Taobao organises first Raya sale in Malaysia

Source: Taobao Malaysia Instagram page. Duit Raya is up for grabs on Wednesdays in March.

Taobao Malaysia is ushering in its first-ever sales campaign dedicated to the Ramadhan and Raya season. Running throughout March, the month-long campaign features promotions, daily free shipping vouchers, and curated festive essentials.

Following the successful introduction of its English interface in September last year, Taobao Malaysia continues its commitment to making the platform more accessible to local users with tailored shopping solutions and promotions via the Raya campaign.

Jess Lew, Country Head of Taobao Malaysia said: "We are thrilled to celebrate one of our country's biggest festive moments together with our first-ever Raya campaign. We have prepared an abundance of promotions to make it easier and more rewarding for our customers to shop for their festive needs. With the successful implementation of the English interface, we can further enhance the shopping experience, ensuring that everyone can easily access the Taobao platform and shop effortlessly."

The Last Call Raya Sale will be held from 23 to 31 March.

On top of these shoppers have the chance to grab a limited-time offer, and an RMB35 voucher (equivalent to RM21) to enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend required during this promotion period. For first-time Taobao shoppers, deals for as low as RMB1 (equivalent to RM0.62) are up for grabs. 

Taobao Malaysia is also introducing the Spend & Win Duit Raya promotion. Shoppers stand a chance to win up to RMB50 (equivalent to RM30) in duit Raya every Wednesday in March at 12 pm when they make a purchase, with 100 winners per day. The duit Raya will be in the form of a cashback amount, and equivalent to the amount shoppers spend, capped at RMB50 (equivalent to RM30).

"We hope to build a more holistic shopping environment with the promise of delivering our biggest promotion in Malaysia ever. We believe Malaysians will be able to save more and enjoy more this festive season," said Lew.

Explore

The Taobao app is available to download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. 

Watch the associated video at https://www.tiktok.com/@taobao.malaysia/video/7478181353075313927

*Platform rules will prevail over the specific promotion details.

Sharjah Media City, Smartt. Studio team up to strengthen e-commerce in MENA

Source: Smartt. Studio. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalising the partnership was signed by HE Shihab Alhammadi, Managing Director of Shams, and Kartik Jobanputra, Founder & CEO of Smartt. Studio in the presence of HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City 'Shams'. Jobanputra (left), HE Alhammadi (right), with Dr Al Midfa between them.

Sharjah Media City (Shams) and Smartt. Studio have partnered to strengthen the e-commerce space in the MENA region.

Both parties will help global conglomerates and retailers streamline their online expansion strategies by offering a seamless one-stop-shop to meet their e-commerce needs, with timelines to go live in three weeks. Shams and Smartt. Studio further plan joint targeted marketing initiatives to generate interest among global retailers, conglomerates, and e-commerce platforms in the MENA region.

Businesses within the Shams community will now be able to elevate their online presence, amplify revenue streams and expand their customer base exponentially, the two companies said. 

Smartt. Studio's photographers will use cutting-edge technology to showcase clients' products, for example. The images will seamlessly integrate into online retailers' platforms through Smartt. Studio's AI-driven, tailor-made content management system. 

"This partnership perfectly aligns with our vision to establish the MENA region as a global leader in online commerce," said HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City 'Shams'.

"By uniting with Smartt. Studio, we can effectively empower businesses to flourish in an exceedingly competitive market with our goal being to drive sustained economic growth and foster innovation throughout the region," said HE Shihab Alhammadi, MD, Sharjah Media City 'Shams'.

"The success of global conglomerates and retailers in the online marketplace lies in presenting their products using unique ideas. We are excited to collaborate with the Sharjah Media City and look forward to supporting conglomerates and retailers seeking online dominance through our streamlined one-stop-shop approach," said Kartik Jobanputra, Founder & CEO of Smartt. Studio.

One Kampong Gelam, Lazada Singapore partner ahead of Ramadhan

Source: Lazada. From left: Chairman of One Kampong Gelam Zaki Maarof, Singapore Minister of State and National Development, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, and Lazada Singapore CEO Loh Wee Lee. Minister Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim spoke of the enhancement of the area during the Ministry of National Development’s budget debate on 8 March.

Over 200 businesses and merchants in the Kampong Gelam area of Singapore will benefit from the e-commerce boom as One Kampong Gelam (OKG) has partnered Lazada Singapore to drive digitalisation and support businesses in the area to go digital. OKG is the association set up to establish Kampong Gelam as a vibrant cultural district.

Shops in the area, from food and beverage (F&B) and retail, will benefit from joining Lazada’s marketplace. Lazada's Deals Nearby feature, for example, introduces digital vouchers for shoppers that can be used to buy from and redeem at stores in the precinct. Deals Nearby will also allow shoppers in the Kampong Gelam vicinity to see offerings and digital deals from the F&B businesses on the app, adding a new geolocation discovery element for residents, and for visitors to explore. 

