Local Businesses Find Footing in eCommerce

Malaysian initiative B2021 helps MSMEs in post-pandemic world


Belanjawan 2021 or B2021 campaign aims to help local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) adopt e-commerce as the new way of doing business and widen their market reach. 


Got Kimchi?


Yana Azmi Tan runs a successful online shop called Got Kimchi?, which sells a variety of halal Korean food. It started as a hobby, with a capital of RM200 used to make only fresh Kimchi. She began selling Kimchi to her connections and eventually on Facebook and Instagram. With demand growing, Yana began exploring Shopee as an alternative business channel.


Yana made Kimchi as a hobby and eventually turned it into an online business


Challenges faced during pandemic

  • Decrease in-store sales.
  • Not able to do mass production due to limited workforce.
  • Store closures due to national lockdown resulted in the loss of walk-in customers.


B2021 Campaign - Impact on business

  • Tremendous increase in online sales.
  • Recorded the highest sales of 6 figures in June 2021.
  • eCommerce platform reached out to a larger audience from across the country.


Advantages of using eCommerce platforms
  • The process of selling and buying is ongoing despite not having to meet customers physically.
  • E-payment is more thorough and reduces the risk of mismanagement.
  • Opportunity to explore the global market, especially in South East Asia. 

NHwithlove

NHwithlove is an online store that offers 100% plant-based, non-alcohol, non-paraben and cruelty-free botanical products such as soaps, scented candles, room sprays, bath bombs and skincare goods. Joanne Lee, the founder, aims to create a business that could impact people through passions and beliefs. Initially started as a handcraft workshop in November 2019, the sudden lockdown in March 2020 had pivoted its decision to start the online journey to survive the pandemic.


NHwithlove pivoted its decision to start the online journey to survive the pandemic


Challenges faced during pandemic
  • Discontinued its handcraft workshop due to the national lockdown.
  • Rental payments were due despite not making sales.
  • Unable to generate traffic and create exposure through its eCommerce platforms due to lack of promotional budget.


B2021 Campaign - Impact on business
  • Given subsidies and support to boost sales and exposure.
  • Provided with advertisement credit for three months and subsidised seller vouchers.
  • Three months exclusion from transactional fees that help reduce operational costs. 
  • Profits gained were used for business development.


Advantages of using eCommerce platforms

  • Require low startup and operational costs as physical stores are not needed.
  • Business is not constrained by location or time.
  • Positive reviews from customers act as an advertisement tool.
  • Online store is open 24/7, which allows customers to purchase at any time and increase sales.