Shopee Commits Up to RM50 Million for Malaysian Students

 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan, has officially partnered with Sasbadi, Malaysia’s leading publication house and education solutions provider, to empower students in achieving their educational goals. The partnership was launched to make high-quality learning and revision materials more accessible to the Malaysian student community, giving them access to the right tools to succeed in their studies.

Commencing on 1 July 2023, Shopee commits 50 million ringgit to help students purchase educational materials to assist them in achieving academic excellence. This is carried out via 20 ringgit cash equivalent vouchers with no minimum spend that can be redeemed on any educational materials available at Sasbadi’s Official Shopee Store, exclusively for new Shopee customers. Throughout the year, these vouchers will be printed in selected Sasbadi publications and distributed through Shopee and bookstores across the country. 

“For those in need of high-quality learning materials, you are not alone – Sasbadi is committed to helping you achieve your full potential. We trust Shopee to make available this much-needed support to students across Malaysia, particularly underserved communities who need it the most, and we will continue to explore all avenues for raising awareness about such efforts,” said Law King Hui, Group Managing Director and Co-Founder of Sasbadi.  

“We are humbled to partner with like-minded companies like Sasbadi to support the rising educational needs of rural, underprivileged and underserved students from diverse backgrounds across Malaysia. This is part of our commitment to support local communities using technology. I strongly believe in the importance of education and together with my team, I am glad to be able to pay forward the support I received during my student days. We hope that Shopee's support will enable these students to achieve their dreams,” said Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing at Shopee Malaysia.

Shopee took a similar step in May 2022 when it collectively raised nearly 300 thousand ringgit for *#ShopeeGivesBack partners like UNICEF Malaysia in meeting critical needs of marginalised children and their families in Covid-19.

During the year-long campaign, Shopee’s platform will serve easy-access offerings tailored to students’ needs based on data-driven insights. Specifically, students’ searches for educational needs, such as practical notebooks or school supplies, educational textbooks, educational aid devices, and extra-curricular supplies. Concurrently, Sasbadi’s publications, available on Shopee and in bookshops nationwide, will incorporate the 20-ringgit vouchers, allowing students to conveniently redeem them for educational materials at Sasbadi’s Official Shopee Store on the platform.

Shopee Seller Summit Ushers in New Era of Value-Based Marketing

 

1,200 Malaysian sellers on Shopee’s platform unanimously resolved to stay relevant with shifting values of younger audiences online by embracing Value-Based Marketing at Shopee’s Seller Summit at Sunway Resort on 21 June 2023. The sixth instalment of Malaysia's most popular annual e-commerce conventions provided a safe space for sellers to incorporate latest online consumer trends and newly launched marketplace features in contributing to the development of local communities across various industries nationwide. 

Up-ending the notion that purpose-driven business is solely the purview of large MNC corporations, ten value-based sellers set up pop-up booths to demonstrate how they drive unique values through user experience, authentic storytelling, and seamless engagement. Shopee Xpert and Shopee Bintang sellers played interactive games such as Marketplace Inclusion Treats-In-the-Jar, Building Connected Communities Jenga, and Redefining E-Commerce Pictionary, to break the ice and create memorable value-based learning experiences.

In his keynote speech, Shopee Malaysia’s Director, Cheng Xun Chua unveiled major 2023 platform initiatives focused on enabling Malaysian sellers’ growth. Firstly, Shopee is enhancing capabilities across logistics and payments, and prioritising brand protection to enable better shopping experiences for value-based customers. Secondly, Shopee is maximising customer lifetime value from its large user base by building cross-category synergy and deepening the connection between sellers and their customers, increasing shopper engagement and maximising sellers’ reach. 

According to Chua, "In today's e-commerce landscape, customers pay close attention to what a seller stands for and does, by checking out what the influencers and affiliates say about the brand. With Shopee 360 Marketing Solutions, we provide a comprehensive, end-to-end platform marketing solution that includes a range of tools and services to help sellers increase their visibility and sales.”