As part of this exclusive one-year partnership, Lazada will support these businesses with credits to jumpstart their digitalisation efforts, conduct seminars on e-commerce, including about livestreaming on LazLive, and running campaigns. Lazada Singapore will also be involved in various OKG events, including Ramadhan celebrations in April. Kampong Gelam will be the anchor partner for Lazada’s upcoming 4.4 campaign.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Hari Raya* celebrations in Singapore over the last two years. We have made the necessary adjustments to protect ourselves and the community even as we continue to enjoy the Ramadhan festivities. One Kampong Gelam has been working with businesses in the area to take a digital approach and tap on online platforms. 

"I am happy that OKG will be working with Lazada Singapore, who can support businesses in their digital transformation through their extensive capabilities and knowhow, and help maintain the rich heritage of the Malay/Muslim community of Kampong Gelam,” said Singapore Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

"We have seen the impact of the pandemic, and one of the ways to overcome this is through digital transformation, which not only benefits brands and businesses, but also the community. Through this one-year partnership with Lazada Singapore, we hope to tap onto their offerings, from logistics, to digital vouchers, to help struggling businesses boost their performance,” says Zaki Maarof, Chairman of OKG.

As part of the upcoming Ramadhan festival, Muslim businesses can also tap on the dedicated audience on the newly-introduced Halal Channel category on the platform that highlight Muslim and halal-related products.

RedMart, Singapore’s first fully-digital, and largest online grocer, will exclusively feature halal food products on the channel. The Halal Channel sits alongside other specialist channels dedicated to specific food products on RedMart, such as China Mart, India Mart, K Mart, and J Mart, which have been curated to better serve RedMart’s Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese audiences respectively. There are also plans to introduce a halal cooking show, as well as the distribution of groceries to those in need in the precinct.

The Halal Channel on Lazada will further list curated products and help businesses reach their intended customers through non-food related Muslim products, from fashion to home and living, including festive decorations, as well as the use of digital vouchers on Deals Nearby to support the F&B businesses in the area.

“Our dedication to helping businesses big and small succeed on e-commerce has revealed that a specialised approach to helping them can drive engagement and traffic, especially given the various cultures and communities unique to this country. 

"It’s important that products and food available on Lazada is reflective of our community, and our new Halal Channel was designed to support the Muslim and halal businesses and shoppers. We’re excited to work with the community of Kampong Gelam and heartened that we can play a small role and be a part of their Ramadhan festivities,” said Loh Wee Lee, Chief Executive of Lazada Singapore. 

Alan Lee, partner, CNES Shoemaker International, an artisanal shoe-making business, said: “We hope to reach another segment in the market. We understand that Lazada customers have different needs and with their support we want to tap onto their online-to-offline segment. I’m also keen to explore the digital vouchers and how it can help my business.”

*Eid.

Get a Lush fix at ZALORA Singapore

British beauty delicatessen Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has arrived on ZALORA.

The 23-year old pioneer of beauty products such as fizzing bath bombs, shower jellies, solid shampoo bars and solid toothpaste emphasises fresh ingredients like organic fruits and vegetables, and the highest-quality herbs, flowers, and essential oils. Twenty years ago, Lush created the first bath bomb, and have since sold millions of units, with an 18.5 million made in 2017 alone.

Lush products are available for every part of the body, from the Bath Bombs to Solid Shampoos, and Toothy Tabs to perfumes. Lush is also known for its stance on ethical issues, and commitment to minimising impact on the environment.

Lush uses 100% recycled plastic for its pots and bottles, plastic-free glitter, and is free of microbeads and mineral oils. Sixty-five percent of Lush products are self-preserving, and the ingredients are ethically sourced in support of fair trade and direct trade initiatives worldwide. The products carry use-by dates to ensure customers know when each product was made, and by whom.

The Lush assortment on ZALORA offers favourites such as Rose Jam Shower Gel, Big Sea Salt Shampoo, Sleepy Body Lotion, Boom Toothpaste Tabs and Creme De Menthe Mouthwash Tabs, at www.zalora.sg/lush-fresh-handmade-cosmetics from S$10 - S$129.

Source: Zalora.

All boxes are made of 100% recyclable cardboard. They come with a printed invoice and are sealed with paper-based stickers, and filled with Eco-Flo packing peanuts to cushion any impact. Eco-Flo peanuts are made from potato starch and biodegradable. The boxes will be labelled 'fragile' when carrying delicate products like Bath Bombs.

In celebration of this launch, Lush will be giving the first 100 customers a free Bar Of Soap valued at S$24, and all customers will receive a free travel-sized item while stocks last.

UAE residents ordering in bulk online

Sanadeeg.com is benefitting from a skew towards online ordering as consumers avoid congested spaces and long checkout lines, even as lockdown restrictions ease in the UAE.

The bulk online ordering platform delivered over 67 tons of essential consumables and household items to the UAE's residents through March and April 2020 as an estimated 9.8 million residents entered a period of social distancing and curfews in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

N95 face masks topped the list in delivery numbers as UAE residents began purchasing the masks even before they became mandated by law. Bulk 40-packs of 2-ply toilet rolls were the next most popular item, followed by dishwashing liquid, Dettol handwash, disinfecting wet wipes, kitchen cleaners and drinking water.

Source: Sanadeeg.com. A box of supplies.

