Many businesses across the Blue Pacific have shifted towards some form of ecommerce over the course of the COVID-19 crisis. Recent findings published in the Pacific Business Monitor 2021 Report indicated that nearly one-third of Pacific businesses had pivoted to ecommerce in the last year. One such business is Bulk Shop in the Solomon Islands, a local grocery store that is paving the way forward with its recently launched digital marketplace platform, Bulk Shop Online.
Through the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bulk Shop’s ecommerce initiative arose following the onset of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, as businesses in the region were forced to find ways to adapt to an everchanging business landscape. Bulk Shop’s Business Development Manager, Sandra Constantine, says the pandemic acted as a catalyst towards the shift in Bulk Shop’s approach to doing business.
“In 2020, when the COVID-19 crisis broke out, we looked for a solution that would allow our customers to be able to order online. With 85 per cent of the Solomon Islands’ population located in rural areas, we also wanted to find a way to provide that rural community with a better service.”
The Bulk Shop online store has been built with the aim of creating equitable access to essential goods and allowing supplies to be ordered and delivered to individuals anywhere across the country. In the development of the online shop, Bulk Shop had to first address the challenge of limited payment gateway options.
“We have found one of the biggest challenges is that Solomon Islands doesn’t have an electronic payment mechanism. We have had to work around this by allowing for payment by cash on delivery, or payment by card when picked up at the store. That said, we do believe this is changing. Within Solomon Islands there has been a distinct shift towards digitisation by both consumers and businesses alike, which is immensely pleasing to see.”
Ecommerce is one of five priorities in the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy (PAfTS) 2020-2025, and its potential to narrow distances and reduce trade costs while promoting diversification of Pacific economies, has been noted by policymakers. As countries, development agencies and donor partners join forces to address recognised challenges and improve digital-trade readiness in the Pacific, PTI Australia stands with them, actively supporting businesses across the Pacific through its digital initiatives such as the Social Media for e-Business development program, currently in its second year of running.
Caleb Jarvis, PTI Australia’s Trade and Investment Commissioner, said the course and other similar programs within PTI Australia’s digital upskilling portfolio provide another step towards closing the digital divide across the Blue Pacific.
“Businesses worldwide are going through a shift and the digital revolution is officially upon us. Ecommerce has been central to retail frameworks for years and as internet access and uptake rapidly increase globally, the number of digital consumers will continue to rise. PTI Australia remains dedicated to bridging the digital divide within the Pacific, ensuring that ecommerce and digital trade are as accessible as possible for Pacific operators.”
As part of the 2021 Social Media for E-Business cohort, Sandra Constantine said the training had provided practical tips, helping Bulk Shop to rapidly expand its online presence.
“I learned so much! Heather Porter was an amazing instructor who taught an incredibly informative course. I took away so much from it, including more than 20 pages of notes, which I am always referring to. I am currently working on an annual social media calendar, incorporating the content pillars that I learned about. I am so grateful for the course and hope to do more in the future.”
Learn more about Bulk Shop here.
If you would like to find out more about the PTI Australia’s digital programs currently available, please contact PTI Australia’s Communications Manager, Matisse Walkden-Brown, at matisse@pacifictradeinvest.com.