Khairul Aming, winner of Shopee Super Award 2022 Best New Seller and Best Customer Service awards, led the call to stay relevant during his panel discussion. He was joined by esteemed fellow sellers Roy Sam of PerySmith, Kim Yeo of Ecobb, Sammy Chong of Celovis Jewelry, and So Bee Leng of Coty Malaysia, who spoke about meeting the needs of value-based consumers to drive long-term loyalty. 

He introduced Sambal Nyet on Shopee in 2021 and has made over RM 21.5 million in sales since, selling his millionth bottle last August. By constantly refreshing and customising content for Malaysians’ local preferences, he has over 3.7M followers on Instagram and consistently maintains an average of 5.0 stars ratings on Shopee with over 392.2k followers. Hailing from Kelantan, Khairul's growing business is a model of creating inclusive employment opportunities in his hometown for over 50 staff and 150 household dependents. 

Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing at Shopee Malaysia, said, “Every year, thousands of sellers network and learn new things to grow at our Seller Summit. This year, I had the privilege of facilitating first-hand (in my panel forum) very proactive value-based marketing strategies that I’m sure will drive societal and business impacts by industry. Not forgetting, I wanted to thank all the brand sponsors for contributing to the success of Seller Summit 2023: Commerce.Asia, Intrepid, Kumoten, Mono & Co, PayRecon, Red Dino, SiteGiant, and Toyo, among others."

Exemplifying how Made-in-Malaysia stores on marketplace can drive local economic inclusion while meeting the demands of value-based shoppers through Shopee’s ecosystem were: Ooi Zhi Wei of Zhiwei Herb, Felix Lee and Tee Ying Fui of Beehaus, Karen Tee of RPM (Racing Passion Moto), Eelin Lim of BeNourish, Leon Wong of Samview, Mohd Zaid of Lampu Cherita, Edward Wong of HomeDecoStore, Khairil Adhzaha of Tokey Sambal Hitam, Patricia Marin of Mamami Shoppe, and Hafiz Oon of Mr Bentong.

Last year, Shopee upskilled and integrated over 250,000 new sellers for digital inclusion, and saw 145 new sellers record over RM500,000 in sales in the first 12 months online. In line with Shopee’s ongoing efforts to leverage the transformative power of technology to create a more inclusive digital economy, Shopee’s Seller Summit provides tools to upskill and empower sellers to achieve online success and build a sustainable future for themselves. 

Shopee: Unearthing Hidden Gems, Upsizing Traditional Industries

Shopee’s robust ecosystem provides sellers with the ease to manage their online store-front, reach out to more customers and fulfil customers' orders through integrated logistics management. This has supported many small-scale businesses with e-commerce infrastructure and resources. With more time on hand to run the business, it is no wonder that many local businesses turn to e-commerce platforms to expand their business reach.

Dishing Out Pahang Sambal Hitam to Klang Valley

Khairil Adhzaha, who operates a sambal factory in Bentong, Pahang, is one of Shopee Malaysia’s most successful local sellers. His brand, Tokey Sambal Hitam was bestowed the Super Favourite Buatan Malaysia title at the recent Shopee Super Awards 2022 for achieving the highest store growth in the last 12 months with excellent customer service.

The Tokey Sambal Hitam factory produces 80 kg of sambal hitam daily and employs 6 skilled and semi-skilled members of the local community to perform daily tasks, from raw ingredient processing to product marketing. According to Khairil, the business set-up was much leaner when he first started in 2009. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a flourishing business when he expanded into Shopee to reach out to audiences beyond Bentong.

“Majority of our customers live around Klang Valley,” Khairil said, reminiscing how e-commerce had contributed significantly to the growth of his business and created larger demand beyond the borders of Bentong. “Being on Shopee has helped my business grow.” He concurred that his sambal business would not have made it, had it not been for the ability of e-commerce to connect customers to businesses.

Khairil explained that sambal hitam is a simple, spicy, and sour condiment, special to Pahang made with ingredients sourced locally such as chillies, belimbing buluh (averrhoa bilimbi), onions and anchovies. 