"Sanadeeg.com encourages bulk orders, which means that we usually see an emphasis on household essentials that are difficult to carry, such as drinking water and dishwashing liquid. We did however see a surge of interest for products related to disinfecting and cleaning, which is to be expected given the Cov-2 outbreak," said Ali Sharif, CEO, Sanadeeg.com.

"I'm delighted that we were able to maintain a regular schedule of deliveries with no disruption to order processing despite a 135% surge in sales and a 170% increase in orders due to the pandemic. We scaled up to attend to our community's needs, ensuring that our customers would have a measure of certainty in these uncertain times."

Consumers in the country spend close to US$17 billion on food alone, according to Wamda Research Lab. KSA's population of 33 million spends US$54 billion, in contrast.

"Research shows that consumers in the region submit larger basket sizes as most households do a big shop every few weeks, with smaller shops for daily essentials. It's these big shops that Sanadeeg.com is helping our consumers with. Our value proposition is simply the best prices for the widest range of items, in bulk. Get your weekly shopping done in minutes, and delivered as promised, without the hassle of checkout tills, queuing while social distancing, car parks, and carrying heavy bags," Ali noted.

Moka sees F&B down, but delivery services grow during Ramadhan

Source: Moka.

Moka, a digital point-of-sale (POS) startup in Indonesia, has compared Ramadhan 2020 sales data against Ramadhan 2019.

The company found that daily business revenues in the food and beverage (F&B) sector were down more than 40% during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, with one out of every three F&B businesses in Indonesia suffering significant losses. However, revenue for delivery services were up by as much as 30%.

During Ramadhan in 2019, there had been up to a 67% rise in the number of food and beverage (F&B) outlets operating between 2 and 4 am. During these hours, consumers would tend to choose practical food for their suhoor (سحور, pre-dawn meal) and purchase up to five products during each transaction for group servings.

In the fashion retail industry, there had been up to a 50% revenue increase for Ramadhan 2019. The most popular items sold during Ramadhan would be tunics, hijabs and Islamic gowns (modesty clothing), which would see sales gradually decline after Ramadhan. Beauty services would instead enjoy higher revenues, by up to 54%, one month after Ramadhan. This shows that the public tends to seek beauty treatments once Ramadan concludes.

Although consumption patterns in Indonesia have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trends seen during Ramadhan 2019 cannot be entirely disregarded, said Moka. Moka Data Analyst Hutami Nadya said that one strategy that merits focus is online shopping.

To maximise shopping that makes use of delivery services, whether in the F&B as well as the service and retail industries, businesses can innovate by issuing special delivery menus that can be processed and cooked by the consumers themselves for suhoor and iftar (إفطار, breaking of the fast) with the family at home. This also applies in the retail and service industry, where businesses can introduce special packages for sale online.

"Businesses may take note of trends in society. For instance, for the purpose of cooking at home, F&B merchants are shifting to provide ready-to-cook food ingredients while providing the option of delivery services to support social distancing. Additionally, Ramadhan is the right moment to share with those who need more. We can start by adding the option of a menu to be donated to those in need. To record positive cashflow, merchants may also apply the pay-it-forward scheme for customers," she said.

Pay-it-forward is a prepayment scheme that allows customers to purchase product or service packages from a business that are delivered in the future. Businesses would usually offer price reductions in the form of coupons for customers. This scheme is expected to assist businesses to book positive cashflow for such purposes as rent, employee salaries, business capital installments, insurance, supplies of raw materials, repairs and other expenses.

Moka supports 40,000 merchants across 200 cities in Indonesia with an end-to-end solution that consists of POS, payments, loyalty, accounting, ingredient procurement, and business loans. The company's products include Moka Pay, Moka Fresh, Moka Capital, and Moka Connect to complement its POS services.

Indonesian SMEs to reach out globally via BukaGlobal

Indonesia-based Bukalapak has launched BukaGlobal, which connects the global market with more than 4 million Indonesian sellers, or pelapak. According to Bukalapak, it is the first Indonesian e-commerce platform to be available internationally, further advancing its mission to spearhead the digitalisation and internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia.

Fajrin Rasyid, Co-Founder and President of Bukalapak explains that BukaGlobal was designed to address logistics challenges in the region, such as high costs in postal and courier delivery*. "We want to break down barriers that hinder young and small entrepreneurs from competing on a global playing field, primarily on access, infrastructure, and connectivity. With BukaGlobal, Indonesian products are readily accessible by consumers anywhere in the world through a fast and reliable platform," said Rasyid during the launch.

Singapore is the first country that BukaGlobal is serving. Ngurah Swajaya, Ambassador of the Republic Indonesia to Singapore, explains, “The strong ties that has been established between Indonesia and Singapore, makes it the suitable market hub to introduce Indonesian products in the regional market field. This could be a proper strategy to advance the SMEs potential.”

According to a report by Bain & Company**, a huge middle class is rapidly emerging throughout developing Southeast Asia. Fifty million new consumers will join the ranks of the middle class in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam by 2022, contributing to the region’s US$300 billion in middle-class disposable income. The middle class will expand to include 350 million people and continue on its upward trajectory.

