While hunting for items at malls and marketplaces has become a safety hazard, innovative vendors in Beijing have found a new way to sell their products – through virtual markets. Instead of meeting in person, shoppers and vendors are added to a WeChat group, sharing info about products and QR codes for purchasing. Some virtual markets include schedules so that specific vendors ‘drop’ their product info and photos at a certain time, thus allowing shoppers time to absorb and browse, while others offer special discounts and flash sales only available to those in the group.
Thanks to this clever system, baby products, local crafts, designer clothes, artisan goods, collectibles, trinkets, are all available for purchase at your fingertips, all thanks to the many business-minded, inspirational individuals who share a love for creation, connection, and bridging passion projects. Together, they’ve not only fed our craving to shop but also filled in some of the gaps that the coronavirus has created in our lives.
Without further ado, let us hear what they have to say:
A fun necklace goes a long way
Rumble in the Jumble
Rumble in the Jumble is a monthly pop-up bazaar that usually happens at different locations throughout Beijing. In normal times, it often occurs outside, or in bars because, as founder Charlotte White puts it, “there’s nothing that makes us happier than having a nice cocktail while we browse vintage items and hand-crafted products made by some of the most awesome and creative people in Beijing!”
Rumble welcomes vendors of all kinds, but have a special enthusiasm for small businesses and artisans who are just getting started. When White realized the huge toll that the COVID-19 was taking on the creative community, she decided to start the series of Virtual Bazaars. “The first one, in May, was bigger and more popular than we could ever have imagined. Since then, there has been so much activity around the virtual markets that we couldn’t have stopped even if we wanted to!”
White is now gearing up for the Virtual Rumble #4, which will be taking place on Jul 25.
Request to join via WeChat ID: CharLouise
Throwback to the good old days of actual markets
FLASH Sales (Maker’s Market)
Miranda Mullett, the designer behind To Float or Fly, an eco-friendly, hand-made fashion brand, decided to launch the FLASH Sales Maker’s Market series back in April as a way to help fellow designers move inventory during the uncertain time, inspired by a playful threat from her boyfriend. “During the lockdown, we were organizing, and my boyfriend threatened to charge my bags – collections from years ago – rent if I didn’t do anything about them.” Mullett explains “Having all of this stored inventory is rather wasteful if you think about it, especially since my brand is ‘eco-friendly.’ So, I launched our first digital sample sale on WeChat. With 11 other designers, we were able to create a network of over 700 people across two groups. Each designer had a one-hour time slot to share product information across two days. I am happy to say I homed a large portion of my bags!”
A wide range of products are available in the Flash sale groups, including eco-friendly soap berries like these
Following the first successful market, the themed sales have continued with events ranging from fashion, home, food, and health & beauty. “The brands we partner with are all local, so it’s a great way to support local businesses and brands. I was also pleasantly surprised to find all the vendors from our last event were female entrepreneurs.”
Their next flash fashion sample sale is set for Jul 25-26, to be followed by another food flash sale is on Aug 8-9.
Request to join via WeChat ID: mirandamullett
Little Ones Market
The COVID-19 presented enormous challenges to the childcare industry at large, and for Sonia Wong, founder of all-natural, fresh baby food delivery brand Little Ones it was no different. Even worse, perhaps, as Little Ones was only founded January just before the crisis really took off. “Needless to say, it’s been a rocky start” says Wong “It was difficult to drive the business forward with so little certainty at hand. Today we count ourselves lucky – we also know of many other childcare businesses that are fighting and marching onwards day by day.”
Down but not out, Wong and her team decided to start the first Little Ones Market to energize the community with something new, fun, and exciting. “We wanted to create an online community where parents could still interact with their favorite brands from afar and discover new ones that embody the same values.”
The Little Ones Market offers all things natural, wholesome, and healthy for new parents and little ones between 0 and 3. For each market, Wong and her team handpick a selection of high quality local and international brands and services, ranging from food, skincare, home care, clothing, health care, early education, and entertainment. The markets also include one-day-only special discounts: everything a parent and infant could need.
Request to join via WeChat ID: S0niaw
All three virtual marketplaces will be updating shortly with future dates. To join the group chats, simply send a request to add their WeChat ID’s, and they’ll add you in. Happy shopping, I’ll see you there!
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Images: Yura Fresh (via Unsplash), courtesy of event organizers
