When traditional shopping slowed because of the pandemic, Tutuban Center and other Divisoria businesses turned to online platforms.
Established last year, TutuBuy was designed as the first wholesale shopping site in Divisoria. “We wanted to offer a safe and convenient online shopping experience and provide Tutuban and Divisoria enterprises an additional avenue where they may offer their products,” says Jessica O. Santos, commercial leasing head of AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC).
ALLHC president and chief executive Maria Rowena M. Tomeldan adds, “We work hand-in-hand with our merchant partners in Tutuban so that their businesses may prosper.”
TutuBuy lists various goods on the site, including homeware and kitchenware, hygiene and sanitation items, packaging materials, textiles, tailoring accessories, office and school supplies, arts and crafts, party needs, toys and events supplies, and tiles and home furnishings.
Shoppers can get their wholesale bargain needs from Tutuban merchants Anding’s Toys & Flowers, Michelle’s Ribbon and Lace Center, Plaza de Amigos, Tramontina, Boston Textile Trading, Centro Texstyle, Perfect Resource Trading, and Esta Galleria, as well local wholesalers Megajaz Packaging Supplies, Shirt Station Enterprises, Gravitee Sales, Sun City Multi Sales, and Wellmanson Sewing Notion.
“TutuBuy has been a big help to my business as it definitely helped our sales improve despite the pandemic. With TutuBuy as our only online store, it has also enabled us to tap the Tutuban market digitally without needing to open a physical store inside the mall,” shares Megajaz Packaging Supplies owner Girlie Miravalles.
In addition to the e-commerce site, TutuBuy expanded its services to offer Pabili (purchase), a hybrid shopping experience where the customer will be connected with a personal shopper to assist and physically purchase the client’s requested items that may or may not be listed on the TutuBuy website.
The Pabili feature allows buyers to find goods in Tutuban Center and other shops within Divisoria.
Owner of Plaza de Amigos Trading, Jonathan Go relates, “At the start of the pandemic, our business took a big hit as we were closed for almost two and a half months. ALLHC helped us through rent reprieve, but they also approached us to join the TutuBuy platform to boost our sales since we don’t have our own online selling platform.”
In celebration of its first anniversary, TutuBuy today until Sept. 30 offers discounts and a one-time discounted shopper’s fee of P150 from the P250 regular rate using the code “TutubuyAnniv” upon checkout.
Deliveries are made via TutuBuy’s partner couriers. The shipping rate is computed based on the order’s overall dimensions and weight on top of the buyer’s delivery address. Pick-ups are allowed and can be arranged by the mall staff. Payment options include online bank transfer (BPI and BDO), GCash, and cash on delivery. To shop on TutuBuy, go to www.tutubancenter.com.