The Indonesian government is helping 8 million Indonesian SMEs to transform their business model. Rudiantara, Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Indonesia, stated in his remarks, “We feel that Bukalapak’s new initiative is aligned with the Indonesian government’s vision in both facilitating and accelerating export market expansion such as vocational programmes, the development of Internet infrastructure, along with business and entrepreneur workshops. We believe that when the collaboration happens between technology and traditional markets, progress will be seen and the path to lead the digital economy in Southeast Asia is clearer for Indonesia.”

Details:

BukaGlobal is currently available in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Brunei Darussalam, with more markets onboarded soon. At the moment, only qualified sellers in Jakarta and Tangerang, Indonesia are able to offer BukaGlobal as part of their service, with more sellers to be involved.

Consumers in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Brunei can order products with weights starting from 0.5 kg with delivery times of approximately six to 11 days depending on the destination.

*International Trade Centre, New Pathways to e‐Commerce: A Global MSME Competitiveness Survey, 2017. (PDF) 
 
**Bain & Company and Facebook IQ. Understanding Southeast Asia’s Emerging Middle Class. Bain. (PDF).

Zalora's Hari Raya 2019 collections are out

ZALORA, Asia’s online fashion destination, has unveiled the Hari Raya (Eid) collections from its own modest wear labels, ZALIA and LUBNA in the ZALORAYA campaign. Made for the style-savvy and available exclusively on ZALORA, the collections are themed after today’s trends and consist of elegant and versatile pieces for all seasons and occasions.

Inspired by the high-spirits and joy of youth, collection for spring-summer 2019 (S/S19) entices with an escape from the day-to-day while accentuating the signature flowy, modern twist of the traditional silhouette.

Source: ZALORA. New Eid collections for the company's own labels, ZALIA and LUBNA.

ZALIA 2019 collection, themed Reign of Titania

Reign of Titania is inspired by the beauty of the fairy queen, living in the mythical and whimsical forest. The collection is inspired by all the natural elements and life in the forest like the flowers and foliage that are translated into embroidery and prints. Regal elements are infused into the collections as a reflection of the high status of the fairy queen.

The ZALIA 2019 festive collection features an impressive 313 styles for women. It follows four main trends: Spring Romance, Prairie Dance, Golden Dawn, and Opulent Night. Spring Romance showcases romantic pieces revamped with elegance and opulence. The delicate becomes dramatic and whimsical with pastels, floral appliques and embellishments. Pretty silhouettes featuring layered sheers, florals that follow the form or accent a fit-and-flare shape are introduced.

Prairie Dance looks to a rustic country aesthetics and concepts for inspiration. It works with a neutral earthy palette for a less overwhelming feel. Delicate lace and embroideries that evokes the images of pressed flowers are key to this capsule.

Golden Dawn hinges on regal and opulent colours for the overtly indulgent and romantic mood. Antique and regal references underpin this capsule with a more dramatic take for Raya. Fabrics with encrusted sequins and faded gold jacquard spotlight the past.

Under Opulent Night, metallic surfaces are textured and embellished. Sequins are extravagantly applied. Foliage-inspired motives are infused into sequinned and jacquard fabrications.

LUBNA 2019 collection, themed Girl at Heart

LUBNA has crafted a new exciting capsule for its fourth festive collection. This includes an 80-piece men's and 393-piece women's collection. Introducing Lubna Curve this year, the plus-size collection features 85 pieces with sizes ranging from XXL to 5XL. Along with this, there are matching couple looks, Kebaya Labuh, asymmetrical drapes, and innerwear for nursing in 2019’s collection.

A palette of pastel tints, earthy shades, warm blues and deep corals are used. The collection is made with special fabrics that include sheens, sequins, waffle laces with embroidery, translucent payettes, pleats, 3D texture, organzas, shimmering chiffon pleats, openwork laces, soft laces, mixes of rayon, and poly mixes. It showcases details like drapes, ruffles, drawstrings, tie-knots, dainty floral prints, striped print, lace trimmings, and 3D embellishments.

Details:

Both the ZALIA and LUBNA collections are available now on ZALORA in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The ZALIA collection retails from S$17.90 to S$129.90, while the LUBNA collection retails from S$14.90 to S$109.90.

Shop the ZALIA and LUBNA 2019 festive collections online, on the desktop or mobile site, or via the mobile app.

Hashtag: #zaloraya2019

Appsflyer shares insights for Ramadhan marketing for 2019

- Shopping apps revenue growth changes considerably before, within and after Ramadhan

- Travel apps lead in revenue growth trends

- App purchases peak in the early hours of the morning and during lunch time

AppsFlyer, the mobile attribution and marketing analytics provider, has released its first-ever app market insights report around the month of Ramadhan.

Source: Appsflyer report cover.

According to AppsFlyer, mobile marketers must secure a better understanding of the context and activity for each time in the day, as well as periodic user behaviour unique to this period. This includes app usage habits, the frequency of social shares and aspirational festive purchases to plan when ad spends could potentially be most effective.

AppsFlyer's technology is found on 98% of the world's smartphones. The report analysed mobile app usage behaviour by consumers across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore between 2016 to 2018. The data covers a total of 220 million installs and 100 million purchases across apps in entertainment, finance, gaming, maps and navigation, shopping, social, travel, from the period before Ramadhan to two weeks after it ends.

