You can build an online store in minutes, for free

“Add to cart” has become a buzzword as the pandemic lockdowns revolutionized the way we shop, making the Philippines the fastest-growing e-commerce market in Southeast Asia.

E-commerce transactions in the country amounted to P264.5 billion in 2021, an increase of 15.1 percent from the past year, according to GlobalData E-Commerce Analytics.

Tech-savvy Pinoys have also easily adapted to digital platforms through their social media accounts. After all, we spend more than 10 hours a day on the internet, whether for work, education or entertainment. Many have turned to online selling as a side hustle or to replace lost income during the pandemic, with more than 2 million online sellers now operating in the country.

However, it’s not easy to build a stand-alone digital store while existing e-commerce platforms often charge a hefty amount for commissions and website maintenance—an added burden especially for first-time microentrepreneurs.

Selling goods on social media is also challenging. The buyers have to deal and coordinate with a vendor, a payment service and a delivery service on three separate apps with every transaction. The inconvenience turns off a lot of customers, particularly the security-conscious.

Kaniyet Rayev

Kaniyet Rayev, chief executive of Appboxo, a Singapore-based startup that specializes in turning e-wallets into super apps, toyed with the idea of setting up a forever free and easy-to-use online store builder that helps online sellers create their own fully functional online stores without having to build a website from scratch.

The light-bulb moment led to the creation of Shopboxo, a user-friendly platform that helps micro, small and medium enterprises launch online stores and start selling goods and services directly to consumers within minutes, for free. It also offers free inventory and order management features, plus integrated payment solutions powered by GCash, Maya and GrabPay. On top of these, it also offers shipping options from Ninjavan, Lalamove and Grab Express.

“We have been actively working with GCash for the past three years on their new GLife platform working with large brands such as Coca-Cola, Samsung and Karat World, when we started meeting many Filipinos who turned to online selling,” Rayev recounts.

The 27-year-old CEO says large fees charged by US-based e-commerce platforms often leave a dent on the profit margin of online sellers as sales volumes increase, affecting their growth potential. To address this, Shopboxo was tailored to provide free but reliable solution for any merchant to start selling online. However, the platform also offers an upgrade for sellers who require more advanced features for a subscription fee of P490 per month. Upgrade perks

With this amount, online sellers can enjoy a wider range of benefits such as dynamic styling tools and customized sites that are easily created without coding or design skills. It also has quick response (QR)-enabled online menus and a scan-to-order pay function for restaurants and brick-and-mortar establishments.

Since in its inception in 2022, Shopboxo has helped build 70,000 online stores. Among them is that of Justin Ang, 25, a fur parent who sells premium pet care products. With a startup capital of P20,000, Ang and his business partner, Jamielyn Cheng, became the cofounders of Dear Pets PH.

“PAWRENTS” Dear Pets PH cofounders Jamielyn Cheng and Justin Ang with toy poodle, Nugget —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

“As pet owners ourselves, we realized that quality of life is immensely important in keeping your companion happy and fulfilled. Our ‘aha!’ moment was when we noticed how the demand for quality pet products was increasing and how the e-commerce landscape was changing,” Ang explains.

Dear Pets PH was an instant hit; it received an overwhelming response from its customers during its first month of operation. “Our small business’ success is largely because of the pet community’s love for their pets. Customers were personally messaging us asking to bring even more items from new brands that we haven’t contacted yet,” says Ang.

Not just for show biz

The steady growth in sales led them to search for an e-commerce platform that caters to their specific needs but will not bleed them dry. They were inspired by the experience of actress Nadine Lustre, herself an emerging entrepreneur, who had raved about Shopboxo following the successful launch of nadinelustre.store in December and betty-blooms.com in February.

“With Shopboxo, my team can handle inventory, manage orders and sales, all from their phones. So now we have more time to focus on other things. I’m able to see all the updates and store movements, even when I’m super busy. Shopboxo also allows customers to make payments directly to my bank account, using a variety of trusted e-wallets,” shares Lustre, now CEO of her own business.

THE CEO Nadine Lustre uses Shopboxo for online businesses.

Ang says his team came across Shopboxo through Nadine Lustre’s store and reading reviews from other successful entrepreneurs.

“Our initial thoughts before setting up the business in Shopboxo were optimistic, as it seemed like a comprehensive platform that would cater to all our needs,” Ang recounts.

Although having an online store is cool, setting up a brick- and-mortar establishment has its own advantages. Without a physical store, Ang yearns to interact with their loyal customers. “[There is also] the potential challenge of building trust with customers who prefer to see and feel products before purchasing, but we participate in offline markets to have personal customer interaction from time to time,” he says.

“As an online business, it’s most important to have a good relationship and communication with your customers. Without their feedback and advice, our business wouldn’t have grown as much as we currently have,” Ang adds.

With the steady rise of Pinoy entrepreneurs turning to online selling, Rayev believes that Shopboxo will help more online sellers thrive and advance their reach. He points out that the most common thread among their subscribers is their need for an easy-to-use platform to sell their products and services online.

“These merchants prefer to avoid paying commissions to large marketplaces,” he explains. “Instead, they seek a more cost-effective and customizable solution that allows them to have full control over their online presence.”

Although people are already flocking back to the malls as health protocols are relaxed, Rayev is optimistic about the future of e-commerce in the Philippines. “The recent spike in e-commerce activity is a clear indication that the market is growing and that more and more Filipinos are turning to online shopping as a convenient and safe way to purchase goods and services. While there may be a temporary shift back to in-person shopping as health protocols ease and people return to malls, we believe that the long-term trend toward e-commerce is here to stay,” he explains. INQ