M1 and Rakuten Singapore to help merchants tap on online shopping growth

M1 and Rakuten Singapore to help merchants tap on online shopping growth
M1 corporate customers get a head start in e-commerce

SINGAPORE, 29 December 2014 – M1 Limited (M1) and Rakuten Singapore announced today a partnership to empower merchants with the tools and knowledge to tap on Singapore’s growing e-commerce market, which is expected to reach S$4.4 billion in 2015.

Through the partnership with Rakuten, the global pioneer of the B2B2C marketplace shopping model which aims to empower merchants and deliver the world’s most engaging shopping experience, M1 corporate customers will enjoy significantly lower barriers to e-commerce.
M1 corporate customers will receive a three-month subscription waiver when they launch their e-commerce business on the Rakuten Singapore Online Shopping marketplace. All merchants will also receive full access to Rakuten’s merchant-friendly e-commerce platform, and suppo rt from dedicated e-commerce consultants who will advise merchants on their online business strategy, implementation, sales and marketing, as well as lead and revenue generation.

“Online shopping is a big hit with Singapore consumers, and companies without an online retail presence risk losing out on this growing pie. Our partnership with Rakuten will enable our corporate customers to conveniently and cost-effectively create an online presence to leverage on the growing appetite for online shopping to further drive their business forward cost-effectively, without having to invest in complex technical or human resources,” said Mr Willis Sim, Director, Product Development and Corporate Sales, M1.

“Singapore is a very important market for us and we’re happy with how the business has grown since our launch in January this year. It is uniquely positioned to become a hub for e-commerce in the region, and local merchants can look forward to reaching new customers overseas through their online businesses,” said Shingo Okamoto, Head of E-Commerce, Rakuten Singapore. “This is our first corporate collaboration with a Singapore company, and we look forward to partnering with M1 to bring more local businesses online.”
M1’s mobile customers can also look forward to attractive Rakuten perks in the coming months. Rakuten Singapore has seen its customer base grow more than 10 times since its soft launch in December 2013, with order volume increasing 50 percent month on month. The platform’s popularity amongst mobile users is also on the rise with over 35 percent of site traffic and 30 percent of sales from mobile devices as at Q3 2014.