Posted by 香港，2022年3月7日— 第五波疫情肆虐，加上社交距離措施持續收緊，消費者進一步減少到實體店消費，轉向網上購物，令本地實體商店的經營相當嚴峻。大東南亞區領先分類買賣平台 Carousell 透露，平台香港市場的每週活躍用戶人數於今年一月至二月期間保持平穩，按年增長超過20%。增長趨勢延續了去年年終購物季的消費熱潮，反映網上購物的需求保持穩定，網購市場更可為商家開拓出新路向。
Carousell擁有龐大用戶基礎，而且用戶購買欲強，故一直致力幫助中小企拓展線上業務，擴大客戶群。2020年疫情初期，Carouell已推出CarouBiz旋轉商店（Carousell商用版），自此一直招募不同的本地商家及服務供應商，通過平台的24小時全天候解決方案，幫助用家於疫境下繼續發展業務。CarouBiz是一個尊貴賣家工具套裝，各種工具簡單易用，包括：「泵」功能、熱門推廣、自動回覆、收藏產品及錄影產品等，助商家接觸更多客戶，提升生意額。
67%商戶最擔憂無法適應不斷改變的社交距離措施
Carousell最近進行了一項調查，了解本地商戶在第五波疫情期間面對的最大挑戰。調查發現，75%受訪商戶的生意經營受疫情影響，當中三大經營挑戰是客戶減少 （73%）、收入減少 （43%） 和物流問題 （42%）。疫情持續嚴峻，商戶最大的擔憂是無法適應社交距離措施（67%）、業務無法繼續經營（64%）和物流問題（62%）
由於客流量低及市場不確定因素增加，59% 受訪商戶已開始把更多業務轉移到線上，以減少生意損失，亦有10% 商戶通過貸款或信貸增加現金流。另一方面，10% 受訪商戶表示業務因現行限制而無法運營，而14% 商戶則選擇在此期間改變業務方式或尋找其他收入來源。
數碼轉型是疫下繼續經營業務的關鍵
Carousell已正式推出「HK$968中小企疫轉計劃」，在第五波疫情肆虐下進一步發揮互相支持的社群精神，助中小企規劃生意經營方向。由即日起，新加入CarouBiz的商戶如成功訂閱價值港幣968元的 CarouBiz旋轉商店月費計劃，即可獲得最多40,000個旋轉金幣及CarouBiz營銷功能，總值港幣2,000元。
新商戶如以Visa信用卡訂閱月費計劃，即可享額外獨家優惠。此外，Carousell亦與多個品牌建立合作關係，以更多優惠把支援計劃升級，參與計劃的商戶可獲贈Club Sim 一個月無合約期月費計劃（連Sim卡，包20GB本地數據及無限通話分鐘）價值港幣58元，而成為新GOGOBusiness 商戶每筆訂單更可享 10%折扣回贈。有興趣的商戶可通過網上自助服務訂閱計劃，亦可聯絡Carousell銷售團隊查詢。如欲了解計劃詳情及條款細則，請瀏覽：https://college.carousell.com/zh-hk/968caroubiz/。
Carousell香港董事總經理黃俊仁先生表示：「對香港人來說，過去幾星期十分艱難，而且充滿變數。超過52%的受訪CarouBiz商戶有實體店，隨著社交距離措施持續收緊，他們十分擔憂業務無法繼續經營。Carousell的商戶調查顯示，很多商戶都把更多業務轉移到線上，應付不明朗的營商環境。我們鼓勵小商戶盡快開拓線上業務，現時每五個香港人就有一個是Carousell用戶，我們相信龐大的用戶基礎，加上24小時全天候營業方案，能盡量滿足中小企的需要，支援商家日常經營運作，應對疫境下的各種限制。」
Carousell商戶調查亦顯示，69%受訪商戶表示CarouBiz 能助其在社交距離限制下繼續經營業務，更有40%表示 CarouBiz工具易於負擔，有助降低經營成本。CarouBiz商戶陳先生 （Jason）經營網店@r.g_computer，售賣電腦及電子零件，他認同拓展線上業務有不少好處。陳先生表示：「CarouBiz於2020年最初推出時，我便升級成為CarouBiz商戶，我們的收入有20%來自 Carousell。通過善用CarouBiz的綜合營銷方案，尤其是用戶宣傳及『泵』功能，我的收入並沒有受目前營運限制影響，銷售額反而有所增加。」
Carousell為用戶提供更多選擇 共同應對新常態
黃俊仁先生續說：「除了支援中小企， Carousell亦致力服務本地用戶社群，務求滿足用戶的需要。在過去兩個月，平台上門服務的搜尋量大幅增加，例如理髮服務（增加約 11,000次）和Zoom補習服務（增加約 900 次）。由於港人留家抗疫，部分家用設備的需求亦大增，包括電子遊戲（增加約 81,000次）和電腦屏幕（增加約 2,400次）。Carousell希望提供度身訂造的彈性買賣方案，與用戶攜手應對疫境。」
Carousell希望用戶在家能夠安全輕鬆搜尋實惠的日常用品。當選購只需短期使用的物品時，二手貨品成為物有所值的選擇。因此，平台推出最新計劃，助用戶找尋各種在家工作所需的設備，例如電腦屏幕和家用健身器材。網站及應用程式亦設有「留家抗疫精選」快捷鍵，讓用戶快速閱覽精選的必備產品類別，輕鬆適應留在家中的生活。
此外，根據平台的商戶調查，14%受訪者表示需在疫情期間尋找其他收入來源。Carousell準備了一系列建議，幫助用戶在空餘時間賺取額外收入。用戶可整理家居，出售並未充分使用的物品，騰出更多家居空間，配合留家生活。此外，隨著線上增值課程的需求不斷上升，有專業技能的用戶可考慮提供各種各樣的教授服務。Carousell一直致力支援商戶及個人用戶，透過彈性買賣方案，讓用戶的買賣體驗變得更輕鬆方便。
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有關 Carousell 旋轉拍賣集團Carousell Group是大東南亞區領先的分類買賣集團，使命是鼓勵全球開始銷售，使二手產品成為首選。該集團 於2012年8月在新加坡成立，以Carousell、Mudah.my、Cho Tot、OneKyat和Ox Street 品牌在八大市場中處於領先地位， 每月為數千萬活躍用戶提供服務。Carousell獲得了主要投資者的支持，包括Telenor Group、Rakuten Ventures、Naver、STIC Investments和Sequoia Capital India。瀏覽此處了解更多。
