Tag: TikTok Shop

Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and TikTok Shop have teamed up to launch the ‘Unlad Lokal’ program. The newly launched program empowers Filipino micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as they venture into e-commerce.

DTI and TikTok Shop’s partnership aims to equip MSMEs with the tools and skills they need to thrive and succeed in e-commerce through the program.

The ‘Unlad Lokal’ program offers training in content creation, live-selling, and other e-commerce strategies. It aims to provide MSMEs critical skills to scale the digital economy, enhancing their digital marketing capabilities.

Through a two-day training session, the program will cover product listing optimisation, live-selling techniques, and regulatory compliance among others.

It also offers a training session on TikTok Shop, reinforcing its ‘Buy Local, Shop Local’  campaign to promote Filipino products and craftsmanship. It provides MSMEs with a platform to increase the visibility of their products, allowing them to connect with more audiences through engaging content.

The program is set to roll out in Metro Manila, Pampanga, Cebu, and Davao.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque, said, “Our partnership with TikTok Shop strengthens our commitment to providing Filipino MSMEs with the tools and resources they need to thrive in a dynamic global market. By strengthening their capabilities, we are opening more opportunities for business growth and market expansion.”

“Unlad Lokal builds on the foundation of our DTI initiative which bridges traditional enterprises with digital innovation. By providing MSMEs with hands-on training in e-commerce, content creation, and live selling, we are ensuring that our local businesses can adapt and lead the digital marketplace,” Roque added.

The partnership reinforces TikTok Shop’s commitment to driving digital transformation, sustainability, and wider reach for Filipino MSMEs. Through its accessible and inclusive digital tools, the platform enables entrepreneurs to scale the digital marketplace.

As it partners with DTI, TikTok Shop is contributing to job creation in the Philippines, stimulating its economy.

“At TikTok Shop, we believe in the power of community-driven commerce. TikTok Shop has also evolved into a dynamic digital marketplace, one that allows MSMEs to reach customers in innovative ways. Unlad Lokal is designed to equip Filipino entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and digital skills needed to thrive in e-commerce,” Franco Aligaen, marketing lead at TikTok Shop Philippines, commented.

“We’ve seen many small businesses grow on TikTok Shop, reaching thousands, sometimes millions, of customers. Through Unlad Lokal, we want to help even more MSMEs achieve that same success. Beyond the training sessions, we are offering post-program mentorship, continued support in content creation, and access to advertising opportunities that will help local businesses continue to scale and succeed long after the workshops,” Aligaen added.

Roque said, “Our collaboration with TikTok Shop reinforces the DTI’s commitment to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs. By providing them with the right digital skills and market access, we are realizing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of building a more inclusive, resilient, and technology-driven economy where no entrepreneur is left behind.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Maybank has announced a collaboration with TikTok Shop to launch a multi-market upskilling and digitalisation programme for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the ASEAN region. 

Said initiative marks the first partnership of its kind between a financial institution and TikTok Shop, aiming to empower SMEs with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to transition beyond traditional brick-and-mortar models and drive business growth in the digital landscape.

The ASEAN SME Upskilling & Digitalisation Programme will begin with a pilot phase in Malaysia, featuring three key components: a webinar, a workshop, and an accelerator programme. Entrepreneurs participating in the accelerator phase will receive six months of tailored mentoring and coaching from both TikTok Shop and Maybank, with personalised business targets to support their expansion. 

The initial cohort will place a special focus on women entrepreneurs, in line with Maybank’s ongoing HERpower initiative. Over the next year, the programme is expected to expand to select ASEAN markets, with customised approaches tailored to local business environments.

Syed Ahmad Taufik Albar, group CEO of community financial services at Maybank, said that this collaboration is a reflection of Maybank’s commitment to champion SMEs in line with its M25+ strategy of purpose driven banking and beyond banking social impact programmes. Participants in this programme will gain valuable first-hand experience in leveraging content-driven e-commerce, digitalisation solutions, and optimised account management techniques.

“We believe entrepreneurs have the potential to create sustainable and lasting ripple effects to the communities they serve. By providing a holistic, values-driven ecosystem of solutions beyond traditional banking services, we hope to support and future-proof businesses at every stage of growth to be their own agents of change. We also aspire to collaborate with industry leaders who share a similar vision, and together create a multiplier effect in uplifting entrepreneurs in the region,” Taufik Albar said.

