Win $80K Advertising Grants For Your (SME) Business In This Elevator Pitch Competition

If you only have 1 minute, how would you convince someone next to you in an elevator to invest in your business? Share your pitch with us and you could win $80,000 in advertising grants organised by 99%SME*.

The Elevator Pitch

  1. Step 1: Similar to business, time is money. In 50 words, tell us why your business deserves to win the $80,000 advertising credits from 99%SME. In other words, make your pitch short and sweet.
  2. Step 2: Find something red that’s associated with your business and take a picture with it. It could be you holding something red that you are selling on our platform, or simply you decked in your lucky red shirt/dress hoping that you will be one of the lucky 3 submissions!
  3. Step 3: You are almost done. Simply post the picture with your pitch and post it on your Facebook account with the hashtag #99sme80kgrant. Lastly, don’t forget to set your post to public so that our judges can verify!

It’s really so simple. Here’s an example of how a picture can look like:

.

$80,000 Advertising Grants

The top 3 submissions will walk away with $80,000 of advertising grants from 99%SME, giving your business a leg up during this period. It includes the rare opportunity to work with professionals from Mediacorp to design the best marketing campaign for your business needs. For instance, it could be a tactical plan to boost product sales during this trying COVID-19 situation. Or it could be a targeted marketing pitch to increase your brand awareness so that it stands out amongst its competitors. With such an opportune marketing grant, you should really act first because the window is narrowing.

Contest Ends 20 March 2020, 2359H

Winners will be based on the following judging criteria, with an equal 50% weightage place on each factor:

  • Best submissions nominated by our panel of judges
  • Highest number of ‘likes’ on the Facebook post

Hurry and make sure you join the contest before 20 March 2020, 2359H! The 3 winners will have to be registered as 99%SME sellers to claim the advertising credits. For more information, please visit 99sme.sg/contest

*99%SME is co-founded by Singtel and DBS, with Mediacorp being its official media partner

 

Read More...

5 Local Brands You Never Knew Were Online

Think your neighbourhood mom and pop stalls are still setting up shop the old-fashioned way? You may be pleasantly surprised to find out that many of your friendly neighbourhood stores have already gone digital.

That’s right, many small and medium businesses have an online presence and are selling their products on 99%SME, a dedicated eMarketplace for SMEs.

Here are 5 local brands you probably never knew were online:

1.      Thye Shan Medical Hall

Thye Shan Medical Hall (泰山药行) is a well-established brand of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products and services. With more than 60 years of history, the first Thye San outlet was opened in Chinatown in 1955 by Mr Chan Chak Poey.

Rather than make a trip down to one of their three retail outlets, you can buy premium bird’s nest, abalone, tonics and powder blends from their online store.

Visit their online store here: https://www.99sme.sg/thye-shan-medical-hall-pte-ltd/

2.      Yikowei

Established in 1983, Yikowei (一口味) has been serving up homemade traditional Chinese pastries lovingly made with the best ingredients. Get their traditional pineapple tarts freshly baked from the oven and delivered to your doorstep.

Visit their online store here: https://www.99sme.sg/yikowei/

3.      Nam Shiang & Co

Established in 1942, Nam Shiang & Co has grown to become a leading exporter and distributor of housewares in East Asia. They carry a wide range of quality household products and housewares from established brands all over the world, catering to individual home users, F&B businesses, and other corporations.

Visit their online store here: https://www.99sme.sg/stores/nam-shiang-and-co./

4.      Coffeehock

Coffeehock has established itself as a household name in local coffee and tea manufacturing, ever since it started its business in 1997. Known for its great taste and quality, you can find Coffeehock products being retailed in local supermarkets, convenience stores and minimarts.

Craving for a taste of local kopi or teh from the coffeeshop? You can now easily purchase Coffeehock coffee and tea beverages, such as the Signature Coffeehock Coffee-O Kosong, 2898 Coffee Powder and 2 in 1 Teh-O Ceylon teabag from its online store.

Visit their online store here: https://www.99sme.sg/coffeehock/

5.      Fu Wah Department Store

Having been in Bedok for the past 30 years, Fu Wah Department Store is a well-known household name in the neighbourhood. Like a typical neighbourhood mama shop, the store sells anything and everything that you can think of, ranging from cosmetics, beauty, hair, fragrance, healthcare, to slimming products.

Visit their online store here: https://www.99sme.sg/fu-wah-department-store/

99%SME for Small and Medium Businesses

Are you a local Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) like some of the businesses featured above? Jump on the bandwagon now and reach a wider audience effortlessly by selling online with 99%SME. 99%SME is a campaign started by DBS and Singtel in 2015 to help small and medium businesses to go digital. It has since gained tremendous traction and helping Singapore SMEs go places.

Here are some of the fantastic benefits of joining 99%SME:

Benefits of Going Digital With 99%SME

Get started effortlessly with online sales

99%SME is a comprehensive ecommerce platform that allows you to get started with selling online in 3 easy steps. All you have to do is to register for an account, upload your products, select your payment and shipping options, and you are set!

