eCommerce is growing in Malaysia with an increasing number of Malaysians opting to shop online when it comes to getting their daily needs and essentials. In fact, Shopee reports that users have been spending about 20% more time on their platform on a weekly basis. The increase, spurred by the recent movement control order (MCO), indicates that consumers are increasingly more willing to shop online.
As more consumers turn to online platforms, it provides a golden opportunity for Shopee and its partners to incentivise their platforms. Working together with one of Malaysia’s largest banks, Maybank, Shopee Malaysia and Visa have launched a new platinum credit card. The new Maybank Shopee Credit Card will reward users with Shopee coins for every transaction online and offline. Users will also receive extra bonuses such as 5x the coins during Shopee’s monthly payday sales on the 28th of every month and 4x Shopee coins for dining, entertainment and contactless payments.
Cardholders can then use these coins on Shopee to offset future purchases and redeem vouchers including F&B and services from the Daily Coins Rewards feature on the App. What’s more, cardholders who rack up more than 5,000 coins will be rewarded with Maybank TreatsPoints which they can use to redeem gifts from Maybank.
Malaysians between 21 and 65 years of age can apply for the card beginning on July 1, 2020. Applicants will need to have an annual income of MYR36,000. The card comes with a lifetime annual waiver. Successful applicants will receive 5,000 Shopee coins when they spend MYR300 within their first 60 days.
The new credit card comes just ahead of Shopee’s annual 7.7 mid year sale which kicks off on 7 July. As such, early adopters who successfully apply for the card from 1 July to 7 July will be rewarded with Shopee Vouchers worth MYR500 when they spend MYR300 within their first 45 days. The limited offer can be redeemed on a first come, first served basis.
The mid year sale also brings 50% coins cashback for all Shopee users on a daily basis. Users can also win up to 7 million coins by playing Shopee Claw, Shopee Candy, Shopee Garden, Shopee Poly, Shopee Dance and more during the sale period. Shopee’s Shocking Sale also makes a return with deals from as low as MYR0.77 during the 7 July Sale.
Since early March, the high rate of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has resulted in the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide. Soon after the official announcement, panicked purchasing increased drastically resulting in most daily necessities being sold out in most places.
With most Malaysians aware of the prolonged duration of the MCO, consumers are turning to online market places to obtain necessities and equipment to enable them to work-from-home (WFH). Thus, we investigated the search trends of more than 900,000 iPrice Malaysia visitors. The data has shed light on a number of interesting and unexpected findings.
The research was conducted by analyzing the online search behavior of close to 1 million visitors on iPrice Malaysia between 18 March 2020, when the MCO was first enforced, and 17 April 2020. All percentage increases displayed in this research were obtained by comparing the search impressions data with consumers’ online search behavior prior to the implementation of the MCO.
1. Satisfaction is important, but safety always comes first
In the medical supply category, it was unsurprising to see a 648% increase in search interest for face masks such as surgical masks & N95 masks. However, it seems like Malaysians are getting adventurous as there was also a rise in interest for sex related products such as sensual toys, vibrators, fertility test kits & condoms.
From their search behaviours, we saw the following percentage increase in interest:
347% increase in searches for sensual toys & vibrators
79% increase in searches for fertility test kits
61% increase in searches for condoms
While it seems like Malaysian could be indulging in self love and even more adventurous exploits, this also shows that Malaysians are being more cognizant of family planning especially with the increase in searches for fertility test kits.
2. Malaysians are running out of patience with their overgrown hair
The MCO began in the mid of March & has been ongoing for more than 6 weeks. This also means that most Malaysians probably have overgrown hair and are looking for ways to take care of it.
iPrice data reveals major increase in searches for trimming clippers. In fact, the increase was an averaged 17,652%! This trend can also be seen throughout various social media platforms, where people has been sharing the results of their DIY haircut attempts.
3. The MCO is potentially breading more MasterChefs
Malaysians are probably tired with packaged and delivered foods. As a result, they are turning to more home cooked food. Data reveals high interest in appliances such as bread makers, mixers, air fryers and ovens suggesting that people are showing interest in experimenting with various recipes.
This is supported by the increase in searches related to appliances including bread makers (7,587%), stand mixers (3,048%), ovens (1,058%) and air fryers (2,029%).
4. Malaysians Prefer the Nintendo Switch during the pandemic
The inability to go outdoors may have led to excessive boredom. As such, people are looking for ways to stay entertained at home. This could be driving the an increased interest in gaming. Data shows high search interest for gaming items such as the Nintendo switch, Animal Crossing game & board games such as Monopoly.
Nintendo’s latest game, Animal Crossing , saw a 17,427% increase in interest, while the Nintendo Switch saw an average increase of 1,064%. Board games, on the other hand, saw a 4,336% surge in interest among Malaysians.
5. Tablets preferred over laptops?
When it comes to preparing for WFH, Malaysians are probably looking to purchase tech that would allow them to be more productive; one would think that this would mean that they would be looking for laptops or PCs. However, the data indicates otherwise. In fact, it shows that Malaysian are turning more to tablets. On average, searches for tablets saw an increase of 1,125%, while laptops recorded a 299% increase.
This would suggest Malaysians are probably getting tablets for work or entertainment activities.
6. Staying fit indoors
Like many others on the internet, it seems that Malaysians are also worrying about gaining weight from being cooped up at home for too long. It’s all over social media! More people are showing an interest in working out at home. This is reflected in the data, there was a surge in searches for exercise equipment such as skipping ropes (4,528%) and yoga mats (2,016%).
Research methodology
Data featured in this study were obtained by aggregating thousands of product pages of more than 150 online merchants through https://iprice.my/. Data on the increase in searches were analyzed by comparing the impressions data recorded from March 18 – April 17, 2020 as compared to February 16, 2019 – March 17, 2020.