Meanwhile, Steven Li, senior director of global e-commerce strategy at TikTok Shop, shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration, commenting, “We are delighted to collaborate with Maybank to accelerate the growth of SMEs in Southeast Asia. It is a meaningful programme that showcases how collaborative industry efforts can drive real-life impact for small businesses in the region’s rapidly growing digital economy,” he said.

Lastly, Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, director of strategic partnerships at TikTok Shop Malaysia, stated, “We are thrilled to pilot this programme in Malaysia, which aims to empower women entrepreneurs with the resources and knowledge to thrive on TikTok Shop, in line with the nation’s effort to promote inclusive economic growth.”

Manila, Philippines – TikTok Shop and cosmetics brand L’Oréal are joining forces to advance the ‘Digital Beauty Academy,’ an initiative designed to empower aspiring beauty entrepreneurs across the Philippines. This collaboration integrates L’Oréal’s extensive beauty education with TikTok Shop’s dynamic social commerce platform, creating new opportunities for participants.

Now in its second year, the program builds on the successes of its inaugural run in Quezon City, with this year’s expansion to Makati City. 

Running from August to December, the ‘Digital Beauty Academy’ will conduct six sessions focused on content creation, social commerce strategies, and the effective use of TikTok Shop to market and sell beauty products.

The ‘Digital Beauty Academy’ provides comprehensive beauty training and social commerce education, equipping participants with essential skills in beauty, grooming, and personal care while integrating effective strategies for leveraging TikTok and TikTok Shop for business growth. 

Said initiative is designed to empower women from diverse backgrounds, enhancing their socio-economic status and creating opportunities for growth and success within the beauty industry.

Included in the curriculum is an introduction to TikTok and TikTok Shop, livestreaming essentials, and best practices in content creation. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with TikTok creators and industry experts, gaining valuable insights and practical skills to enhance their entrepreneurial endeavours.

Yannick Raynaud, managing director at L’Oréal Philippines, said, “L’Oréal together with TikTok Shop Philippines recognises the transformative power of beauty in driving positive societal transformations. The expansion of L’Oréal Digital Beauty Academy in Makati and Quezon City, amongst the bustling cities in the Philippines, signifies a significant step towards a more inclusive future. By the end of the year, over 1800 Makati residents are set to gain access to fundamental beauty and digital commerce tools, aving the way for enhanced economic opportunities through beauty among Filipinos.”

Meanwhile, Paolo David, country head for brand growth and partnerships at TikTok, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with L’Oréal to bring the Digital Beauty Academy to life. This initiative perfectly aligns with TikTok’s mission to democratise access to digital platforms and provide opportunities for growth and empowerment. Through this program, we aim to equip participants with the skills and tools they need to thrive in the digital economy, while also supporting local communities and fostering inclusive growth.”

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) has teamed up with TikTok Shop to expand cross-border business prospects through the #ThisisMY campaign. Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry, launched this program. 

According to Tengku Zafrul, the unveiling of the initiative will allow Malaysian distributors, entrepreneurs, and companies to grow into Singapore. As part of the 12th Malaysia Plan, Matrade’s Cross Border e-Commerce Development Programme (eBizLink) includes a partnership with TikTok Shop. 

The #ThisisMY campaign will ramp up on August 8 in celebration of Asean Online Sales Day, an annual event that encourages e-commerce activities inside Asean.

Domestic brands from Malaysia are drawn to the program to be featured in Singapore, such as Julie’s Confectionary & Biscuit, Power Root’s Alicafe Coffee, and Oriental’s Super Ring Cheese Snack. 

Zafrul said, “#ThisisMY will feature a series of exciting activities including knowledge sharing sessions and training on cross border e-Commerce, with at least 30 Malaysian companies assisted to generate RM15 million in sales.” 

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Matrade chairman, expressed, “We are excited to partner with TikTok Shop, being one of the largest social commerce platforms worldwide to effectively assist more homegrown Malaysian businesses, ushering them towards a greater height of success in the global scene.” 

Furthermore, Anuar Fariz Fadzil, TikTok Shop public policy for Malaysia head, stated, “We are committed to nurturing the growth of local businesses in Malaysia. Through this partnership, we aim to enable their expansion and empower them to achieve new heights by unleashing their full potential on the platform.”

