Technology company Star Telecom Alliance Resources Inc. (STAR, Inc.), makers of Filipino mobile phone brand Starmobile, has forged a partnership with convenience store chain 7-Eleven to introduce an innovative e-commerce business model that aims to make online shopping easier for consumers nationwide.
This partnership will allow customers to order PLAY Lite and PLAY Five through 7-Eleven’s multi-channel CLIQQ store, found on Google Play and the Apple App Store, as well as electronic kiosks and catalogs in-stores.
Once they have confirmed their orders, they can pick-up their orders the following day. Customers can opt to pay for them digitally through any of CLIQQ’s platforms or in-person through 7-Eleven counters, before or after they pick-up their chosen phones, using cash or credit card.
“This e-commerce model that gives customers a variety of flexible discovery, payment, and pick-up options first rolled out in 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan. It has proven so successful that 35% of all e-commerce packages in the country now go through 7-Eleven branches, eventually helping make Taiwan the world’s most developed e-commerce market, with 18% share of total retail,” said Dan Marogy of 7-Eleven Philippines. “We aim to pilot this program together with Starmobile in selected Metro Manila stores starting April 24.”
“This partnership with 7-Eleven supports our mission to bring our various devices even closer to more Filipinos. Not only are we making the latest mobile technologies more accessible to Filipinos in terms of price points, we are also making them accessible in terms of ordering, payment, and availability venues,” said STAR, Inc. Product Development Head Michael Chen.
In addition to giving customers more options to purchase their favorite Starmobile phones, this e-commerce model also aims to address two key realities facing the e-commerce industry in the country today – small retail baskets and expensive fulfillment logistics.
75 percent of offline retail transactions in the Philippines cost PHP 600 and below. However, online vendors can spend up to an average of PHP 150 in fulfilling these orders, with expenses going even higher when returns and failed deliveries are factored in. This eats into their margins and discourages them from investing further in their e-commerce channels.
“We are optimistic about this model as this leverages 7-Eleven’s logistics operations – one of the most efficient in the country – and remove the last-mile expense and costs associated with running an e-commerce warehouse by using our stores as pick up locations,” said Marogy. “In addition, this also reduces failed deliveries by giving customers an incentive to prepay in-store.”
“As we apply this to the local market and learn about Filipinos’ reception to the model, we hope to eventually expand our product offering and store availability,” said Chen. “The more it becomes cost-effective for us, the more we will be able to bring down price points and make our devices even more affordable for our customers.”
This venture builds on 7-Eleven’s retail partnership with STAR, Inc. which began in 2014, when the convenience store started carrying Starmobile devices in their stores.
Five Awesome Years
Established in 2011, Starmobile is the mobile device division of Star Telecom Alliance Resources, Inc. (STAR, Inc.). It was founded by telco industry experts with extensive experience in retail and product development.
Since it first offered Android devices, Starmobile has officially become the winningest Philippine smartphone brand with a slew of innovation awards from reputable media outfits. The company’s flagship KNIGHT series has won top awards since 2013—a feat that has not been replicated by any local device company.
Learn more about Starmobile and its line of smartphones and tablets by visiting www.starmobile.com.ph or log on to facebook.com/starmobilephones.