Shopee, a leading mobile marketplace in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, marked International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017, by recognizing the achievements of women.
This year’s International Women’s Day centers around empowering women globally and inspiring them to make bold moves. Shopee Malaysia honored this theme by highlighting the stories of women entrepreneurs who took a leap of faith to launch their own ventures. The platform’s user-friendly design, free nationwide shipping, and zero-commission fees are designed to encourage more women to tap into their potential as leaders and business owners.
One such entrepreneur is 20-year-old Erin Ong, who manages her fashion business (Shopee ID: Little Flower Closet) from her bed. After losing her father to cancer a year ago, Erin felt compelled to support herself and her widowed mother.
“I need to fight for my life and my mother,” she shared. Despite her physical limitations, Erin and her mother collaborate on order fulfillment and packaging, generating income for their living expenses and medical bills.
Source: Shopee. Tee.
“I constantly strive to better myself in every way possible,” she added.
Another Shopee seller (Shopee ID: Cathy Shop), Tee Mei Hong, a 47-year-old mother, relocated from Medan, Indonesia, to seek a brighter future for herself and her family.
“When I arrived here in 2003, I didn’t know anyone. Everyone I knew was back in Indonesia, but I was determined to build my family and my career here,” she recounted.
Transitioning her business online tripled Tee’s sales and made her a stronger role model for her children. “I’ve received offers from other online platforms, but I’m content with Shopee, so I’m staying put.”
Behind Shopee ID SisterGojes is Rajinawati Rethuan, who initially sold scarves at a physical store. Following Shopee’s beta launch, she decided to become a seller and experienced a threefold increase in profits through e-commerce. Thrilled with the outcome, she has been encouraging her friends to join Shopee’s seller community.
Source: Shopee. Rajinawati.
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) emphasizes the crucial role women play in a nation’s economic progress. Studies have shown that when women contribute to household income, it benefits children as well. TalentCorp reported that Malaysia’s female labor participation rate rose from 46.8% in 2010 to 54.1% in 2015, and Shopee is proud to have contributed to this achievement.
Last year, Shopee Malaysia hosted the Mighty Moms Challenge to empower mothers interested in starting businesses for supplemental income. Over 200 mothers applied for the chance to attend Shopee University alongside Shopee’s top sellers.
Shopee University is a specialized program designed to equip sellers with the skills to utilize mobile features, optimize online marketing, and ultimately boost their businesses. Building on the success of the 2016 edition, Shopee is planning another Mighty Moms Challenge in May 2017, aiming for even greater participation from mothers nationwide.
Shopee remains committed to supporting women through various community engagement initiatives. There are plans to expand into East Malaysia and connect with women entrepreneur associations through Shopee University sessions. To date, Shopee University has reached 10 states within Malaysia.
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