Singapore – TikTok has rolled out its new ‘Shop’ tab feature for its e-commerce solution, TikTok Shop, to offer users a more convenient way to access its shopping portal.

The ‘Shop’ tab feature, represented by a shopping bag icon, takes users straight into TikTok Shop’s shopping portal in one touch, providing greater convenience and interaction for online shoppers and merchants.

With the new feature, online shoppers will easily have access to the familiar shopping interface where they can browse products, view orders, access their shopping cart, set addresses and payment methods, and chat with merchants.

Furthermore, the products in the Shop tab are also divided into categories to help users quickly and easily find what they are looking for. The feature also highlights products that are based on the users’ habits and interests while using the app. This ensures an even more pleasurable and convenient experience for users while also assisting merchants by having their products matched with a customer’s profile.

Additionally, the top of the page contains prominent flash sale information and countdown timers to remind users of sale discounts and other shop and item promotions.

Doven Yap, seller acquisition lead at TikTok Shop Singapore, said, “TikTok Shop has a rapidly growing community, and our innovation and developments are meant to address the desires of sellers, merchants, and creators to learn, discover, and promote one another on TikTok. The Shop Tab becomes a natural extension of the users’ journey from being entertained to learning something new and getting interested in buying. Consequently, this feature lets businesses grow to be discovered more easily and gain more new customers, leveraging the power of the TikTok community.”

Singapore – VMLY&R has been appointed to handle TikTok Shop’s major multimarket push around the year’s biggest online shopping days – and has already delivered stunning sales for 11.11 – building to the 12.12 finale, in Southeast Asia.

VMLY&R has been tasked with delivering TikTok Shop’s unique ‘shoppertainment’ proposition, bringing shopping and entertainment together as the antidote to e-tail stress and boredom during the shopping season. The mandate covers TikTok Shop Southeast Asia’s biggest markets – Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Moreover, VMLY&R teams in Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong in partnership with TikTok Shop launched the concept of ‘double’ with the 11.11 campaign – doubling down on shopping and entertainment experiences. Assets include video, key visuals, and offline & digital activation ideas on the same creative platform across the markets.

Nicky Lee, client services director at VMLY&R, said: “VMLY&R prides itself on striking the perfect balance between Brand Experience (BX), Customer Experience (CX) and Commerce in order to create truly connected brands. By staying true to TikTok’s brand truth – to entertain – we were able to highlight how TikTok Shop seamlessly integrates entertainment, community and commerce to deliver a joyful customer shopping experiences which sets it apart from the competition by putting the fun back into e-tail.”

The campaign video for 11.11 entitled ‘The Joy Lift’, sees a person enter an elevator just before midnight on 10.11 and start to browse TikTop Shop. As midnight turns the date to 11.11, a bounty of fun content entertains them, during which they finds a product they wants at a discount price. The video aims to showcase how whilst enjoying yourself, TikTok Shop helps the products you’re interested in find you.

In addition, the 11.11 campaign saw VMLY&R teams across 3 offices producing over 80 pieces of content for TikTok Shop, delivering an impressive 1.5 billion exposure for the brand during the campaign period.

Meanwhile, Treidy Rahmatsyah, regional brand marketing lead at TikTok Shop, commented, “We partnered with VMLY&R for many reasons including their deep capabilities and strength and connections across multiple markets, but also their deep understanding of consumer behaviour, which was key in positioning TikTok Shop for different audiences as the shopping platform that’s enjoyable, full of inspiration and makes buying easier.”

He added, “As one of the world’s biggest providers of short-form entertainment, TikTok Shop is the perfect antidote to e-tail boredom, offering ‘shoppertainment’ content that young people want to browse while they shop.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – With the holiday season around the corner, TikTok Shop gives Malaysian SMEs a boost during this 11.11 sales period by providing greater support for local small businesses with a brand spotlight segment. 

Focusing on Malaysian local brands, Tiktok Shop’s spotlight segment promoted several brands including dessini, casevalker, farm fresh and barang dapur basah as well as its very own Pertarungan Livestream Mega 11.11 (Mega Livestream Showdown 11.11).