Carousell announces “Pandemic Relief Package” amid fifth wave to support local businesses to open 24/7 online
Carousell’s merchant survey finds over 70% of local Small-to-Medium Businesses reported a drop in customers and drop in earnings since February
Hong Kong, 7 March 2022 — Amid the fifth wave of the pandemic, local physical retailers have been heavily impacted by social distancing measures, as consumers shift to online rather than physical shopping. Leading classifieds group in Greater Southeast Asia, Carousell revealed that the number of weekly active users in the Hong Kong market has held steady throughout January and February 2022, with over 20% year-on-year growth. The growth is a continuation of the 2021 year-end shopping season, reflecting a steady demand for online shopping and greater choice of both C2C and retail merchants.
With a wide user base with active buyer intent, Carousell has been focused on supporting Small-to-Medium Businesses (SMBs) in their digitalisation journey and reaching out to more customers. Since the launch of CarouBiz (Carousell for Business) in 2020 when the pandemic started, CarouBiz has recruited a variety of merchants and service providers in Hong Kong, helping businesses broaden their customer reach and boost profit with an array of easy-to-use premium seller tools such as Bumps, Spotlights, custom collections, auto reply and video listings.
67% of merchants’ top worry is how to adapt to changing social distancing measures, survey finds
Carousell recently conducted a survey among local merchants to identify top challenges they faced during the fifth wave of COVID-19. The findings revealed that 75% of merchants have been affected, and their top challenges encountered are reduced customers (73%), reduced income (43%), and logistics issues (42%). The top three worries of merchants are uncertainty on how to adapt to social distancing measures (67%), business continuity (64%), and logistics issues (62%).
Affected by low footfall and rising uncertainty, 59% of surveyed merchants shared that they had started to move more of their business online to reduce the impact, and 10% took out loans or used credit for more cash flow. Another 10% shared that they had to stop operations due to the recent measures, while 14% shared they will pivot to another type of business or side income stream in the interim.
