Rae Rosal
More than a hundred local sellers participated in Shopee’s second University Roadshow and Kumustahan in partnership with the local government units of Mandaue, Cebu, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu on Wednesday, August 31, at the Bai Hotel Cebu.
The Shopee University Roadshow is a free masterclass that educates MSMEs nationwide on how to generate more sales and grow their buyer base by providing them with the right tools and knowledge. The Shopee Kumustahan, meanwhile, helps sellers learn through mutual sharing of their experiences.
Since the first two seller-focused initiatives were launched in Davao last June, Shopee has continued to reach more Filipino communities across the country in an effort to understand the specific needs of local sellers, as part of their commitment to support MSMEs nationwide.
“Our goal is to give you an easy and seamless online experience through our platform. This is why we prepared the Shopee University Roadshow — we hope that you will be able to learn more about the benefits of taking your business online,” Shopee Philippines Head of People Karen Perez told Cebu MSMEs in a presentation.
During the event, participating Shopee sellers in Cebu learned online selling basics on proper lighting, product image quality, product description, customer service tips, and some technical details pertaining to their operational performance. The Shopee Kumustahan then engaged them in a casual gathering to exchange personal insights, seller-to-seller advice, and best practices.
On behalf of the Cebu City Government, North District Councilor Jaypee Labella congratulated Shopee Philippines for their initiative to help small local entrepreneurs jumpstart their online selling careers.
“The reality is that not all people are destined to be employed in industries or companies. This might be because of unavoidable circumstances like being full-time parents, family caregivers, and the like. So what most people usually do to make their lives profitable is create jobs and opportunities. I have seen successful people become Shopee sellers,” Labella said in his speech. “Shopee is one of the online selling platforms that propel several businesses and partners once a transaction is made.”
He highlighted that their innovation has contributed to economic evolution amid the pandemic, and they have given budding entrepreneurs an opportunity to become stable income earners on their app.
As to the number of Shopee sellers in Cebu, Perez noted that they had seen a growth of more than 30% from 2020 to 2021 alone.
She said that Shopee sellers usually start out as buyers to familiarize themselves with the online space. Since they do not have to create a new account, the transition is a matter of knowing what items they want to sell and how they will present them.
To guide them on their e-commerce journey and optimize their business operations on the platform, Shopee provides all the necessary educational tools, learning resources, and training for free in their Seller Education Center and Filipino Seller Education Hub.
“Through these resources, we have been able to equip entrepreneurs with essential digital skills to grow their business. Definitely, we make it a point to have interactive training sessions with our sellers, which they enjoy aside from e-learning tools that we offer,” Perez said. “Our goal is clear; we want to make sure everyone can access the benefits of e-commerce, which truly has the power to change many lives.”
Shopee’s partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) during the Shopee University Roadshow and Shopee Kumustahan in Davao has also helped widen their reach.
“Because DTI already has the network, it is easier for us to gather necessary details as we continue to learn from proactive local government units and work closely with them,” Perez said in an interview. “We understand na some of the markets talaga walang presence ng e-commerce. So partnering with the LGUs is another way of extending our opportunities and services to the underserved.”
Shopee continues to expand its serviceable regions to benefit more local sellers and shorten the delivery lead time, not just for Cebu-to-Cebu orders but also for specific provinces nearby. They are establishing more Shopee Xpress Hubs in the Visayas region, including areas in Cebu like Mandaue, Consolacion, and Opao.
Rae is a writer and artist based in Cebu City.
Rae Rosal
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