Tag: Singapore Retailers Association

Singapore – Due to the pandemic, many merchants have explored the benefits of social commerce features to extend their reach. And with this, the global smart-commerce platform, SHOPLINE, has launched a new month-long campaign that aims to educate and assist SMEs which are considering to enter the emerging social commerce space. 

Titled, ‘Retail Revolution: Three Easy Ways to Succeed in the New Retail’, the campaign will be running from 1 to 30 September 2021. It includes three free webinars for the public on 15, 22, and 29 September 2021 and benefits for both new SHOPLINE merchants and Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) members.

According to SHOPLINE, it has seen a rise in signups of over 46% across Asia and threefold growth in transactions via SHOPLINE Live. As consumer appetite increases for a more immediate, social, and engaging form of shopping, SHOPLINE aims to encourage retailers to integrate new kinds of purchase points such as live streaming into their existing channels. As consumers embrace ‘shoppertainment’ to bridge the omnichannel retail gap, SHOPLINE Live’s latest enhancements will enable merchants to conveniently sell and receive orders while live streaming and interact with consumers through live streaming tools such as live bidding, lucky draws, and concurrently sell their products on Facebook without leaving the stream.

Beyond live streaming, SHOPLINE also seeks to encourage retailers to invest resources in useful technology to help manage their multichannel approach to capture more sales and optimize their operations via logistics and digital marketing tools. For example, the recently upgraded digital marketing tool – Smart Ads System – is also Singapore’s first combination of AI with an e-commerce platform designed to manage Facebook Ads and Google Shopping Ads. Meanwhile, ONESHIP will be providing merchants with a centralized web-based shipping solution that would help them save time, which is a precious commodity for business owners so that they could focus on other aspects of growing their brand.

Jeff Lim, SHOPLINE’s general manager for Singapore, believes that there is no better time than now to introduce social commerce and leverage new solutions and tools to provide satisfying contactless shopping experiences for all.

“It has been a great opportunity to work with SRA, who share our vision — to empower retailers by equipping them with the tools and local ground support they need to succeed in the changing retail landscape,” said Lim.

SHOPLINE said that new merchants who will sign up with the platform this September can get to enjoy the benefit of free delivery for the first 10 orders via ONESHIP and receive cash rebates based on the number of orders they hit in a month. SRA members will also enjoy exclusive benefits including extended subscriptions and SmartAds credits.

Moreover, SHOPLINE’s solutions have been approved by IMDA’s extended Productivity Solutions Grant (PSG) to support eligible SMEs looking to improve their productivity and enhance business processes. From 30 September 2021 until 31 March 2022, eligible companies can get up to 80% of their plan fees covered if they fulfill the PSG eligibility criteria.

Singapore – Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), the non-profit non-governmental key representative body for the retail industry in Singapore, has announced the appointment of e-commerce platform Lazada as the first-ever official e-commerce partner for the Great Singapore Sale (GSS) 2021, an annual shopping event in the country.

GSS is a shopping fair that started 27 years ago and is annually organized by the SRA, with the aim to promote the tourism industry in the country. 

The previously held edition of GSS was in September 2020. It was also online due to the pandemic and it took place as a hybrid event as part of the SingapoRediscovers – a campaign by Singapore Tourism Board that supports local businesses and encourages people to explore the country. 

One year on, and with Singapore back to ‘phase two’ of reopening, SRA believes that the decision to partner with Lazada will greatly help the retail industry. With the platform’s expertise in equipping brands and sellers to move online, they can achieve successful sales.

Through the partnership, SRA members will benefit from Lazada platform’s technology infrastructure, payments gateway, and logistics solutions with its third-party logistics partners, which will eliminate costly barriers retailers face when selling online. They will also enjoy a 0% commission, with new LazMall sellers enjoying this promotion for the first three months on the platform from the first day they sell on their LazMall store.

James Chang, chief executive officer at Lazada Singapore, said, “The Great Singapore Sale is a national institution and sentimental for Singaporeans and those who remember flying into the country to enjoy the sales. In these challenging and transformative times, we’re doing our part to rally the retail industry and equip them with the tools they need to have a successful Great Singapore Sale in 2021.”

Furthermore, SRA members on LazMall during the fair can also take advantage of the suite of marketing solutions available to increase visibility while appealing to shoppers. They will each have a dedicated account manager to navigate the plethora of options including LazLive, Lazada’s in-app live streaming service, and flash sales, as well as the Lazada store. 

Meanwhile, shoppers are allowed to make purchases at a seller’s Lazada store and pick them up at their physical outlet. This not only provides an additional delivery option to suit customers’ needs but also paves the way for sellers to enjoy a successful hybrid operating model with both online and offline outlets.

Singapore Retailers Association’s president R Dhinakaran shared that the pandemic has had a profound impact on consumer shopping habits and accelerated retailers’ urgency to expand their digital presence quickly so as to stay engaged with their consumers and develop alternative sales channels. 

“Our partnership with Lazada this GSS is timely, in the light of tighter SMM guidelines limiting shopper traffic to stores and malls, and a changing retail landscape,” said Dhinakaran.

This year’s GSS will kick off with Lazada’s 6.6 sale campaign until 7 July, which is also Lazada’s much-anticipated annual 7.7 sales.