Worthwhile points to note:
1. Blogshops collaborate with other sites (like Emmagem) to create online business ecosystems that bring value to customers.
2. Blogshops do relate to or integrate with increasingly wider ranges of businesses in the fashion industry, for example the evolution of Emmashoppe connects the blogshop culture to local fashion design. This is something worthwhile to track.
3. There are over 2000 blogshops in Emmagem.
Follow-up article is also interesting, about a blogshop owned by a Muslim woman. It is interesting to note her motivations to start the business.
From: http://www.mmail.com.my/content/40080-easy-breezy-shopping
Easy breezy shopping
Submitted by dominah on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 12:37:00
Online shopping has proven itself to be more than a trend in today's fast changing world.
In fact, it looks like it is something that will be around for a long time to come.
It provides convenience and affordable clothing, making anyone who has an Internet connection its target market.
What goes on behind the scenes? For a more in-depth look on the mechanics of online shopping as well as some important factors to take note of when we decide upon a picture of a pretty blouse online, we speak to Tan Yet Mee.
She is the owner of www.emmagem.com, an online hub for all things fashion, beauty and lifestyle.
Besides being a hobby of hers, emmagem.com is also home to the first Malaysian Online Shopping Directory (MOFSD), listing over 2,000 blogshops.
Having spent years in the retail line as a buyer, Tan decided in 2006 - on a whim - to start selling jewellery through a newsletter.
"The newsletter looked a little bare, so we also added articles and such on fashion. It then evolved into a website in 2008.
"The whole online shopping section started because we had an intern who was very much into the online shopping scene and after some research we found that there wasn't an online directory at that time, so we set one up."
What started out as a listing of a few online shops has since grown exponentially through the power of word of mouth.
"Once the listing page went up, I started receiving emails from other blogshop owners who requested to be listed and the numbers just kept growing. From there, we also realised that Bangsar was an up-and-coming fashion place with boutiques mushrooming all over so we also did an online Bangsar shopping directory!"
The thousands of blogshops are not lumped together in the directory but categorised into sections like 'plus size', 'muslim chic' and so on. Talk about online shopping made easy.
Tan's fa vourite: A local designer piece by the talented Donna Chew
With thousands of blogshops to choose from, it's sometimes hard to make a choice.
To help out users, the site also features articles on the latest fashion and styles, also suggestions on what to wear.
With the success of emmagem.com, Tan has embarked on a new project, www.emmashoppe.com, an online mall.
On top of her passion for online shopping, Tan is also a strong advocate for the local designer scene and you would normally see her decked out head-to-toe in the likes of Donna Chew, Karl Ng and other local designers.
"I see emmashoppe.com as an avenue for local fashion designers to showcase their products online as well as a different marketing base to allow them to reach out to a bigger scope of people," said Tan.
Her love for designs by local designers stems from the fact that they are different, yet affordable.
"They have a lot of talent and most of the time, they are not expensive to buy. From RM100 for a blouse maybe? Which is the same price or even cheaper than mainstream brands like Zara.
"The best part about buying from local designers is that they do follow the seasons but their pieces remain off beat and unique as they are the ones who determine the end product. I love the uniqueness of it."
Tan went on to cite an example of white shirts. While white shirts are pretty standard, she expressed that her favourite white shirts are those bought from local designers as there are details that make it one of a kind.
"I wish more local designers would dare to experiment, but sometimes there is a compromise due to the commercial side of things. There are those who have made it and there are those who are struggling and that was one of the reasons why we started emmashoppe. com."
emmashoppe.com provides not only a platform for local designers but it's also a means to give back to society.
"There is a lot of work involved for them to set up their own site. What we are looking at is to help them showcase and promote while they spend their time on creating their pieces.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT: A unique white shirt by Terrenz
"We are also working with refugees and indigenous groups to help out with the sewing and beading, using the fair trade system," said Tan, who hopes this will not only encourage local designers but also help the less fortunate.
"We know that as far as Malaysians go, they do not mind doing charity but when it comes to buying apparel and stuff, they will not buy solely based on charity."
With regards to complying with the fair trade rules, Tan expressed that they are still doing research on the guidelines but they will try to comply as far as possible.
"We of course hope to make a profit, but more importantly it gives people opportunities.
"We are also looking at some designers who predominantly design ethnic-inspired clothing as with the beading and other aspects of the apparel as it could provide refugees with jobs and much-needed cash."
On top of being able to make their livelihood easier, it is a sustainable skill that the refugees and indigenous people will be able to take away and use wherever they are, she added.
"I hope that this new chapter we are embarking on will be an example for others. Support local designers, help out some people and also make a profit. It is a win-win situation!"
Her top picks
- What they sell: Brand new and pre-loved authentic designer bags/wallets
- Where they get their products:
- Brand new - Bought during their travels to Europe, the United States, etc, and pre-loved Malaysian bag owners.
