The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic forced the government to implement the enhanced community quarantine to ensure the safety of its people, slow down the transmission of the virus, contain it and flatten the curve. However, the measure created setbacks among major industries, affecting not only small businesses but bigger corporations as well.
A survey conducted by Statista in the Philippines showed that as of February 2020, about 75 percent Filipinos perceived that the COVID-19 outbreak would affect the international economy, while 65 percent believed that it would affect the economy of the Philippines.
The wholesale and retail trade has a projected loss of P93.2 billion to P724.8 billion according to state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies. The predicament put some sellers of Shopee in limbo as they try to decide what's next for their businesses.
Joh Tan, a Shopee Seller for two years, said the implementation of the ECQ brought him and his family worries and uncertainties. As the breadwinner of the family, he relied on his health and wellness online store. “It wasn't very clear during the first few days if online shopping portals, such as Shopee, would be allowed to operate. This definitely caused a lot of anxieties,” Tan said.
Shopee seller Honey Cosing said that after the implementation of the ECQ, her business lost momentum and finances started to dwindle. “There's this feeling of uncertainty and fear of the unknown in different aspects,” Cosing said.
These are the common concerns of up to 80,000 Filipino small and micro enterprises whose businesses have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
This is where Shopee comes in. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches the P200-million Seller Support Package to help Filipino SMEs and sellers navigate the current economic climate during the ECQ and beyond.
The Shopee Seller Support Package aims to support both local SMEs and sellers with an existing online presence as well as those looking to expand their businesses online, through the provision of education, funding, and subsidies.
The Shopee Seller Support Package aims to benefit sellers with the following initiatives: lowered commission and operational costs, increased sales and marketing support and helping new sellers succeed online.
Tan and Cosing availed of the Shopee Seller Support Package to help their businesses continue to thrive amid the ongoing national health crisis. Not only did both sellers see boosts in their sales but it also uplifted their spirits and motivation.
“When our RM [relationship manager] broke the news to us that Shopee is offering a support program for sellers, it was such a welcome surprise and we were so uplifted by it. This is obviously a huge boost. As you know, many MSMEs like us are struggling financially during this time. The program helps better manage our finances, to be used for the business, and to provide the needs of our family,” Tan said.
Cosing said: “This is not just helping sellers like us but the buyers too! Knowing that makes us even more glad to be part of it!… First, it boosts our morale. This ECQ has a depressing effect on business owners but providing them with a program like this makes us feel otherwise and gets us motivated despite these trying times. Secondly is the financial benefit that comes with higher sales as a result of this program. Lastly, it would produce more buyers and business relationships for the seller which is definitely beneficial to all of us.”
Shopee has committed to serve stakeholders even in events like this. “During these challenging times, it is important for us to find ways to help our sellers and SMEs maintain long-term business sustainability. The launch of the Shopee Seller Support Package is part of our larger commitment to support our local communities through this Covid-19 period. We will continue to work closely with our extended network of partners, sellers, and shoppers to adapt our business and initiatives were required, as we remain united in getting through this together as one big community,” said Martin Yu, associate director of Shopee Philippines.
Like many retail shops, Small Wonders Page by seller Jennalyn Cristobal was initially affected by the ECQ. The seller needed to stop operations as courier service in her area in Sta. Maria, Bulacan halted their activities as well.
But when one courier service resumed operations, so did her online store. Shopee offered her the “Seller Support Program” that lets her enjoy lowered platform fees, marketing and operations support and additional benefits.
She was also advised to do flash sale with high quantities upon learning that she sells essential items. The results were astounding that the seller created new product listings that are considered essential items and these were also flashed.
Small Wonders Page even earned the “Preferred Badge” because of her participation in the particular support program. This gave her more exposure in the Shopee app which resulted in more sales.
She was grateful for the program because it gave her earnings that she wasn’t able to achieve even during the previous double-double sale of Shopee.
This gives Jennalyn, and other sellers of Shopee hope despite the current predicament of the nation that they can still feel an ounce of normalcy and be able to continue on with their lives and support their families.