Findings from the study include:

Indonesia leads in app install growth rates across verticals

While all three countries in the survey registered material increases in average installs per app in both 2017 and 2018, Indonesia generated an almost 20% year-over-year uplift in app installs for 2018. Besides the country’s strong economic growth in 2018, smartphone penetration has been steadily on the rise, growing from 24% in 2017 to 26% in 2018.

Shopping apps revenue growth changes considerably before, within and after Ramadhan

In 2017 and 2018, shopping apps saw growth in pre-Ramadhan week revenue, with growth rates of 76% and 55% respectively. We see sharp drops in this metric the week immediately following, displaying fluctuations from period start to end.

Travel apps lead in revenue growth trends

Travel apps register the most consistent Ramadhan period growth over the years. This vertical also displays the strongest revenue growth rate, together with social and messaging apps.

Shopping and casual gaming apps show the best retention rates

Advertisers from casual gaming and shopping apps hold the crown for highest non-organic user retention rates (3.6% and 3.8% respectively) during the Ramadhan period, with shopping apps also experiencing high retention rates for organic users (4.1%) at day 30. Ramadhan typically lasts 29 to 30 days, depending on when the new moon for the next month is sighted.

App purchases peak in the early hours of the morning and during lunch time

Shopping app purchases skyrocket during Ramadhan throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. This boost is particularly pronounced from midnight up until 5-6 am in the morning. The hours before the dawn prayer, in particular, see marked increases of up to 526% in shopping purchases in Indonesia. Also, this activity peaks at 45% higher than pre-Ramadhan periods in Indonesia in the lunchtime hours between 11am to 2pm.

Kioson IPO oversubscribed by over 10 times

Kioson Komersial Indonesia, the first online-to-offline (O2O) Indonesian e-commerce company, has officially listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) under the ticker code KIOS. It is the first startup to list on the IDX, the company said. Kioson services include digital services and payment point online bank (PPOB), financial services, and e-commerce services.

Kioson stock was set at Rp300 per share and managed to secure up to Rp45 billion in funds. During the public offering period, Kioson recorded an oversubscription more than 10 times of the total number of shares offered.

Kioson President Director Jasin Halim said the initial public offering (IPO) is significant for the Indonesian capital market, as for the first time, retail investors can place their funds in a technology startup. Jasin also added, "This IPO is part of our strategy to bridge the digital gap for the underserved market and boost the penetration of digital services to second tier cities in Indonesia."

The digital gap among Indonesia's population of 250 million people is wide. Based on 2015 Indonesian Ministry of Information and Communication data, only 8.7 million people actively shop online, from a total of 93.4 million Internet users. Jasin named three key obstacles preventing the underserved market from shopping online: payment; logistics; and trust towards e-commerce. "Kioson is an O2O platform that addresses those issues to make everyone transact online," said Jasin.

From the total funds raised through the IPO, as much as 78.95% will be used by Kioson to acquire PT Narindo Solusi Komunikasi. "This acquisition will strengthen our infrastructure through the assets owned by Narindo. Narindo that focuses on the e-voucher aggregator business will maintain the company's business from upstream, so we expect to support the Kioson bottom line," said Kioson Finance Director Setiawan Parikesit.

Kioson has signed up more than 19,000 kiosk partners within 384 cities in Indonesia as of September 2017, and aims to raise the number of kiosk partners to 30,000 by the end of 2017.

KinerjaPay facilitates qurban payments in Indonesia

KinerjaPay, a digital payment and e-commerce platform, has partnered three Indonesian charity institutions that support regional social welfare - Badan Amil Zakat Nasional (Baznas), Rumah Zakat and Dompet Dhuafa.

Edwin Ng, CEO of KinerjaPay said, "We are excited to launch this feature as we welcome Eid al Adha, the festival marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah. The Muslim community makes up approximately 87% of the Indonesian population, and by partnering with three of Indonesia's most reputable charity institutions, we have enabled our customers to make donations and participate in qurban directly through the KinerjaPay App."

Fitriansyah Agus, Head of the National Retail Division of Badan Amil Zakat Nasional (Baznas) stated, "Our partnership with KinerjaPay will facilitate users ability to contribute to Baznas and other organizations that service the neediest among us. I am hopeful that this convenience will motivate users to make donations, which all goes to help reduce poverty across the country."

Irvan Nugraha, Marketing Director of Rumah Zakat, commented, "We welcome the opportunity to work with others who have the same vision and mission as Rumah Zakat; supporting community empowerment programs in education, health, economic empowerment and environmental sustainability initiatives. I am optimistic that our relationship with KinerjaPay will attract more donors to our cause."

Dompet Dhuafa, is a non-profit institution that is also engaged in zakat*, infaq*, charity, and endowments. "The more institutions participating in the effort to raise awareness and funds, the easier it will be for Dompet Dhuafa to serve the community. We look forward to working with the team at KinerjaPay to accomplish those objectives," said Urip Budiarto, GM, Ziskur Mobilization at Dompet Dhuafa.

