Small entrepreneurs thrive with online shopping trend

CEBU, Philippines - Along with modernization and innovation, shopping has already been available online through social networking sites.

Catering to those with shopaholic hearts, online vendors took the advantage of technology by starting up their businesses by promoting and selling their products online.

Jacqueline Bardoquillo, owner of The JB outfit, said she has ventured to online business since 2010 but was already an online shopper herself since 2005.

“It’s fun! Like almost every day, I get new stuff online. It’s kind of addictive,” Bardoquillo said.

She admitted that she started her business with P3,000-P5,000 and gets her products with other online shops in Cebu and Manila.

Through Facebook and at work, her customers get the chance of browsing items that they would love to have online and whoever says “mine” in the comment box would be identified as the official buyer.

However, Bardoquillo revealed that there are some shoppers who would purchase her products at first, but after awhile, won’t cooperate anymore with the negotiation, thus posting them as bogus buyers.

“I have two shoppers before. They gave me their contact numbers and promised to buy my products. It lasted for three months. Pero at the end, mag-sige lang diay og promise. I already gave up on them. Puol na,” she stated.

Meanwhile, KJ Haus of Accessories owner Kenneth John Galano prefers personal meet-ups to have the chance of thanking his buyers.

Aside from dresses and accessories, he has also decided to sell homemade peanut butter and gadgets due to demands from his customers.

As a neophyte in the online business, Galano started with P1,000 – P2,000 and now, he is gaining more especially with gadgets wherein he gets for P3,00 –P1,000 as profit.

He added that online shop is a hassle-free business in which buyers can purchase something through a lower price compared to malls and other stores. 

“I always make it a point that all of my stuff are very affordable to the masses. That’s my number one ingredient in this business. In fact, I also give discounted rates to my customers,” Galano told The Freeman.

Meanwhile, both online vendors admitted that such business doesn’t require several requirements and registrations from government offices such as Department of Trade and Industry.

“When it comes to online shop, there’s no need for you to register your own business to DTI. That's the good thing about it. In fact, there are already a lot of online shops not only here in the Philippines but all over the world,” Galano added.

 Republic Act No. 8792, also known as “Electronic Commerce Act 2000”, seeks to protect the integrity of electronic documents and electronic signatures as well as its transmission and communication so as to build and ensure the trust and reliance of the public on electronic transactions.

The Organization for Electronic Cooperation and Development defines electronic commerce as commercial transactions based on electronic transmission of data over communication networks such as Internet.

Although the definition of electronic commerce is strictly confined to commercial undertakings, RA 8792 is made applicable to both commercial and non-commercial transactions.

Sec. 29 of this act empowers the Department of Trade and Industry to direct, supervise and promulgate regulations to provide quality standards and development of electronic commerce in the country.

 “Indeed, I’ve heard about that but as of now, I’m not sure if it’s already implemented,” Bardoquillo said.

Meanwhile, Bardoquillo and Galano assure their prospective buyers that their products have no defects and customers can also express their comments in their feedback boards online.  (FREEMAN)