Singapore Expats

I will soon be moving to Singapore and I am considering starting an ecommerce business while there.

Through my research I've not come across many ecommerce sites based in Singapore - except for a few ladies accessories and apparel sites. I've not even found an ecommerce site for any of department stores.

Am I simply looking in the wrong place? Or has ecommerce not yet caught on in Singapore?

auddiejane wrote:I will soon be moving to Singapore and I am considering starting an ecommerce business while there.

Through my research I've not come across many ecommerce sites based in Singapore - except for a few ladies accessories and apparel sites. I've not even found an ecommerce site for any of department stores.

Am I simply looking in the wrong place? Or has ecommerce not yet caught on in Singapore?

Hi auddiejane,

E-commence is slowly catching up here. However, it is still way behind europe or us esp selling ladies / men clothings online. Shopping is a major past time here. it is a social activity which many people frequent, either alone or with friends. you can see complexes dominated by rows of shops. People still prefer to look at online catelogues and go to the shop to try it out, rather than buy online. There aren't any representive shops with whom you can do an exchange in case of wrong size e.g. laredoute.fr. if you know what i mean.

Maybe if you are selling brands that don't exist here like victoria secrets, bath and bodyworks or etam, perhaps that might work..??

anyway, it depends on what you are selling. i guess singaporeans still prefer to spend hours shopping at orchard road...

If you know what you're looking for then that's fine, for things you are uncertain of, it's a risk. ie: Size may not fit, design may not be what you expect.. So many people are still going for the real shopping experience.

But it also depends on what you're selling...ie: books, pens, are basically standard items, but not apparel and bags, shoes.

e-commerce is pretty popular with the younger set here. Our household order groceries from Cold Storage online, buy books from acmabooks.com, order dog food online, order cakes online, etc.

Agree.

Hi auddiejane,

Singapore is a very good place to start up a business, including e-business.

You don’t mention anything about what products your plan to sell, but I think you shouldn’t confine your business to only be selling domestically in Singapore. Singapore is a unique hub and has excellent infrastructure and connectivity to the rest of the world. E-commerce offers the opportunity to instantly market your products globally, and SingPost ships your products to Europe and USA within a week. All major courier firms are represented in Singapore and offers tailor made logistic solutions. So, my advice to you is – look at the whole world as your market, and at Singapore as an efficient base with all the resources needed to support the growth of your business.

Yes. I Agree. It's good to start a SOHO in singapore. E-Business will pick up as the market on asia is very BIG now.

Cheers !

There are quiet few sites in an out of singapore that provide online purchase of items and there are also auction sites getting popular nowdays.

cheers.

who provide the online payment service in Singapore?

You can check out E-nets.

you know why ppl still prefer to shop in the malls? It's because of the weather!!! Ppl love the cool temperature in the malls...most ppl go there to stay away from the hot weather...

solarv wrote:you know why ppl still prefer to shop in the malls? It's because of the weather!!! Ppl love the cool temperature in the malls...most ppl go there to stay away from the hot weather...

Are you suggesting that no eBusiness could survive in a tropical climate?

Oriental wrote:

solarv wrote:you know why ppl still prefer to shop in the malls? It's because of the weather!!! Ppl love the cool temperature in the malls...most ppl go there to stay away from the hot weather...

Are you suggesting that no eBusiness could survive in a tropical climate?

not neccessary. Majority of the people here are just not open to online shopping.
Reasons:
1) Lack of quality online shopping websites
2) People tend not to use credit cards online
3) Online wallet (eg paypal) is not widely used in Singapore
4) Singaporeans like to let others know when they are buying something very expensive.
5) The reason people shop online is to get some good deals, but Singaporeans don't really care if they could save 5%, 10%...

solarv wrote:Singaporeans don't really care if they could save 5%, 10%...

The best joke I have heard in years....

Eric

Hi auddiejane

I came across a website that may be of interest to you www.singaporewebsites.com - a directory of useful and interesting websites in Singapore.
Personally, I don't think it is a good idea to start an EBusiness targeting the local market. Online fraud is stopping the majority of Singaporeans from shopping online and they work extremely long hours anyway so do not have time for online window shopping.
But if you have a new NICHE product or service that can be marketed globally from Singapore , that might work.
Best wishes for your new business venture.