This event, which was streamed on TikTok Shop, featured 10 well-loved local creators @tulippetals, @khairulaming, @dearcarynn, @bossa_sce_oe, @bossjerry88, @crackbrader, @aidunoo, @peemondayz, @almiyaz.my, and @akak_e, which took to their livestream sessions and highlighted their 11.11 product promotions as part of one of the biggest e-commerce events of the year.

Shoppers also acquired no minimum spend vouchers available through these livestreams between 8pm to 12 midnight on 11.11 itself to enjoy further savings on their purchases.

Alongside the livestream sessions, as part of the event, TikTok shop also provided entertainment with live performances by talented artists such as @daliafarhana, @gastonpong, @shilaamzahofficial, @itzputridahliaa, and @danialkifli__ .

These efforts by TikTok Shop to assist SMEs follow through from their efforts in 2022, partnering with 50 local ministries, GLCs, Educational institutions, and state governments to provide and build support for its sellers. 

This also includes a joint investment with MDEC worth RM31 million for the DE Dagang initiative, which benefitted 22,000 sellers in the form of product discounts, shipping vouchers, and transaction fee subsidies.

This was further amplified through the TikTok Shop Summit, held in 2023 to celebrate the platform’s 1-year anniversary in the Malaysian market, with TikTok Shop celebrating, educating, and awarding sellers for their contribution to the nation’s economy.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Following the recent regulation by the Indonesian government on the use of social media for e-commerce transactions, TikTok Shop has finally announced that it is shutting down its local operations in accordance with local orders.

“Our priority is to remain compliant with local laws and regulations. As such, we will no longer facilitate e-commerce transactions in TikTok Shop Indonesia by October 4, and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities on the path forward,” TikTok said in a press statement.

The ban follows a recent government regulation which prohibits the use of social media for e-commerce transactions, adding that it’s aimed at quashing e-commerce sellers that are purportedly abusing pricing tiers on social media to promote their products.

Following this, a question arises: is there still hope for social commerce in Indonesia?

Social commerce will still exist–even with regulations

For Rolly Pane, managing director for Indonesia at Clozette, despite the new regulations, social commerce will still be around, as the new regulations only prohibits having social media and e-commerce inside one app.

“Social commerce can still be done, promoting products in social and driving people to e-commerce. The only difference is that it will not happen in one ecosystem or app. It just has to cross over apps,” Pane told MARKETECH APAC.

However, he noted that with this regulation, there would be a significant drop in e-commerce transactions which originated from social media posts and engagements.

“The biggest downfall is that there will be a larger amount of drop-offs when it is cross-app compared to being in one ecosystem or app,” he said.

Despite all of thise, Pane says that brands can still implement alternative strategies to make their social commerce strategies still stand out.

“Promotion of products will still be done as it is being done now. The only difference is that when the promotions are clicked, it will no longer be in the same ecosystem. It will drive the consumers to a different ecosystem / app to conduct the transactions,” he concluded.

Who loses this game? Merchants or consumers?

Meanwhile, Anish Daryani, founder and president director at M&C Saatchi Indonesia explained that with 2024 being an election year in Indonesia, showing support for MSME’s by securing their interest is considered as an important move by the government.

It is worth noting that the government said that the new regulations aims to protect the interests of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s), given the lack of adoption of digital platforms on their part, and inability to compete with what has been labelled as ‘predatory pricing’ on social platforms.

“On the brighter side, the regulation removes ambiguity from e-commerce and provides clear guidelines towards the dos and don’ts of running e-commerce businesses, which [was] long overdue,” he said in an exclusive interview with MARKETECH APAC.

However, Daryani notes that other local merchants who have long utilised social commerce will ‘lose’ in this game, who have used it to connect with their patrons. He also added that with the new regulations, the livelihood of about 6 million social sellers and 7 million affiliates on TikTok Shop alone were hugely affected.

He also stated that end consumers are also affected as well, whose support to their social commerce merchants were the driving force behind their success.

“In my view, the biggest loser in this regulation, however, is the end consumer, who would now be deprived of exciting prices that were sometimes too good to be true, and discovering great quality products from skilled entrepreneurs, which in itself was a massive support for local businesses,” Daryani added.

Social commerce barely scratches the surface of the local industry

Despite all of these regulations, Daryani believes that social commerce will continue to move forward in Indonesia, adding that there is more growth for the Indonesian social commerce scene, compared to more mature markets like of China’s.