“Most Malay families in Pahang will have their own recipe. It is so tasty, you will finish a plate of rice with this one simple condiment! Ready-to-eat sambal hitam provides busy working adults with more meal-time convenience. Unlike Bentong, people in Klang Valley work long hours, get stuck in traffic jams and may be too tired to prepare dinner when they get home. That is why there is more demand for ready-to-eat sambal hitam in KL than in Bentong,” Khairil elaborated.

When asked how his business had contributed to the local economy, Khairil said that he sources all of his raw ingredients from local farmers and traders. He orders hundreds of kilograms of supplies such as anchovies, chillies, and onions from local traders. Belimbing buluh however, is sourced directly from local farmers around Selangor, Pahang and Perak. The business currently needs up to 300kg of the sour fruit.

Khairil added that with Tokey Sambal Hitam’s annual business growth projected between 20% and 30%, he foresees an increase of up to 40% in the volume of raw ingredients required. “Being a priority seller on Shopee, I have the advantage of receiving ample help and guidance from my account manager. All these have helped accelerate the growth of my business.”

A little bit of Sabah for West Malaysians

Ex-insurance finance executive, Emilhan Mokhtar, lost his job and returned to Sabah in 2020. With nothing much to do at home and a working capital of RM2,000 he borrowed from his youngest sister, Emilhan purchased brooches made with Sabahan freshwater pearls to sell on Shopee.

“My business was really small when I first started and I had to think outside the box. I sourced for freshwater pearl brooches, a popular souvenir from Sabah, to sell among my network of friends in Kuala Lumpur,” Emilhan explained. 

Today, Emilhan’s online store, Kita Shop Selangor, has grown many folds on Shopee. His success has enabled him to establish a retail store, employing 6 local employees to assist with picking and packing, creating online content and managing the physical store. The brand currently carries between 200 - 300 types of designs, ranging from baby brooches, to shoulder brooches, and large brooches. All of them are sourced from local and indigenous artisans all over Sabah.

“E-Commerce is still a large demand creation platform, and 95% of my customers are from Peninsula Malaysia,” he added, sharing that his online store sells an average of 2,000 brooches monthly. “In 2021 alone, I managed to switch my business ownership type to Sendirian Berhad.”

Emilhan believes that e-commerce is able to create more demand for brooches made of Sabah freshwater pearls, especially with live selling as it allows sellers to interact with interested users and potential buyers in real-time.

“Over the last few years, we have noticed that a customer may spend at least three times more during a Shopee Live session compared to buying normally from our Shopee store. We believe that they feel more confident with the product quality when they can see it live,” Emilhan added.

Delivering Kerepek Pedas all over Malaysia from Parit Sulong

Kerepek Mastuki sells about 1,200 kilograms of kerepek pedas online to people from all over Malaysia every month. According to its Parcel Leader Fatin Syahirah, Kerepek Mastuki started as a family business in 1991 and had gained popularity within the span of 10 years. Their customers have travelled all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kelantan, Perlis, and Perak to the store in Parit Sulong, Johor to buy kerepek pedas basah.

“Kerepek Mastuki pivoted online on Shopee during the pandemic. We had the advantage of having a large existing client base before coming online. Our customers were also excited to see their favourite snacks easily accessible online,” Fatin shared. Kerepek Mastuki is now producing an average of 19,000 kilograms of kerepek monthly, with chilis and onions sourced from local suppliers.

“We are very grateful to be able to support our community here in Parit Sulong through Kerepek Mastuki. We have expanded the team with many local youths from our town to accommodate our growing business and are happy to give them the opportunity to start their careers with us,” Fatin elaborated further.

Shopee empowers sellers interested in taking their traditional businesses online through various online courses through the Seller Education Hub and Shopee University. To further strengthen their edge, sellers can join the upcoming Shopee Seller Summit in June 2023 and explore the latest value-based trends in the industry, share their experiences, and learn from fellow sellers.

