My favorite app

E-commerce (EC) is the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet. 
Used interchangeably with e-business
Also known as e-tailing for online retail selling. Or simply put, blog shops and online stores.

I'm do not really fancy online shopping very much. There were a few times where I bought things online and what I received was not what I expected. *Heart ache cause it felt like a waste of $$*
Nevertheless, I see myself wandering into some online stores at times, and clicking the 'SALE' section happily hahaha! Not that I would necessarily buy anything, but it is pleasing to the eye! Sounds like an addicted shopaholic, no?

So anyway, I would like to share with you a local e-commerce businesses which I feel is really really good. In some way, this inspires me to set up my own business too. It tells me that it is possible to grow a small idea into something that thrives across the entire nation! Hehe! :)

AND LETS WELCOME...............
Carousell, founded in May 2012
An app I use pretty often and falls into a more specific category: Mobile e-commerce
Carousell is amazing because it is a platform for Anyone to sell &/or buy almost Anything & Everything legal online to/from Anyone else. HAHAHA!
You could look for your item via a Search function or via categories such as 'For Her' and 'Vintage'.
You also get to monitor any activities related to your items listed! :)
Here's a sneak peak!!

I was introduced to this app by a friend, and since then I got really hooked onto it. Hooked on not just because it is addictive, it seriously works!!! I sell some of my new and second hand apparels and accessories via this channel and buyers who are interested in my items could simply 'Chat me'.
In case you would like to visit my shop, search 'pzt' in the User Search tab! :P
Sellers/Buyers also do trading and negotiating, and all these are within reach of your mobile phone. Quoting from Carousell's official website, "Whenever you open the Carousell app, you'll probably find some stuff you need, and stuff you didn't know you needed."

Here's an interview with the founders! :D

Unlike other e-commerce like Ebay and Qoo10, Carousell does not collect any form of commission or registration fee despite being a a mobile C2C marketplace! :D
It is absolutely free for users! :D Woots!!! hehe! 
So I assume that they profit from advertisements and sponsorships! :) 
For example, at the Activity page, there is often an advertisement about the latest flea markets in town by ForFleaSake (FFS). Perhaps cause Carousell functions like a 'Digital flea market', it does have some sort of common interest with FFS. Both are outlets for individuals who wanna sell their secondhand items and who have a liking for knick knacks and cheap clothes! haha! :) 

Putting aside my baseless assumptions, Carousell recently managed to "raise about 800K seed funding by Rakuten, with follow-on investiments by Golden Gate Ventures, 500 Startups, and a few other angel investors such as Danny Oei Wirianto and Darius Cheung" (quoted from Tech In Asia).
It even intends to expand into the Malaysian and Indonesian market!! :D HEHE!

On average, a Carousell user would open the app about 10 times a day and spend about 25 minutes on it daily. In comparison, a Facebook user opens the app 14 times a day and uses it for 30 minutes daily. To date, the community has created a million listings on the Carousell marketplace, and over 20% of that ends up getting purchased. - Jacky, Vulcon Post

Personally, I really like it :)
Other than some irresponsible buyers/sellers, it is a crazy virtual marketplace to sell your stuffs!! :D Totally free!! :D So if you have something stagnating at the corner of your room, take a picture of it and list it on Carousell! It only take 30 seconds!~

Baiiii!~