Ecommerce seems like a no-brainer for Singapore. It may be a tiny market, but it boasts a stable economy, astonishing internet and smartphone penetration, and a strategic position smack in the middle of numerous developing economies. Ecommerce is blowing up throughout Southeast Asia, and Singaporean startups have moved to take advantage, even while conquering their home market.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ecommerce sites in the country today, some of which have moved beyond the border, and some of which have crossed sea and land to reach Singapore from elsewhere.
Obviously, the list is indicative rather than exhaustive, intended to show which types of ecommerce are particularly dear to Singaporeans’ hearts. Feel free to suggest more sites you think we might have missed in the comments!
Qoo10
A stalwart in Singapore’s ecommerce space, Qoo10 is a B2C marketplace that carries everything from keyboards to pet supplies. It offers regular promotions and discounts on a lot of its wares to keep customers coming back. It’s not the prettiest website to look at, but substance seems to win over style in this case – or at least, the sheer volume of available stuff – making it one of the most popular ecommerce sites in the island city.
SimilarWeb rank: #11 in Singapore with 4.2 million desktop visitors in September 2015
Carousell
The Singaporean startup continues to hold a big piece of the market pie. People in Singapore say “sell it on Carousell” in the same way people in the US say “sell it on eBay.” The mobile-first C2C marketplace has gone far in making the experience of listing, selling, and buying items easy and straightforward. In recent years it has expanded in Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. Its series A in November 2014 was worth US$6 million, attracting investors like Sequoia Capital, 500 Startups, Golden Gate Ventures, Darius Cheung, and Rakuten Ventures.
SimilarWeb rank: #30 in Singapore with 1.2 million desktop visitors in September 2015
Lazada
Lazada is a major ecommerce presence in Southeast Asia. The site offers a wide range of items, including electronics, fashion, and home appliances. It even sells wines and spirits! Operating in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, the company has raised a blockbuster US$686 million in total disclosed funding so far.
Zalora
eBay.com.sg
Redmart
Rakuten Singapore
Shopback
Reebonz
HipVan
Honestbee
Luxola
Megafash
Smooch The Label
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