Going digital is key to surviving the pandemic
To leverage the support ecosystem and assist SMBs in their business continuity planning in this critical time, Carousell has officially launched a special HK$968 CarouBiz SMB Pandemic Relief Package. From now, new CarouBiz merchants can receive up to 40,000 Carousell coins and a CarouBiz subscription under the HK$968 CarouBiz SMB Pandemic Relief Package, which is worth a total value of HK$2,000.
Additionally, local merchants can now enjoy additional exclusive offers on the package when they pay by Visa. Carousell has also forged partnerships with various brands to upgrade the package with complementary services, including an exclusive offer to new GOGOBusiness merchants with 10% rebate for every delivery order, and a free Club Sim with 1-month no contract period monthly plan (includes 20GB local data and unlimited voice minutes) valued at HK$58. Interested merchants can sign-up through online self-service or via Carousell Sales Team. For more information on the package and terms and conditions, please visit https://college.carousell.com/zh-hk/968caroubiz/
Kevin Huang, Managing Director of Carousell Hong Kong said, “The past few weeks have been a difficult and uncertain time for Hongkongers. Over 52% of our CarouBiz merchants surveyed have physical stores, and a top concern is if their business can survive the anti-pandemic restrictions. From our survey, we learned that many of our merchants are shifting more of their business online to adapt to this uncertain time. We want to urge small businesses who are hesitant to go online to do so quickly. We believe that our wide user base of one in 5 Hong Kongers and 24/7 operations can address the needs of SMB merchants and support their day-to-day operations, even with constraints caused by the pandemic.”
The survey also revealed that 69% of local merchants stated that having CarouBiz allowed them to continue business operations despite social distancing restrictions, and 40% shared that the affordable tools helped lower operational costs. Mr Jason Chan, a CarouBiz merchant and owner of computer and tech accessories shop @r.g_computer, highlights the benefits an online shopfront has brought to his business. He shared, “I have been using CarouBiz since its launch in 2020, and 20% of my revenue comes from Carousell. By utilising the comprehensive CarouBiz features, especially Profile Promotion and Bump functions, my income has not been affected despite operational restrictions amid the fifth wave. In fact, sales have increased.”
Helping users find more choices on Carousell to adapt to the new normal
Kevin Huang, Managing Director of Carousell Hong Kong said, “In addition to supporting small businesses, Carousell remains committed to its local community of users and is conscious about their needs. Within these two months, a huge increase has been observed in searches for door-to-door hair cutting services (around 11,000 more compared with before) and zoom tuition classes (around 900 more compared with before), as well as demand for stay-at-home gear such as video games (over 81,000 more compared with before) and monitors (over 2,400 more than before). Through providing flexible and tailored offerings, we strive to make it through the difficult times with the local community,” he added.
Users can safely shop from the comfort of home to find necessities easily and affordably. With secondhand as a value-for-money alternative, especially when needing short-term use items, Carousell has curated a campaign where users can find various work from home equipment, such as monitors and home gym equipment. A “Stay Home Selection” shortcut is also available on the website and app to help users quickly access a selection of essential categories for adjusting to staying at home.
Noting that 14% of survey respondents indicated having to find a side income in the interim, Carousell has also curated suggestions that users can do in their free time to earn extra cash. Users may declutter their homes and sell their underutilised items to make more space at home, as they spend an increasing amount of time there. Alternatively noting the increasing demand for online enrichment classes, users with professional skills can consider imparting their skills by offering various lessons. Carousell remains committed to supporting both business and casual users, and to ease their buying and selling journey with flexible offerings.
About Carousell Group
Carousell is the leading classifieds group in Greater Southeast Asia on a mission to inspire the world to start selling, and to make secondhand the first choice. Founded in August 2012 in Singapore, the group has a leading presence in eight markets under the brands Carousell, Mudah.my, Cho Tot, OneKyat and Ox Street, serving tens of millions of monthly active users. Carousell is backed by leading investors including Telenor Group, Rakuten Ventures, Naver, STIC Investments and Sequoia Capital India. Visit here for more information.
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