WINDOW SHOPPER | Mobile shopping gaining more popularity among Filipinos

Text by Ana Valenzuela | Photos by Analy Labor | Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com · Thursday, April 18, 2013 · 1:38 pm  http://www.interaksyon.com/lifestyle/window-shopper-mobile-shopping-gaining-more-popularity-among-filipinos

Sulit.com.ph has over two million registered users and an average of 10 million daily page views. Image courtesy of Sulit.com.

It began as a project between a husband and wife team with a capital of Php2,400 and with operations done in a computer in their bedroom. To date, buy and sell website sulit.com.ph now ranks number 8 in the most visited websites in the Philippines, beating even social networking website twitter.com, and being topped only by regular netizen needs such as facebook.com, google.com, yahoo.com, and Wikipedia.

The site was established in 2006 by RJ David and his wife Arianne. At the start, its buy and sell category became a hit among enterprising Filipinos who grabbed the opportunity to sell online and among buyers looking for almost anything under the sun—from gadgets, second-hand furniture, collectibles, arts and crafts, medical equipment, to pet accessories.

(Think of those items packed in balikbayan boxes regularly sent to you by well-meaning relatives abroad but which you don’t have any use for. Well, you might want to sell them via sulit.com.)

The window of opportunity that opened up for buyers then gave away for other individual categories to be opened: Real Estate, Cars, and Services.

In March 2012, sulit.com.ph had at least 10 million page unique views. In March this year, it gathered 15.7 million unique page views.

These numbers alone prove that more and more Filipinos are definitely getting more accustomed to online shopping. David, the site’s CEO and co-founder explains that the rise in number and its popularity are due to a wide selection of merchandise and services that online shopping offers, as well as the more affordable prices, compared to mall prices, that people pay for.

Of course, online shopping also offers convenience, “All you have to do is type in the product  and if you like it, then arrange the meet up,” David says.

From left, sulit.com's Jean Magboo, corporate communications and PR supervisor; RJ David, CEO; and Meann Buendalion, assistant vice president. Photo by Analy Labor, InterAksyon.com.

Mobile shopping
According to David, 20 percent of sulit.com.ph’s page views are from mobile devices. In March this year, for instance, there were 58 million mobile page views. David expects that the mobile market will be quickly taking over the desktop site soon.

“In 2010, we started the mobile website, but it was last year when we started optimizing on the site with the growth that we saw. By January 2015 about 50% of the users will be coming from the mobile market. There will be at least 15 million mobile device users, that will overtake the desktop usage.”

From sulit.com this year, expect more mobile applications that can be downloaded for smartphones and android phones.

Online shopping tips
Meanwhile, David shares some tips for vendors and buyers:

1. Study and broaden your item’s key words. “We have a number of tools that can teach the sellers how to push their products using keywords.” If for example a vendor might be interested in selling his Iphone, “He shouldn’t just post ‘cell phone,’ they should also broaden their search, unless the item is really unique.

2. Opt for a meet up rather bank deposit. For online buyers, David advises that it would be best to meet up with a seller rather than depositing money to a bank account to have the item delivered. Also, meet with a seller in a safe place like in a mall, or a venue where there is security. Moreover, check on the history of the particular seller you are transacting with.

Mobile devices are slowly changing consumers' shopping habits, says sulit.com CEO RJ David. Image courtesy of sulit.com.

Real girls ride the waves, especially at Billabong All Girls Surf Camp

Text and Photos by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com. · Saturday, April 6, 2013 · 2:59 pm

A participant enjoys the thrill of riding the waves. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

The exhilaration of being delivered by the board to the sand.

After how many tries, and after how many times the water just kept throwing me off balance. I did it! I stood, well more like squat, on the board, and did nothing but let the currents bring me to the shore.

Surfing champ Luke Landrigan shows the proper way to stand on a surfboard. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

Listening to surfing pro and champ Luke Landrigan during the first day lesson briefing of the 2nd Billabong All Girls Surf Camp at the San Juan Surf Resort in La Union, paid off. “When paddling, chin up, and alternate left and right (arms), the instructors would push you from behind. When you feel the wave na pinu-push kayo from behind, yun na yung time na tatayo kayo,” I remember him saying.

More than that, shifting to a more basic position called the step up—where in you have one foot ready angling at the side of the hip and your arms alongside your chest to shift you up—helped me to get the hang of the board, especially of course with the help of my own instructor.

The raw beauty of San Juan beach in La Union. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

Before attending the all-women surf camp, what came to my mind was the Kate Bosworth surfing movie, Blue Crush. Specifically, I remember the scene where she just battled a gynormous wave then afterwards slowly emerges from the said gigantic wave, which was ten times bigger than she was. Kate emerges standing, smiling, dimples and all. Impossible! I know.

Instructors at the 2nd Billabong All Girls Surf Camp line up their surfboards on the beach for the day's class. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

Fortunately for me, La Union’s waves were much friendlier, there were no Godzilla-like waves to battle. September till March is the best time to surf, yet the currents that day were perfect for beginners and first timers. I was psyched to get on a board and even get wiped out.

A female surfer conquers some waves at the 2nd Billabong All Girls Surf Camp. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

Much more than the waves, the people that you get to meet, are also not so bad.  Some of the girls were like me first time surfers, while some have already brought their surfboards to Baler and even Bali, and were just wanting to be trained and looking to meet new friends, specifically surfing buddies.

Franco wows the crowd with his acoustic set. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

Girls get DJ tutorials from DJ Nikki. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.

The best thing about the surf camp, one girl did comment, was Franco and Luke. Franco who graced us with his awesome guitar playing that accompanied his deep and soothing voice, and definitely Luke, who also owns the resort. Landrigan had been a gracious host.

Apart from teaching us girls on how to handle the board—Luke was there in every session, assisting if one gets too weak, complimenting if one is making the right points—he also mades sure to interact with the participants during the lunch and dinner sessions, graciously giving advice and answering concerns about surfing.

Others share that the best part of their surf camp experiences are the extra lessons, this time in mixing music together, care of top DJs Niki Rojas and Joey Santos. Some, on the other hand, say that highlight of their experience was the place itself.  Yet, all of us seem to agree on one thing, we shall return—though we’re not just sure when.

Writer Ana Valenzuela with her adorable surf buddy. InterAksyon Lifestyle Section photo.

Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for the 2nd Billabong All Girls Surf Camp. I didn’t even know that I’d be surfing in La Union, all I knew was that I’d be headed there to observe and write about the surfing camp. But hey, I came, I surfed, and I conquered.

'We shall return!' The happy participants and organizers of the 2nd Billabong All Girls Surf Camp. Photo by Ana Valenzuela, InterAksyon.com.