12 Filipino sellers with inspiring journeys

AS the holidays near, I share online sites that provide gift ideas. This year, I want to honor the local entrepreneurs who embraced digitalization to sustain their livelihoods. An example is the Shopee #TatakPinoy initiative, which recognizes 12 Filipino sellers. Besides having to source and offer goods that are proudly Pinoy, these shortlisted entrepreneurs come from various categories such as lifestyle, fashion and fast-moving consumer goods. They based their selection on shop ratings and number of reviews. I consider high chat response rate and customer service a plus factor.

In my last column, I mentioned that new digital consumers reached 12 million in the Philippines since the start of the pandemic, of which 63 percent are from non-metro areas. It's great that Shopee is one of the many platforms that support micro, small and medium enterprises catering to the needs of the Filipinos. Knowing the journey of these 12 sellers could inspire others to embark on a similar path.