Ng concluded, "The ways that consumers use digital platforms to conduct financial transactions, such as banking and shopping, continues to evolve. KinerjaPay is always looking for ways to expand our traditional e-commerce services in order to best service the needs of our user base - for both consumers and affiliates. Our success has been reflected in the company's financial performance; KinerjaPay recorded a 40% increase in transactions in the first quarter of 2017 as compared to the last quarter of 2016."

Based in Indonesia, KinerjaPay has an omnichannel platform allowing users to pay credit card, utility, phone and healthcare insurance bills, or make direct transfers to anyone. KinerjaPay is also planning to launch other e-commerce verticals such as travel market, delivery services, and online gaming in the near future. The company's services are available through its mobile applications and on its website.

*Infaq (إنفاق) is expenditure to please God, without expectation of rewards or returns.

Zakat (زكاة‎‎) is an annual payment, obligatory for Muslims, whose amount is calculated on the value of selected assets. The money is used for specific charitable and religious purposes. 

11street kicks off Gila-Gila Raya sales

In the Ramadhan and Raya period of 2017, 11street predicts:

· A 50% increase in online sales on its platform;

· Malaysians will head online to shop for electronics, home gadgets and clothing apparels to prepare for Hari Raya;

· More Malaysians will purchase buka puasa e-vouchers online, and in preparation to balik kampung, buy more car services and road safety-related items.

11street, one of the largest online marketplaces in Malaysia, has revealed that in preparation for the Ramadhan and upcoming Raya (Eid) festival celebrations, more Malaysian consumers will explore buying new items online, such as e-vouchers and groceries, in addition to shopping online solely for items such as clothing and electronics.

Hoseok Kim, CEO, 11street says: “Malaysian shoppers keep surprising us. During the Ramadhan and Raya period from 2015 to 2016, we have experienced more than 2.5 times uplift in overall online sales. 11street projects that online sales will continue upward by at least 50% throughout the Ramadhan and Raya periods this year, thanks to our customers’ evolving shopping patterns.”

Malaysians will continue to shop for sought-after items online, such as electronics, home gadgets and clothing apparels as they prepare for Hari Raya, 11street said. According to 11street’s findings, there was a significant increase in the purchase of e-vouchers in 2016 as there are now more options in the category. Leading to that, the search for food and beverage e-vouchers surged to more than 1.2 million during Ramadhan last year.

Kim said: “This year, we expect consumers to purchase more of e-vouchers especially for buka puasa (iftar) buffets, encouraged by the fact that more five-star establishments and restaurants have hopped aboard 11street to offer their delectable spreads. We are constantly evolving to move faster than current online shopping trends, as you can see from our vast offerings. As we amplify our offerings and make online shopping more secure, we see consumers’ confidence in us improving, through the purchase of motorcycles on our platform!”

As the Hari Raya holiday period approaches, 11street also anticipates that Malaysians’ search for car services and road safety-related items to multiply rapidly as they prepare to balik kampung. Since its inception in 2015, 11street has witnessed at least a threefold increase in both searches and online sales for baby car seats and car maintenance packages.

The online marketplace notes that these trends are driven by the lower prices found online to combat rising cost of living, and also the convenience of online shopping coupled with the abundance in variety.

The observations were made in conjunction with the launch of 11street's new campaign. "It is endearing to live in multicultural Malaysia, as everybody celebrates all festivities here. 11street is excited to announce our latest campaign – Gila-Gila Raya – with a host of irresistible deals with shocking promotion discounts for every avid shopping shopper out there!”

On till 23 July, 11street's Gila Gila Raya campaign has promotion pages in English and Bahasa Malaysia. Irresistible deals on popular items, key brands and renowned ready-to-wear designer apparel start from RM1.

Throughout the campaign period, consumers can also enjoy credit cashback up to 22% for every purchase storewide, and instant shipping and free delivery for selected items. Last but not least, 11street’s Gila-Gila Raya campaign reaches a crescendo through partnerships with popular celebrity designers such as Remy Ishak, Amar Amran, MariBeli Butik; as well as consumer and lifestyle brands such as Firefly, F&N, L’Oreal, MamyPoko, Nestle, Unilever and Samsung.

“We are optimistic that Malaysians will continue to turn to 11street as they prepare for Hari Raya. Therefore, we are constantly cognisant of our consumers’ shopping pattern, so that we can create stronger promotions that resonate with their needs. After all, we want to make each of their shopping experience on 11street an enjoyable one, every time,” concluded Kim.

Source: 11street. 11street shows what Malaysians are really interested in for Ramadhan and Raya.

Interested?

Look out for the RM1 deals at 11am and 11pm.

posted from Bloggeroid

FashionValet falls back on tradition for Raya 2017

Source: FashionValet website. FashionValet's Raya imagery this year is reminiscent of hand-drawn artwork of kampung scenes in rural Malaysia. The Raya 2017 page is very popular.

FashionValet, Malaysia’s online fashion store, has unveiled a Raya looks for 2017 that revisit traditions and roots.

"This year, FashionValet travels back in time to the idyllic kampung way of life set in the late 1950s—with the heavy use of monochromatic illustrations—synonymous with the reality of kampung boy*, in the name of keeping traditions alive," the company says on its Raya 2017 page.

The e-marketplace offers ready-to-wear garments for women, accessories and handbags from the best of Malaysia’s home-grown brands and designers.