Shopee Express Couriers Drive Community Inclusion and Business Success

 

A new study(1) by Shopee Express has found that 1,317 Malaysian couriers are committed to building robust relationships with local communities. 87% of couriers surveyed provide trustworthy nationwide delivery services, engage with people from diverse cultures, and develop a deeper understanding of the areas they operate in. The remaining believe that their work enables local businesses to expand their market reach, which contributes to their growth and creates new job opportunities.

The success of businesses and communities relies heavily on these couriers who are truly unsung heroes. Especially for local businesses, they are always adapting to meet the changing demands of their customers, while many households, especially those of the elderly and disadvantaged, have greatly benefited from the services of couriers. This is made possible by the fact that 80% of couriers deliver at least 80 parcels on a daily basis, while the rest handle a smaller number of parcels due to other commitments.

Given their intention to deliver parcels safely to the customers they value, 80% of couriers prioritise customer needs by considering factors such as urgency, location, and timing, while the other 20% take into account their own capabilities, such as parcel size, weight, and order received, when evaluating the feasibility of delivering parcels.

When asked ”What do you enjoy most about working as a Shopee Express courier?” – 56% of couriers enjoy the job’s flexibility and breaks, 25% value the opportunity to take ownership of their successes and hard work, and 19% appreciate the teamwork and training courses that come with being part of the community. Couriers also have been able to support their households by scheduling work trips at their convenience, which allows them to maintain their standard of living while continuing to develop their skills.

With countless deliveries to complete everyday, these couriers believe that having certain qualities is helpful in making them more efficient and productive. 80% of couriers surveyed identified honesty and reliability as crucial – they are responsible for delivering parcels safely, on time, and securely to customers. 20% think that possessing a positive mindset and ample knowledge is essential, which means being able to adapt to changes and staying calm in difficult situations.

All couriers know that customers want their parcels to arrive safely. 8 out of 10 couriers recalled pushing through circumstances to deliver in bad weather or remote areas, whereas the remaining couriers remembered playing a role in making someone feel valued by delivering for special occasions. These experiences motivate couriers to keep doing their job as it reminds them of the positive impact they have on people's lives.

Cheah Lee Sun, Head of Shopee Express, said, “Our couriers clearly play a crucial role in the communities they serve. We appreciate their tireless efforts to complete deliveries on time and build stronger connections with customers. As the backbone of our business, we are here listening to their needs and accommodating them as much as we can. This is just one of the ways we provide a better peace of mind not just to our couriers, but also to our customers who rely on us to deliver their parcels with utmost care and efficiency."

When asked how being a Shopee Express courier impacted their lives, 34% of couriers had improved their time management skills by prioritising their tasks effectively. For 27% of them, their work allowed them to provide meaningful support to their families. 23% learned about the importance of being accountable in delivering parcels, and 16% felt a sense of purpose in life and saw opportunities for career advancement.

“We are happy to see that many of them have a better understanding of how to communicate with customers, build rapport, and become more skilled over time in managing a consistent stream of work and balancing personal responsibilities,” Cheah concluded. 

1. Shopee Express’ 2023 Expressing Local Love study was conducted between 9 March 2023 and 31 March 2023. 87% of couriers surveyed provide trustworthy nationwide delivery services, engage with people from diverse cultures, and develop a deeper understanding of the areas they operate in.

Malaysian Female Sellers Uplift Other Women on Shopee

 

Shopee’s 2023 ShopeeSapotLokal Building Connected Communities study(1) finds that 100% of Malaysian women who achieve economic inclusion share their success by uplifting other women in B40 and rural areas. For 1,015 female sellers surveyed on the marketplace this Ramadan period: two-thirds hire single, rural, or impoverished women, or source directly from women-owned suppliers; a third facilitate networking opportunities and training programs.

These findings demonstrate that Malaysian women in the digital economy are not only supporting household dependents during peak Ramadan e-commerce sales(2), but are a driving force in giving back by lowering barriers to entry, widening access to customers, and providing more flexibility in time management to other women like themselves. 