“Though this regulation would bring social commerce to a stop, there is no stopping commerce from becoming more social,” he quipped.

Looking at the issue from an agency perspective, Daryani believes that continued social media communication will still help amplify e-commerce, with social media and e-commerce now serving separate purposes in the customer purchase journey.

“From a communications perspective, digital content will still continue to fuel demand for products and services through the upper funnel (awareness and consideration), while the objectives of the lower funnel (purchase, retention and advocacy) would be met by e-commerce platforms,” he said.

He also added, “The use of influencers to review and recommend products will continue to expand. Overall, this would make discoverability of content more organic, so the quality of content would have to be better going forward.”

Singapore – TikTok Shop, the new e-commerce solution by short-video platform TikTok, has officially launched in Singapore. Starting 10 August, shoppers can usher in Singapore’s 57th birthday festivities via the TikTok Shop 8.8 campaign.

As part of the platform’s ongoing efforts to support local businesses, TikTok Shop is a dynamic marketplace built into the TikTok platform, allowing consumers and creators to connect and engage directly with brands and sellers. 

In particular, TikTok Shop offers merchants and brands a bustling online space they can leverage to connect with newfound consumers keen to discover new brands and share fresh finds with others.

Ng Chew Wee, head of business marketing for APAC at TikTok, said that they have observed that Singapore has exceeded its potential as a major e-commerce market, with its projected market volume expected to hit US$11.45 billion by 2025. 

She stated, “As more people shop online, TikTok Shop presents the ultimate convergence of content and commerce with unique Shoppertainment experiences for all.”

Wee added, “In this way, TikTok Shop not only empowers local businesses to effectively tap onto the platform’s fast-growing audience base to drive tangible business results but also affords the delivery of content that delights and entertains – resonating with the right audience across the discovery to purchase stages.”

With TikTok Shop, sellers can also create an e-commerce experience by having full control of the end-to-end process within TikTok – from uploading the products to curating the point of purchase as well as managing shipping and order fulfilment – affording a seamless consumer journey that will help businesses thrive. 

Additionally, sellers will also be able to tap into the rich variety of content formats to showcase their creativity, connect with their audiences and be discovered by the community. These include shoppable live sessions and creator collaborations that can be easily forged using the TikTok Shop Affiliate Program, which connects creators with sellers through commission-based product marketing. 

Manila, Philippines — TikTok, the popular short-form video platform, recently launched its online marketplace, TikTok Shop, in the Philippines. Through this brand new e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop aims to open up more business opportunities for brands and small- to medium-sized enterprises. All these, whilst providing a fresh new shopping experience for users and opportunities for local content creators alike.

TikTok Shop in the Philippines aims to provide local businesses with a new avenue for reaching out to customers. It also aims to make purchasing possible and more accessible for Filipinos without leaving the mobile entertainment platform. At TikTok Shop in the Philippines, users can purchase items from various categories of products including fashion, home and living, beauty and personal care.

Meanwhile, merchants will be able to enjoy zero commission fees on the platform for selected products whilst payment service fees are capped at one per cent to payment service partners. TikTok Shop products can be purchased through product anchors embedded in short videos, live streams, and the TikTok Product Showcase tab of a merchant’s TikTok page, making it easy for users to be entertained and yet shop at the same time.

Last June 15 to 21, TikTok Shop held its maiden mid-year sale in the Philippines, highlighted by super deals and users enjoyed up to discounts and subsidised shipping and first-time buyers received coupons and discounts.

Celebrities and top content creators joined the very first sale, including actress Glaiza De Castro, TV host Macoy Dubs, and content creator Alfea, who did key live sessions and short video posts via TikTok Shop.

Kimberly Duyag, CEO of local cloth and garment brand KILY.PH, shared her experience, “Many sellers have been surprised by the platform’s support, especially the free shipping vouchers and discount promotion. Plus it also enables merchants, brands and creators to showcase and sell their products directly on TikTok via feed, content or live stream.”

The week-long mid-year sales campaign saw TikTok Shop Philippines gain a 33% growth in its daily gross merchandise value. The e-commerce platform’s number of daily orders likewise jumped by 29%, while the volume of live stream climbed 36% compared to the previous week.