Shopee recently launched the #TatakPinoy initiative in February to help local sellers amidst the pandemic. Through this initiative, the e-commerce platform provided local sellers with enhanced visibility on the platform to promote locally-made products.
The #TatakPinoy initiative allowed local entrepreneurs to broaden their reach and grow their brands’ presence online. To highlight the campaign’s benefit, Shopee featured two local sellers, Bengie Antido and Dante Sargento. The two shared how they built and gained more recognition for their online businesses:
Bengie Antido of Kayamanan ni Juan Trading
Bengie Antido’s shop, Kayamanan ni Juan, is a social enterprise offering a wide variety of high-quality bags, t’nalak wallets, and wooden bracelets. 90 percent of the products are crafted by tribespeople in General Santos City. His store became a key source of income for him and his local community. Additionally, it served as an avenue for Bengie to share the culture and local traditions with people across the world. However, after the lockdown, Bengie found it harder to market the items due to the lack of tourist footfall in the city.
As a result, Bengie decided to transition into an online business on Shopee to reach a wider audience. Going digital was complicated at first. But with the support and guidance from the Shopee Seller Marketing Center, Bengie learned how to utilize vouchers and promotions to give his buyers a more rewarding online shopping experience. He also takes the time to answer all inquiries from prospective customers via the chat function on the platform.
This decision helped his business stay afloat amid the ongoing pandemic. It also led to more inquiries from customers as well as a 60% increase in his overall sales. With #TatakPinoy, Kayamanan ni Juan gained a bigger following.
“Because of #TatakPinoy, we received a 20% increase in orders. The virtual trade fair helped our business gain more visibility and also secured the livelihoods of so many people,” Bengie said.
Dante Sargento of MO’s Food Products
Dante Sargento of MO’s Food Products sells products like bagoong, sinamak (spiced vinegar), and ginisang alamang (shrimp paste). To him, these items are not just condiments—they are part of the local culture and tradition.
To preserve this heritage, Dante chose to sell these products online to reach more Filipino consumers. He found that it was more convenient and less expensive to sell on Shopee. Moreover, the online platform allowed him to reach a broader and more diverse consumer base, without having to go out.
Dante shared that Shopee’s tools like the secure in-app chat feature and learning programs such as the Seller Masterclasses were a big help in his overall experience as a seller on Shopee. With the help of Shopee’s robust ecosystem, he was able to build his online presence. It also enabled him yo actively engage with his customers through the chat feature, which helped to increase his sales up to 20%.
During the #TatakPinoy campaign, Dante received more orders than usual. “I was surprised that within the three days of participating in the campaign, I got the same amount of orders that I was usually getting in a week. I am thankful that Shopee gave my business more visibility and opportunities to grow.”
Words of advice
As consumers continue to rely on online platforms to satisfy their needs, both local sellers encouraged other entrepreneurs to explore the growing opportunities in e-commerce and shared some words of advice.
“Always ensure that you are selling good quality products to build your credibility and reputation. Build good relationships with the buyers so you’ll get better ratings that will translate to better sales. It’s also vital to do your research on the industry and the platform so you can be familiar with its helpful features,” Bengie said.
“Selling online can be overwhelming at first, but sellers can and need to learn to adapt, especially in the new normal. Use this chance to overcome your fears and discover new opportunities through innovation,” Dante added.
To know more on how to be a Shopee seller, visit https://seller.shopee.ph/edu/home.
