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<\/p>\nI first heard about ShopJJ a few weeks before I was set to interview Michael, Mark and Silas\u2014the guys behind the e-commerce site that\u2019s taking the \u201cBangkok Flea Market\u201d to the world.<\/p>\n
The site aims to bring users an online experience that allows them to discover, explore and shop Thailand\u2019s contemporary craft, unique fashion and creative culture.<\/p>\n
Though ShopJJ\u2019s official launch was just in October 2017, the trio have wasted no time in getting ShopJJ off the ground. With over 500 products already available, including customizable jewellery USBs, and accessories, it\u2019s hard to believe that the site is still so new.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I sat down with the ambitious trio to try to understand what it takes to run a successful e-commerce platform.<\/p>\n
Sitting down on a couch in the middle of ShopJJ\u2019s cozy office\/photography studio, I begin the ever natural task of interrogating people about their jobs.<\/p>\n
The trio are warm, energetic and observably delighted to share their experiences running ShopJJ.<\/p>\n
Michael, Mark and Silas met while they were studying in Fairfield Methodist Secondary School, and while they hadn\u2019t planned to start a business together, they didn\u2019t have any trouble doing just that\u2014twice.<\/p>\n
The trio first worked together on Evye<\/a>, a design and branding consultancy they\u2019d started while still working their full-time jobs. After closing a few good deals, they\u2019d decided to treat themselves to a well-deserved getaway to Thailand.<\/p>\n Though Mark and Silas already had their hearts set on Bangkok, Michael wasn\u2019t entirely sold on the destination.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019d said \u2018You know what? Let\u2019s just go to Bangkok for a company trip\u2019 but I had this impression of Bangkok being unsafe – do I have to hide my stuff while I\u2019m walking on the street?\u201d Michael laughed.<\/p>\n In the end, Michael was sold by the sheer amount of items there were to purchase in Bangkok, all at a low price, no less.<\/p>\n Having converted their friend from a doubter to a believer sparked an idea within Mark and Silas: people like Michael might not know how much Thailand has to offer because it hasn\u2019t been marketed to its full potential.<\/p>\n With their experience in Evye, the three guys decided to try to market the Thai experience by starting a travel blog to educate netizens on the food, travel and creative products of Thailand.<\/p>\n \u201cWe started ShopJJ about 2 years ago,\u201d Michael shares.<\/p>\n \u201cBut about midway last year we asked ourselves: why are we just asking people to go to Thailand? Why don\u2019t we try to bring Thailand to the world? Let\u2019s put the \u2018shop\u2019 in \u2018ShopJJ\u2019.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In 3 short months, the trio set up their e-commerce platform, brought in over 50 independent Thai brands and over 500 products.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, one of the interesting things about ShopJJ is that a lot of these shops are run by designers that don’t have a permanent physical space in Bangkok\u201d Mark explains.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Chatuchak market, it\u2019s only open on Saturdays and Sundays. Even then, some designers only have stores at pop-up markets so for shoppers that don\u2019t manage to catch them for whatever reason, ShopJJ allows them to find these craftsmen online and take their products worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n While speaking to the three entrepreneurs, you may get the false sense that running an e-commerce platform isn\u2019t all that difficult. They\u2019re calm, cheerful and haven\u2019t griped about the pressures and challenges associated with building your own enterprise.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did the groundwork, went to the stores physically, and asked around for the bosses,\u201d Silas replies candidly as I probe them about the early days of building ShopJJ.<\/p>\n \u201cWe physically carried the products back; a lot of hard work\u201d Mark interjects.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might not be entirely smooth sailing, but we managed to tackle any issues that we were faced with by working together\u201d Michael adds.<\/p>\n Despite already having a burgeoning consultancy business under their belts, the three felt strongly enough about Thailand and their plans for ShopJJ, and wasted no time in pitching to their potential clients.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we first started approaching the designers, it was a chicken and egg thing,\u201d Michael recalls. \u201cThere was no website – we didn\u2019t even have any brands yet. So it was all hinged on this idea which we presented to them\u2014that we wanted to let them reach a global audience.\u201d<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWe told them we didn\u2019t want to just list their products on a website; we\u2019re going to add value to their products by doing photography, proper copywriting, branding and all for free, we\u2019ll just take a commission.\u201d<\/p>\n Their genuine consideration for the people they work with is evident, and I suspect, has become a major reason for their success.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a lot of them, they receive orders through Instagram or Line messenger – it\u2019s very, very mafan<\/em>, and can cause bad customer experiences,\u201d Michael describes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019d literally have to bring their products to the Thai post office and ship it out. If it’s an international order, the prices are crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why we felt it was important to establish a partnership with a renowned international logistics partner early on, so we worked with DHL. Now, the designers just need to print a shipping label, stick it on the package, and DHL takes care of the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n In fact, after speaking with the trio, it becomes increasingly apparent to me that ShopJJ is not so much a passion project (though it still definitely is), but more of a gesture of appreciation.