[ad_1]
PETALING JAYAEven as brick-and-mortar businesses shut down, leaving many unemployed, aspiring entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the online shopping boom to earn more money.
Women make up a large portion of these “home sellers,” accounting for 72% of the 11,850 online entrepreneurs covered in a recent survey by e-commerce platform Shopee. The survey was conducted prior to their “11.11 Big Sale.”
Online sellers focus on health and beauty products, as well as women’s fashion clothing and accessories, earning an average of RM3,950 per month, according to Shopee’s regional CEO Ian Ho.
This represents up to three times the total salary a minimum wage worker earns in a month, and many of these entrepreneurs still have a regular job outside of their virtual stores.
This trend towards e-commerce is not unexpected given the movement restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to economist Professor Dr. Barjoyai Bardai.
“For example, shopping malls are empty for now because people are afraid to visit them,” he told the Sun yesterday.
Ho said the trend shows that e-commerce is creating new livelihoods and opportunities amid the economic challenges facing the country.
Shopee’s survey shows that even those who still have a regular job seize the opportunity to earn more money through e-commerce.
“For example, 35.4% of online retailers who responded to the survey said they are still employed in their current jobs,” Ho said.
Each of them earn an average of RM2,750 per month above their regular salary.
Those between 18 and 35 years old represent 70.7% of those who have an online business, either full or part time, mostly holders of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, a clear indication that tertiary education is not a criterion for online entrepreneurship.
Ho said the selected online entrepreneurs have managed to raise up to RM6,000 a month by selling Muslim fashion products, groceries, and baby and child-related items.
Of those surveyed, 5,406 are new to the game.
Rural entrepreneurs represent only 13.3% of online marketers, but they have contributed significantly to expanding the penetration rate. E-commerce entrepreneurs are supplying as far away as Pontian in Johor, Kuala Nerus in Terengganu and Kabong in Sarawak. All of these businesses are driven primarily by women.
They focus on their hometown specialties such as keropok lekor, kek lapis, ikan bilis Pangkor, belacan and cencaluk, giving consumers more options online. Ho said these rural vendors can earn an average of RM3,200 in monthly sales.
While the trend towards online shopping is a good sign, Barjoyai said the government could do more to boost it.
“For example, the government should make greater efforts to expand broadband coverage across the country to help boost e-commerce.”
He said there should also be a dedicated delivery system to meet the needs of consumers.
Barjoyai also pointed out that e-commerce has some drawbacks. For example, customers cannot try on items such as clothing before purchasing, and there is a time lag between purchasing and receiving the products.
But for many online shoppers, that’s not a problem.
[ad_2]