When asked ”How has Shopee opened up new opportunities for women sellers like yourself?” – eight in ten respondents value the benefits and freedom of starting an online storefront easily with minimal investments and scaling it for sustainable growth, whereas two in ten respondents value the time they get to support their family, pursue their own aspirations, and enhance their skills.

Having achieved success for themselves this Raya, women on Shopee have been able to save time and effort in establishing alternative revenue streams, build relationships with resellers, vendors, and infrastructure partners they have no prior contacts with, and figure out how to invest in attracting their first customer base, especially for marginalised or impoverished women in rural and B40 communities. Not to mention, juggling their careers on top of household responsibilities and raising children.

#ShopeeSapotLokal’s community of women sellers have a sense of purpose and are capitalising on opportunities to drive greater inclusion by appealing to younger generations of Malaysian shoppers who shop purposefully online(3). When Generation Z choose to buy from women-owned stores, the survey helps them understand why these women think it’s important their business is supported: 60% of respondents are driven by career growth, financial empowerment, and long-term stability. 40% believe in making a positive impact with products that improve lives and by being role models for women and children. 

Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing at Shopee Malaysia, said, “Our belief is that e-commerce should be accessible to all. With this survey, Shopee’s community of empowered business-women are getting their voices heard. They’re advocating for a multifaceted approach to uplift other women and encouraging online shoppers to support them. These women are playing a significant role in Malaysia’s digital economy, and we’re sitting up listening and giving them the platform to succeed.”

Their growing participation in e-commerce allows Malaysian women to give their point of view on how to upskill other women to unlock their growth potential. 70% of women surveyed identified understanding people and delivering on trust as critical to success — 30% prioritise marketing as important to improve store content and deliver on their brand story, 20% focus on engaging shopping experiences to increase orders, and 20% emphasise customer service for star ratings and positive reviews. Only a third think upskilling is needed in navigating the platform features or optimising operations.

When asked which Shopee marketplace feature they utilise most to grow given their specific needs and constraints as women entrepreneurs, 36% of women sellers want to become preferred sellers or achieve Shopee Mall status. 25% want to leverage influencers and Shopee Live for higher visibility, 23% seek Seller Education Hub and Shopee Bintang Komuniti support, and 18% would like to capitalise on Big Campaigns.  

“Championing other women’s success means they can help each other define how Malaysian communities are built, communicated with, and how value-based businesses are run. 90% of women surveyed would recommend Shopee as a platform of choice to other women sellers promoting value-based shopping and inclusion,” Soh concluded. 

ShopeeFood and Pizza Hut Delivers Love to Food Delivery Partners for Ramadhan and Hari Raya Celebrations

 

In conjunction with Ramadhan and the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations, ShopeeFood together with Pizza Hut organised several berbuka puasa sessions across Klang Valley and Selangor for its fleet of food delivery partners. The #ShopeeDeliversLove campaign is in its second year and aims to show appreciation to ShopeeFood delivery partners.

Hundreds of delivery partners attended the sessions across many locations such as Wangsa Maju, Kota Damansara, Kepong and Kajang. Besides feasting on various yummy pizzas and beverages provided by Pizza Hut, the delivery partners also received many other goodies like Hari Raya cookies and petrol vouchers.

According to Kwa Yin Leng, Head of Operations for ShopeeFood Malaysia: “We are excited to be able to host this event on an annual basis for our delivery partners. ShopeeFood recognises the important role driver partners play in our business. As such, we continue to engage them closely, to better understand their needs. We take our driver partners’ feedback seriously, implement support initiatives and policies that meet their needs and continuously improve their welfare.”

“ShopeeFood is committed to delivering the highest quality of service for our customers by providing our users with value, variety and convenience through an integrated ecosystem. We hope by providing good food to our delivery partners, they will have more flexibility to observe their religious duties while delivering customer orders during this busy period,” she added.

Besides receiving food, delivery partners were also given a chance to win attractive lucky prizes that included smartphones, helmets and other riding apparel like raincoats.

