. Shop millions of products from China, USA, Korea, Taiwan and home-grown brands with Ezbuy, from home & living to electronics & automotives without all the worry and fuss! Buy global, locally.

Promotion:
Get S$15 off with a minimum spend of S$100 when you utilise the Promotion Code: MB15 upon checkout at https://m.ezbuy.sg/! It’s that simple.

2. EVERY THREAD COUNT

Maybank is also bringing you some of the most comfortable and prettiest towels, bed linens and other home & living accessories from Every Thread Count. Look no further than their classy line of accessories for your entire family.

Promotion:
Enjoy 50% off site-wide with any purchase of their products at http://www.everythreadcount.com/ by putting in the Promotion Code: MB + first 6 digits of Maybank Cards e.g. MB123456. What a steal!

3. LAZADA IT FAIR

Not only that, Maybank is also teaming up with Lazada, the Best Electronics Shopping Portal according to the HardwareZone.com Tech Awards for this round of sweet deals. Voted by HardWareZone readers, Lazada is home to some of the best and most affordable IT products.  Browse through Lazada’s wide range of products to find a gift for you or your loved ones today!

Promotion:

Get S$12 off1 with a minimum spend of S$100 with the Promotion Code: MB12OFF or S$75 off2 with the Promotion Code: MB75OFF when you spend a minimum of S$500 at www.lazada.sg/maybanktech. This promotion is valid from 14 to 18 March 2018.

1Limited to the first 1,000 redemptions.

2Limited to the first 10 redemptions per day.

4. SHOPBACK

Getting money back after spending them on your desired items from your favourite sites never got sweeter. It almost sounds too good to be true, but it is!

Promotion:

New users, rejoice! Get S$5 sign up bonus + S$5 Grab voucher when you sign up for Shopback with Maybank Cards!

Regular users, you’ll get S$5 Grab voucher with a minimum spend of S$200 at Maybank Major Mondays.

On top of that, enjoy additional 5% cashback at the following brands on Maybank Major Monday at https://www.shopback.sg/maybank-special.

  • ALIEXPRESS
  • ASOS
  • BOOK DEPOSITORY
  • BOOKING.COM
  • DELIVEROO
  • FAVE
  • IHERB
  • LAZADA
  • NET-A-PORTER
  • QOO10
  • SEPHORA
  • ZALORA

5. SHOPEE

Another popular e-commerce site and app that most of us Singaporeans adore is Shopee. From electronics to furniture, sports and outdoors apparel to classy watches, they’ve got you covered with nothing but good deals for your desired products.

Promotion:

Get S$5 off with a minimum spend of S$40 at Shopee Women’s Day! You can also download the Shopee mobile app here to start your shopping therapy on the go!

This promotion is valid from 8 to 11 March 2018 and is limited to the first 1,000 redemptions only.

6. THE CLOSET LOVER

Ladies, upgrade your wardrobe with trendy, fashionable clothes at one of Singapore’s leading online blogshop, The Closet Lover.

Promotion:

Get 10% off with a minimum purchase of 2 items at http://www.theclosetlover.com/! Simply input TCLMB + first 6 digits of Maybank Card e.g. TCLMB123456 in the Promotion Code section.

Other Terms and Conditions:

  • Excludes backorder, basics, sales, accessories and Urbanista products.
  • Discount code is applicable upon check out.
  • Strictly no exchanges or returns allowed.

7. ZALORA

ZALORA is another local brand that has captured the interests of the masses with a wide range of products from reputable brands like Nike, Herschel and newly added JCrew whilst also offering their own stylish in-house brands – ZALORA and Something Borrowed at affordable prices.

Promotion:

Get S$25 off3 with a minimum spend of S$110 on any Zalora products by applying the Promotion Code: MBOF25 upon checkout at www.zalora.sg/mb2018.

You can get an additional S$5 off with a minimum spend of S$120. You have to be quick as this is only available for the first 200 customers. How could you say no to them?

3Limited to the first 500 redemptions.

So what are you waiting for? With all these great deals, go ahead and log online to start your shopping spree as soon as you can, happening for a limited time period only!

If you aren’t a Maybank Cardmember yet, simply sign up at maybank.sg/applycards to grab the attractive deals Maybank has specially catered for you. Don’t wait too long or they might just run out!

General Terms and Conditions:

Offers are valid till 25 March 2018, where applicable. Maybank TREATS General Terms and Conditions apply. Payment must be made with a Maybank Credit or Debit Card. Other Terms and Conditions apply. Maybank and the participating merchants reserve the right to change these Terms and Conditions without prior notice. Visit maybank.sg/mof for full details.

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