HCM CITY — “Shop whatever, whenever, from wherever, and don’t forget to click on the great deals that we offer" is the ad on Facebook from a fashion shop in HCM City. 

Online shopping has become increasingly popular as many people are working at home these days.

“Fashion shops offer great deals and free shipping to attract customers and keep their businesses from losing sales,” said Nguyễn Thị Oanh, owner of Thái An Fashion Shop in District 3.

Oanh’s shop offers ready-to-wear clothes for men and women. Her Vietnamese products come from small garment factories in districts 5 and Tân Bình.

Oanh also offers clothes from China, Thailand and Korea which are supplied by her partners who work in importing.

“Because the impact of the virus, I have no more imported products. They sold out. Vietnamese clothes are still offered. To increase my sales, I am offering good deals for customers,” said Oanh.

Her products are VNĐ500,000 (US$18) for a long dress and VNĐ1.7million ($50) for a  jeans jacket. 

Oanh charges VNĐ25,000-30,000 ($1-$1.2) shipping fee for each order depending on the location of customers. “I offer free shipping for any order worth over VNĐ1 million ($40),” she said.

She introduces her products on Facebook, Instagram and Zalo, and offers shipping provided by xe ôm drivers and delivery apps.

“My shop’s Facebook has 150 friends and more than 1,000 followers. I receive about 15 online orders a day, a fall of 60 per cent compared to the time before the COVID-19 outbreak, but the number encourages me to continue my business,” said Oanh, who has 11 years of experience in the industry.

“I know that many fashion shops, including stalls in wholesale traditional markets, have no customers this time,” she added.

Not only Thái An Fashion Shop, many garment shops have offered great promotions and free delivery to attract customers.

ANNA HOUSE, a fashion shop on Võ Văn Tần Street, began offering Vietnamese-made and luxury clothes and accessories for women aged between 25 and 45 years old via online shopping service in February.

 "We have two shops and they are closed due to the virus. Our online service meets the demand of our regular customers who love fashion,” said a representative of the shop.

“However, our great promotion, 50-70 per cent off, is a good way to lure customer spending.”

Vũ Vân Giang, a sales executive manager at the Japan-based Marubeni Corporation in Việt Nam, said: ”I am staying home for work because of the spread of the virus. Online shopping entertains me.”  

“Spending for a beautiful dress or a pair of high-heel shoes at a discount of 70 per cent makes women happier,” she said.

Giang goes shopping twice a week. She also likes window shopping. She now has turned to online shopping and feels comfortable.

“I think the virus cannot stop our shopping hobby,” she said.

Last weekend, Giang bought a dress at VNĐ499,000 ($18) offered by ANNA HOUSE after learning that VNĐ10,000 ($0.4) from her order would be used to help doctors and health workers in the fight against the virus.

Online shopping has grown rapidly in recent years. Many Vietnamese fashion brand names and shops have followed the trend. However, small shops have not paid enough attention. They have a number of regular customers who enjoy traditional shopping.

The COVID-19 outbreak, however, has caused them to change to survive.

“I will develop my online shopping and delivery service after the virus ends," said Oanh. — VNS