Source: FashionValet Raya 2017 page. A wide range of Raya clothing from different designers is on offer.

Interested?

Watch the behind-the-scenes video of FashionValet's TV commercial for Raya

Hashtag: #FVRAYA2017

*Literally boys from rural villages, as opposed to those from the city.

Aladdin Street celebrates Ramadhan and Raya

Source: Aladdin Street website. Banner for the dream trip draw at Aladdin Street.

Halal and premium quality e-marketplace Aladdin Street is celebrating Ramadhan and Raya (Eid) with several promotions.

Raya Specials are available till 2 July, and come with free shipping for all food and beverage (F&B) products. The marketplace has sections for F&B, beauty & health, home & living, fashion & accessories, mum & kids, lifestyle & sports, electronics, luxury and services.

Shoppers can also enjoy S$10 off with a minimum spend of S$100 with the promo code ASRaya10, if they are the first 1,000 to request the redemption over the promotion period ending 2 July.

Aladdin Street has also extended the opportunity to win a trip for two to Manchester in the UK with a spend of S$50, till 30 June. The company is the online marketplace partner of Manchester United for Singapore.

Interested?

Read the terms and conditions for the dream trip promotion

Aladdin Street has dedicated Singapore and Malaysia sites, as well as a global site. Dedicated sites for more countries are coming in 2017 and 2018.

Browse Andaaz Fashion's Eid collection

Source: Andaaz Fashion Eid collection pages. Lehengas. 

Indian online fashion marketplace Andaaz Fashion has launched its Eid collection for 2017.

The Eid collection for women include anarkalis, churidar suits, trouser suits, sarees, kurtis, lehengas as well as readymade dresses. Children's kurtas and salwar are also available. Men's kurta pajamas are also offered.

Size options for women range from XXS to 5XL and from S to 2XL for men.

Eid jewellery, in ethnic designs, has its own section. 

Andaaz Fashion aims to provide affordable, fashionable as well as comfortable clothing for everyday and special occasions. The designs are targeted at the pan-Indian consumer, and come in a wide range of styles to suit regional variations in fashions.

Interested?

Get an additional 10% off with the code EID10.

Request the Eid Catalogue 2017

ZAFUL offers COD payment option to Arabic-speaking countries

Source: ZAFUL website. Shoes offered by the site.

ZAFUL, an international online fashion retailer, is adding local payment options for Arabic-speaking customers. In the Arab nations, ZAFUL is offering cash on delivery (COD), a common payment method for the region.

"We have received a lot of good feedback from customers about how shopping can be made easier," ZAFUL Operations Director Sara Lau said. "Since we ship our items to all over the world, it's hard to know what works best in every country. So we appreciate the information from shoppers and try to accommodate them as best as we can.

"The COD payment method will be tried out in Arab countries. If we find it works well and provides convenience to our customers, we'll expand it to other countries."

ZAFUL has also updated e-certificate payment protocols and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) checkouts to make its payment system more secure. "We are always looking to enhance the shopping experience for our customers," said Lau.

Ramadhan represents uptick in e-commerce sales in SEA

+Online sales and website traffic start increasing three weeks before Ramadhan in Southeast Asia (SEA)

+E-commerce sales spiked by 110% during the third week of Ramadhan

+Shoppers spend less time browsing and shopping online during sunset

+Mobile continues to be a key driver for discovery and sales with an increase of 126% during Ramadhan

Source: Criteo infographic. Fashion sells best during Ramadhan.

Criteo, the performance marketing technology company, has released seasonal data to help e-commerce businesses better engage consumers during the festive season.

It revealed that online sales and traffic increased in the lead up to and during Ramadhan, but declined during Eid el-Fitr (Hari Raya), the holiday that marks the end of Ramadhan. Based on consumers’ online browsing and buying activity, the three weeks leading up to Ramadhan, and also the third week of Ramadhan represent the biggest opportunity for retailers to engage consumers when they are actively browsing and purchasing items for upcoming celebrations. During this period, there was an average of 67% uplift in online retail sales and 14% uplift in online travel sales.

Criteo’s data also revealed that Ramadhan traditions influence shoppers’ behaviour throughout the day. To engage with shoppers, retailers need to know when they are most active online. During the fasting period between sunrise and sunset, e-commerce transactions were lower at 71%, compared to 76% for the period prior to Ramadhan. However, after breaking fast, there is an increase in e-commerce sales to 29%, from 24% pre-Ramadhan, representing a timely opportunity for retailers to reach out to shoppers.

Understanding how and what shoppers are buying is also crucial. With 37% of onsite retail conversions happening on the mobile app, retailers need to be investing beyond just a mobile-friendly site to an intuitive app. Fashion-related items are the most popular during this period, followed by home and living products and electronics, toys and games.

“Ramadhan is an important festive season in this region. Rapidly rising disposable incomes, a growing appetite for modest fashion, halal products and services mean that retailers need to enlist smart solutions to engage shoppers across all touchpoints and deliver the most impactful content at every point in the customer journey. As shoppers spend time with their friends and families after sundown and on Eid, they are less likely to browse and shop online. Retailers must pick the right time of the week and time of day to increase their digital marketing efforts, so they can achieve an uptick in online transactions,” said Alban Villani, GM, Southeast Asia, Criteo.