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWhen you do corporate work, it\u2019s obvious they can afford these things. But for these local designers on the ground, they can\u2019t,\u201d Michael points out.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we thought, why don\u2019t we lend our expertise to these guys? For us, we felt like it was a great way to work together.\u201d<\/p>\n For a country that is rich in culture, the authorities are pulling all the stops to ensure that it doesn\u2019t get eroded. Bangkok Post reported recently<\/a> that e-commerce should be observed with caution because it\u2019s been viewed as a threat to their centuries of culture.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWith Thailand being eyed as the next e-commerce market to target, young Thais are getting used to shopping online\u201d Michael shares.<\/p>\n \u201cBetween learning the hard work that goes into the crafts as opposed to just ordering it online, it\u2019s different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to let the world know that e-Commerce is not necessarily the threat for local retail,\u201d Michael emphasises.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen e-Commerce is done right, it goes hand-in-hand with on-the-ground retail, and are perfectly complementary to each other.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n He gives me an example: When you shop online, the only interaction you have with the product is through digital images \u2013 that\u2019s why ShopJJ puts so much emphasis on taking quality photos and great copywriting to do justice to the product themselves.<\/p>\n And yet, there will always be those who want to touch and feel products, which is why local retail cannot go away \u2013 so pop-up flea markets and events are a great way for potential customers to come and touch and feel the products.<\/p>\n Then, knowing the kind of quality they are getting, they can browse the full catalogue of over 500 products on ShopJJ, and order them without\u00a0skepticism.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a market worldwide for more specialized products, and that\u2019s something ShopJJ can offer. Maybe with this, Thailand can maintain their originality and culture through time.\u201d<\/p>\n Since their online success, ShopJJ has participated in events around Singapore such as the Lights To Night festival to gain greater awareness on their home turf.<\/p>\n They were met with a surprisingly positive response from locals and even Thai tourists.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cA lot of Thais have actually responded with gratefulness, especially at our events, that Thai brands have reached a larger market\u201d Michael shares.<\/p>\n \u201cNow a lot of these designers are like our personal friends. They take us around and show us the real, authentic side of Thailand too; it\u2019s more than just business, it\u2019s like we\u2019ve gotten to create this community.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The trio hope to continue to build this community and be able to take these designers international to share their designs and products and maybe even encourage them to collaborate with one another.<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to become the go-to site for \u201cReal products\u201d from Thailand – products that are not mass-manufactured, made with care, artistry and intention,\u201d Michael says.<\/p>\n The team show no signs of slowing down and are gearing up for more pop-ups this year. They\u2019re set to participate in the i Light festival at Marina Bay<\/a>, and their alma mater, Fairfield Methodist Secondary School\u2019s carnival in the coming months.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be bringing in these products at wholesale price, which is already something we offer on ShopJJ anyway\u201d Michael mentions.<\/p>\n \u201cI think what\u2019s also cool is that we offer customization online – even for jewellery.\u201d They discuss as they show me customized wooden USBS, leather key rings and pouches they\u2019re working on.<\/p>\n In the long term, the team also aims to offer this platform and service to other creators in different countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.<\/p>\n Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n In a world where the dollar reigns king, and e-commerce becomes increasingly cutthroat, it\u2019s safe to say that the guys behind ShopJJ are refreshingly candid and authentic in their cause.<\/p>\n The trio proves that sometimes it doesn\u2019t take a Jack Ma level budget for success, but instead, a few good friends and a common appreciation for the world around you.<\/p>\n To catch them at upcoming events, follow them on their Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>, or just jump in and get shopping on their site<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I first heard about ShopJJ a few weeks before I was set to interview Michael, Mark and Silas\u2014the guys behind the e-commerce site that\u2019s taking the \u201cBangkok Flea Market\u201d to the world. The site aims to bring users an online experience that allows them to discover, explore and shop Thailand\u2019s contemporary craft, unique fashion and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200597,"featured_media":14799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[22,150,3,148],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/server1.webstudio.com.sg\/~staging\/ypsg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Untitled1.png\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/server1.webstudio.com.sg\/~staging\/ypsg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Untitled2.png\")
<\/p>\nFrom The Ground Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Cultural Preservation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nFrom Thailand To The World<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What\u2019s In Store For ShopJJ<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nShopJJ Singapore<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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