How to Shop Online through Multiply

When I got an email from MULTIPLY asking me to represent them at the Expo Mom @ Rockwell Tent, I got so excited! First, they trusted me (hey are you sure you're making me do it?). Second, I am just new to the scene. And third, there are thousands of great shops out there in Multiply (naks, why me?)! I am just thankful for this opportunity.   

Sharing an excerpt of my presentation. Specifically, some background on my store and a simple online shopping guide for your reference :)

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  Now here comes the SHOPPING GUIDE!!! 

Welcome to my store front...

 

The best way to navigate is to click on the "VIEW ALL PRODUCTS", so that all the goodies will come up!

 For example, you might want to buy Charlie's Soap (one of our bestsellers!) so you click on the encircled item...tada! Related items will show up:

 

For this particular example, you see right away that the Trial Pack is SOLD OUT. No need to ask which items are available. As long as you can click on it, as long as the item is not hidden, it's with me and ready to ship. I keep my inventory updated 98% of the time to keep you happy. Save the 2% for me and Caleb :) After all, I am still a full-time mommy!

  

Moving forward, you want the whole jar so you click on the item..

  

There is a drop down menu for the quantity of items you might like, also for items with applicable options (e.g. diaper color). I also try my best to describe the items that I carry, sometimes even providing external links. It would really make me happy if you could read them up!

Clicking the BUY NOW button, your order goes into your shopping cart. Here is what happens: 

If you don't have a Multiply account or haven't signed in yet, this is the point where you will be prompted to create one or sign in. It's easy don't worry :)

Now, you've decided to buy some more so you shopped until you are done...

Note that I took an extra mile to be a Trusted Seller, yipee! This is good for you :)

Upon check out, everything is so neat! 

 

Multiply automatically computes shippping rates based on the details you have entered. Right now until the end of June, it's FREE SHIPPING up to P100 worth for minimum orders of P400.

Upon choosing your payment mode, Multiply gives you clear directions on how to go about with the payment. If you encounter any problems, you can always contact them .

Items are shipped the same day if payment was posted before the courier picks up (usually at 12 noon. They arrive the next day if within Manila, and in 2-3 days if Provincial. I usually update completed transactions with tracking numbers.

I must admit that it has been quite a challenge to keep up with all the queries lately. But with this system, you can always check on the availability of stock and buy even while I am asleep or out of town. Multiply always notifies the buyer and the seller of any payments made, so don't worry about it. All payment modes post real time anyway, except for BDO which usually reflects the next day.

Oh, my sister Mae is already doing her on-the-job training with me. So don't be surprised if she is the one who responds to your orders. She is nicer than me, actually :)

  

Hope this shopping guide showed you how convenient it is to shop via my Multiply platform. See you there!

-- Lei

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Thanks Maurice, Erben and Rianna for giving me a reason to do this. Been putting this off for a looong time! Haha! :)

What First-Time Bazaaristas Should Know!

It's almost Expo Mom!!! Nope we are not joining this time. But I am sharing this post because I owe one mompreneur.

At the very last minute, we joined Mommy Mundo's Expo Kid event last March in Rockwell. The first thing I did after confirming our slot was google up " bazaar 101, bazaar for dummies, bazaar tips, etc." but nothing substantial showed up.

Sharing with you some practical notes I gained during the activity:

1. Get a booth early. Simple. So you can choose your spot well.

2. BARYA. Pambalot. Calling cards. Flyers. Thanks for this tip, Love and William!

Prepare lots of change and make sure you have packaging materials. Be eco-friendly. Get paper bags or reusable bags if possible. And always ask buyers if they need one. Many would decline anyway. You can never have enough flyers and calling cards! Bazaars, beyond the sales, are a good venue to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and new markets :)

3. Know in advance what to expect of your booth. I was shocked to find out that it was a bare space we were renting!! Good thing, we were adjacent to Stork Studio's nice sturdy wall, and the wooden toy stalls somehow "framed" everything well. Take this into consideration, so that your display would be nice :)

4. Plan your store layout properly. I had tons of stuff barely able to fit in the little space. Twenty minutes before opening, my booth was still a complete chaos! I have to credit my suppliers for helping me out before I froze in panic.

I was hoping buyers would come in to see more stuff inside my booth. But most didn't!! So display all your stuff well and don't expect people to really come in. They have a very short attention span too. So display your best in front!

5.  Make sure that your brand is visible so that people can easily identify you. But because I didn't know #5, I wasn't even able to make use of my standee.

6. BE ORGANIZED.  In our case, it's just 2 people allowed to man the booth because the space was limited. It was me, my husband and my sister rotating and taking turns with Caleb. There were times when foot traffic was overwhelming and it got a little bit confusing.

Suggestions: Keep an area or a box for essential items (like ORs, packaging materials, pens, inventory lists) so you won't need to scurry for their whereabouts.  Prepare an easy system to track down your sales. My supplier suggested to list down all the items in stock and tick beside it for every item sold. This worked for us. The person who received the money did the ticking so that there's no duplication.

7. I suggest you keep the cash close to you by all means. It may not be the most fashion-forward thing to do, but a belt bag or something like it is convenient.

8. If you are a breastfeeding mom, it may be convenient to pump ahead (I didn't! Didn't expect to be busy the whole day!). Isotonic drinks, granola bars and wipes for freshening up would also be great. The Expo Kid bazaar was such a hit that I was only able to step out of the booth to breastfeed and change my baby's cloth diapers. We also just took turns eating our lunch. I didn't even pee the whole day!! (oops, too much disclosure)

9. Document. If we had good photos, this article could have been more interesting. Haha! Don't forget to take pictures, and grab photo ops that would boost your credibility.

10. Have FUN!!  Don't be shy to talk talk talk! And don't feel bad if the sales doesn't turn out as well as you have expected. My suppliers cautioned me on dull moments - that the ROI will come in later, especially if the bazaar organizer is really good in promoting the event! (THIS IS SO TRUE!) Don't be overly concerned about the sales, but try to sincerely connect and share, and the sales will follow. Thanks Mommy Mundo!!

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Ok no pictures and no linkies  because this was written in haste. Apologies for that. If I have not put you to sleep and have come this far , you probably need this for your first bazaar. Go and have fun!!

OR you're a professional mompreneur!!  Any tips to add for the rookies ? :)