- Price range: Brand new are between 25 per cent to 35 per cent cheaper than retail (depending on the brands) while pre-loved are usually 35 per cent to 60 per cent cheaper than retail (varies according to the condition of the bag)
- Why Tan loves it: "They have a good variety of beautiful designer bags, and I personally also find the price and mark-up reasonable. "The store offers virtual-consignments where we only take a maximum 10 per cent of the sale price (to cover advertising services) while retail usually grabs over 30 per cent to cover overhead costs (electricity, rental, etc). Hence, the bag owner could recoup more from their bags," said Tan.
- What they sell: A mix of lingerie, bikinis, bags, shoes, apparels and accessories
- Where they get their products: All sourced directly from the United States
- Price range: Lingerie starts from RM40, bikinis start from RM110, bags start from RM290, shoes start from RM150 and accessories start from RM150
- Why Tan loves it: "They have some very cute bikinis. I also love the fact that their brand selection is varied."
Her tips to begin online shopping
1 Measure yourself from top to toe - "Most blogshops have a measurement chart measuring shoulder, chest, length and such. The only way not to go wrong is if you measure yourself beforehand to see if the measurements fit you."
2 Communicate with the seller - "It is important to email or contact the blogshop if you have any doubt whatsoever. You should know what you are buying into, so do clarify if you have any queries."
designers and more!
3 What if the item has a defect? - "Report it to the blogshop. For those listed in emmagem.com, we do not govern them as we do not take any payment from them but we push home the point that it is important to be honest when in business."
4 What are the risks of online shopping? - "Honestly as in anything there are no guarantees, but with over 2,000 shops listed with us, there have been less than 10 complaints in the years we have been doing this which proves pretty good odds for consumers."
5 What is the best method of payment? - "There isn't really a best method, some shops request to bank in money before delivery, normally people will build up a relationship with the shop and know whether they can be trusted. An alternative is to opt for cash on delivery."
www.kipswit.blogspot.com
MODERN LOOK: Nur Aqidah (right) wearing a colourful shawl and an instant hijab with funky designs on her business blog
The Malay Mail speaks to Nur Aqidah Azizi who runs kipswit.blogspot. com to find out what challenges a blogshop owner faces, and what it takes to set one up yourself.
1. What made you want to start up an online shop and how long has it been running?
It all started during my confinement after I gave birth to my twin babies in July last year. During that period, I was surfing the Internet to keep myself updated with the latest fashion as well as trying to 'rebrand' myself after I gave birth. Along the way, I found a lot of muslimah fashion, including hijabs.
I was amazed and stunned by the design and funky-coloured hijabs, but there was one thing that made me think twice before buying - the price. The hijabs sold on the Internet were quite expensive. Some are almost as expensive as the branded ones.
I thought customers like me, besides wanting the hassle-free online shopping experience, are also looking for reasonable and affordable items, as we also have to bear the shipping costs.
So I thought why not try to sell hijabs on the Internet and try to resolve these issues.
2. What do you sell on your store and how did you decide on it?
What kipswit.blogspot.com sells are up-to-date instant hijabs, with a variety of sizes, colours and designs. Since our customers come from different walks of life, we have to make sure that the design will cater to their preferences. We have hijabs that are targeted for youngsters as well as for middle-aged customers. So everyone will get a little something from kipswit.
3. What are the major problems a blogshop owner would face?
Since this is a virtual shop, most of the customers are strangers to us. The most challenging part is to convince them that we are not here to cheat them. Some customers do feel insecure with online shopping - perhaps due to bad experience.
The challenge is even greater for first time customers. They ask a lot of questions, but I don't blame them. As an online shopper myself, I understand their hesitation despite their interest in our products. Thank God, so far, most of my clients are repeat customers who trust us.
At the same time, our customer base is expanding. However, I have had some bad experiences with customers who misunderstood us and simply accused us as liars. They didn't fully understand the terms and conditions as stated in our blog. From then on, I always remind potential customers to read the T&C (Terms and Conditions) first before making a purchase with us.
4. How do you drive traffic to your site?
Besides Facebook, my blogger friends also help promote kipswit on their blogs. At times, we exchange links with other bloggers, and that proves to be one of the best ways to drive traffic to our blog.
Besides that, joining real life bazaars is also a way to promote the site. From my experience, kipswit's traffic has improved a lot after our first involvement in an independent bazaar. Also, newspaper interviews help a lot.
5. What advice do you have for people out there who want to start up their own blogshops?
I don't think I am qualified to give advice since I am still a greenhorn in this field. However, I believe if you have faith in what you do and enjoy it as much as you enjoy life, things will work out.
Be sincere and never ever cheat. God willing, your humble business blog will surely go a long way!
No comments:
Post a Comment