Delivery partners interviewed during the event also expressed their appreciation for the gesture from ShopeeFood. En. Faizal bin Hashom who has been working with ShopeeFood for more than one and a half years said: “It is such a great event, and I hope ShopeeFood can organise a bigger one in the future so more drivers can attend it together. The timing to have the event during the month of Ramadan and Hari Raya is good as well.”

Another delivery partner, En. Abdul Qayum Bin Baharum said: “This event is really good for drivers to get together to not only meet new friends that are working in the same area but also a great opportunity to meet the ShopeeFood management team. The gifts are very attractive and I am grateful that we are able to participate in this event. Thank you ShopeeFood.”

For the Hari Raya period, ShopeeFood will also be having special discounts from 20th - 21st April. The offers include Free Delivery and features various merchants such as myBurgerLab, HWC Coffee, and Nasi Ayam Penyet.

ShopeeFood was established in 2021 to help its users benefit from a convenient and hassle-free food delivery experience by providing numerous eateries, from popular joints to local street food stalls, at the best value. As part of Shopee’s existing ecosystem that includes the mobile wallet ShopeePay, along with amazing deals and promotions all year round, Malaysians have a secure, and rewarding payment and delivery experience with ShopeeFood.

Usher Hari Raya with Free Delivery and Discounts Up to 50% off

Order your favourite Ramadhan and Hari Raya dishes with ease as ShopeeFood brings you a variety of special dishes for you and the family. With great discounts and free delivery throughout the Ramadan-Raya season, you can focus your efforts on preparing for the rest of the celebrations without worrying about what-to-eat. Get started righthere with some unique offers from our awesome ShopeeFood merchants:

● TEXAS CHICKEN’s Ayam 8Lada Promo - Indulge in an explosive combination of 8 powerful peppers that is guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds and deliver an extraordinary spicy sensation!

● KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS’ Ole-Ole Raya Package - Satisfy your cravings with the creamy and buttery sauces of Kenny Rogers Roasters Buttermilk Pedas, infused with a tantalizing hint of spiciness that is sure to leave you hooked.

● CHATIME’s Ramadhan Golden Fresh Mango Series - Start your iftar on a refreshing note with Chatime’s Golden Fresh Mango series featuring Sakur pearls and sago that surely satisfy your thirst.

● MARRY BROWN’s Riang Ramadan Raya Special - Spice up your appetite with a burst of aromatic local spices in every bite of Marrybrown’s Riang Ramadan Special.

● A&W’s Jom Buka Meal - Experience the ultimate flavor explosion with A&W’s new go-to menu, perfectly crispy and coated with spicy Daebak sauce. If you love a little heat, this is the perfect choice for you. Come and enjoy the K-Pop of flavors at A&W!

That’s not all as ShopeeFood brings you Mid Month Sales with ONE-day only discounts: Link

We also got you covered for Hari Raya. Check out these Raya friendly brands to provide you with better convenience:

● EDEN SATAY PANTAI DALAM’s Satay -Savor the delightful blend of distinct flavors that merge to form a delectable and gratifying sensation, infused with aromatic species, char-grilled meat, and peanut sauce.

● PAK ALI NASI LEMAK DAU PISANG’s Rendang - Indulge in the intense and intricate flavor profile of rendang, as the beef or chicken is slow-cooked to perfection, absorbingall the aromatic spices and herbs. The result is a deeply satisfying and flavorful dish that is sure to please even the most refined taste.

● SEDAP MALAM SATION’s Asam Pedas - Asam pedas offers a distinctive and intricate flavor profile with a blend of sour, spicy, and savory flavors, coupled with a fragrant and earthy aroma that will leave a lasting impression.

● ALI, MUTHU & AH HOCK’S Lontong - If you’re in the mood for traditional dishes, look no further than lontong! This simple but satisfying dish is enjoyed throughout the region, with its mild and comforting flavor and soft, chewy texture making it a popular comfort food to many.

● LEMANG PANAS’ Lemang - Lemang is cooked in a bamboo tube, the combination of glutinous rice and coconut milk to create a flavorful and visually impressive dish that is sure to impress.