Reach a wider audience with the 99%SME platform

With a common platform to showcase products and services, customers browsing through the eMarketplace for great deals can discover your business. Customers can also use the location-based feature to search for SMEs near them, making your business discoverable to people around you.

Get 90% subsidy and extensive support

If you are ready to bring your business further into the online space, you can get 90% subsidy when you hire a digital professional matched to your business. As a 99%SME participant, you will also get to be invited to free training and seminars offered by DBS Academy and various partners.

99%SME is completely free to join

99%SME is completely free to join – there are no strings attached!

Join as a seller on 99%SME now!

Read More...

5 Deals You Never Knew Existed

If you compare extensively across different websites to search for the best bargains or are not afraid to ask the auntie at your local mom and pop shop for a discount, this post is totally for you. For those who have always been too shy to haggle for discounts, this article will benefit you even more. Introducing 99%SME, a dedicated eMarketplace where our local small and medium businesses (SMEs) offer special deals that promise fantastic savings. Without further ado, here are 5 deals you never knew existed.

1. Salted Egg Fish Skin from Crusty’s Singapore

NOW $6.00 (U.P. $8.50) Save 29%!

2. Pineapple Tart Cushion Food Plush from Nom & Co

NOW $27.90 (U.P. $34.90) Save 20%!

3. Natural Felted Soap from Simply for Love

NOW $9.90 (U.P. $15) Save 34%!

4. Baseus Wireless Portable Power Bank from GXM Pte Ltd

NOW $19.90 (U.P. $29.90) Save 33%!

5. Pearl Boba Milk Tea Ambient Light from Toy Galleria

NOW $23.92 (U.P. $29.90) Save 20%

99%SME for Small and Medium Businesses

Are you an SME with amazing deals and products like some of the businesses featured above?

Don’t let your deals go unnoticed anymore! Jump on the bandwagon now and reach a wider audience effortlessly by selling online with 99%SME. 99%SME is a campaign started by DBS and Singtel in 2015 to help small and medium businesses to go digital. It has since gained tremendous traction and helping Singapore SME go places. The fantastic news for you is that 99%SME is totally free to join and advertise!

Getting Started on 99%SME – 3 Steps is All It Takes

To get started on creating your online store that comes with your own branding, all it takes it just 3 easy steps. Simply follow this step-by-step instruction and you are on your way.

  1. Enter your business details
  2. Upload your products
  3. Select payment and shipping options

Selling online is as easy as 1-2-3.

Click here to join as a seller on 99%SME now!

 

Read More...

Guide on Opening a Small Business in Singapore

Singapore has many aces down its sleeve as a business location in Asia and investors are turning their attention to this tropical global financial center. Getting started in Singapore does not mean that your new business needs to be a large corporation with many employees. You can open a small business in Singapore and enjoy all that the city has to offer in terms of business location, trading environment, and a diverse economy.

We are looking at the most important aspects to consider when starting a small company in Singapore and the taxation and incorporation must-do’s for first-time investors.

Starting a business in Singapore is easy

Singapore has a strategic location in Asia and many international companies operate their business from here. The World Bank ranked the city as one of the easiest places to do business in the world, an attribute that comes naturally to Singapore since the company incorporation requirements are very straightforward and investors are not burdened by overwhelming formalities.

The process of setting up a company in Singapore includes the following steps:

  • picking the right type of company and choosing the right name;
  • filing the company’s documents with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore;
  • choosing your business location and hiring employees.

Small businesses in Singapore can take the form of a sole proprietorship, partnership or private limited liability company. Taxation requirements apply to all types of companies. Small businesses will need to pay the corporate income tax but a partial exemption applies for the first SGD 300,000 of chargeable income.

Asia is a market with many business opportunities for foreign investors. Top locations include Singapore but also Hong Kong. If you would like to know how to start a company in Hong Kong and how this is different from the process in Singapore, you can talk to a company formation expert. In case you would like to expand your business in Thailand and need to obtain a Thai long stay visa it is advisable to contact a team of local lawyers.

Small business ideas in Singapore

Singapore does not disappoint in terms of business and investment opportunities. The city has a diverse economy and skilled entrepreneurs will find it very easy to start their own business and quickly form their own client lists.

Some ideas for small businesses include event planning, food services (a fast food or even home-based bakeries), independent accountant or translator or business consultant for those who have already acquired experience and are ready to coach on others. Small companies in Singapore can provide a myriad of necessary services for day-to-day life. You could consider opening a company offering plumbing services in Singapore or opening a company that offers cleaning services, a laundry business or dry cleaners.

Starting a new business is a big step. Having the right business environment to set up a new company, in a city like Singapore, is just as important as the entrepreneurial drive itself. Young entrepreneurs and those who are just starting their small business can find out more about starting a business in Singapore by talking to a company incorporation expert.

Read More...