Criteo analysed more than 8 million online transactions from 143 retailers based in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Other key findings from the report include:

+Website traffic and e-commerce sales increased from three weeks before Ramadhan and spiked during weeks three and four, with an increase of 110% and 77% respectively.

+During the start of Eid el-Fitr, there was a decline of 44% in online sales and 20% in website traffic. However, in the week post-Eid, online sales rebounded, increasing 35%.

+During weeks three and four of Ramadan, online mass merchants were the biggest growth driver – with an increase of 87% and 52% respectively.

+The cross-device journey was evident – 46% of shoppers were found to be viewing products across multiple devices, with one in four shoppers switching devices at least three times during their purchasing journey.

“In addition, retailers need to embrace omni-channel marketing – as we continue to see the rise of offline-to-online and online-to-offline (O2O) shopping habits. Our data shows that during the period of Ramadhan, shoppers are browsing in stores and purchasing online, and vice-versa. However, whichever way you look, mobile will still be the foundational building block and key driver in O2O retail. Half of the retail transactions in Southeast Asia are already taking place on mobile,” said Villani.

Ramadhan 2017 begins around May 25, 2017. The date varies in different countries depending on the sighting of the moon. 

Interested?

Download the infographic on Ramadhan 2016

posted from Bloggeroid

Aladdin Group launches AladdinStreet halal e-marketplace in Singapore

Source: Aladdin Group. Aladdin himself.

Aladdinstreet.com.sg, the world’s first premium-quality products and halal* e-marketplace, has been formally launched. Serving the B2B and B2C communities, the portal offers halal-certified products as well as premium-quality products that do not require halal certification.

Three months since its July 2016 announcement, Aladdinstreet.com.sg has shortlisted 200 merchants for its site and finalised agreements with close to 60 merchants. About half of these offer halal-friendly or halal-certified products. Owned by Muslims and non-Muslims, the businesses provide food, beverages, vitamins, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fashion and other products or services.

Co-founder of the Aladdin Group Dato’** Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie does not see AladdinStreet.com.sg competing against existing marketplaces, instead creating a completely new marketplace that is a milestone for trust in halal goods and services. "When I bought things online I realised I wasn't sure of the quality," he explained. "I worried if they were (genuine)."

Source: Aladdin Group. From left: Dato' Sri Desmond To, Dato' Dr Grace Kong, Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Dato’ Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie, and Dato' Wesley Ong.

“There has been a growing acceptance of the health benefits for halal products even in non-Muslim countries,” says Dr Al Masrie. “But manufacturers and producers of the halal industry can only meet 20% of this demand because there is a lack of reliable marketing platforms. In fact one of the biggest importers of halal products is actually Singapore, and given the country’s good track record in governance and high standards of halal compliance, Aladdinstreet.com.sg will help these SMEs access this market to its fullest potential.”

On the future of Aladdinstreet.com.sg, Singapore's former senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zainul Abidin Rasheed, is optimistic that the e-commerce site will create new brand purpose, values and new avenues for growth, especially now that Singapore is experiencing an economic slowdown.

"Singapore is well-known for its branding as a business and financial centre, both in terms of its integrity and quality standards, and this applies to its halal standards too," says Zainul, who is currently the non-resident Ambassador to Kuwait and the Foreign Minister's Special Envoy to the Middle East.

Imran Musa, Advisor, Aladdin Group and CEO of ARK, a halal competency developer specialist, noted that the halal opportunity is worth an estimated US$3 trillion by 2019. "Halal is not just religious per se, (it is about) how you process the food, the cosmetics, what kind of allergens are in there, these are things that need to be properly examined. It is a guarantee of a good product," he said. "There are 1.8 billion consumers. More than 600 million of them are IT savvy, they shop online, they do a lot of things online. For Hari Raya (Eid), more than 50% of consumers shopped online; that is something that is the way forward for all of us. Singapore is an e-commerce and finance hub. That is why we started with (Singapore)."

Singapore Co-founder & President, Dato’ Dr Grace Kong added that Aladdinstreet.com.sg is not just for Muslims because halal is about making healthier choices for everyone including non-Muslims, and everyone has become more socially conscious of their consumption patterns. Dato’ Kong explains, “They want to know what they eat, wear, what they apply on their face, where it comes from and how the animals were treated. It’s about cruelty free, ethical and sustainable consumption too.”

Dato' Kong added that halal certification has been welcomed in China, where unethical businessmen have been known to pass off counterfeit goods as genuine. She said the company will collaborate with government agencies, trade associations, chambers of commerce and halal certification bodies locally and globally to bring local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) into the digital economy. "We are extremely optimistic about the Singapore halal e-marketplace as the response that we have had so far from merchants have far exceeded our initial expectations," she said. 

Imran also noted that halal certification is coming to the fore in Indonesia. He referred to Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Law, which comes into effect in 2017 and requires all halal products to be certified, while all non-halal products are to be marked 'non-halal'. "If we take a merchant today and their products cannot go into Indonesia we are also liable because we cannot fulfil our (responsibilities) to customers in Indonesia," he said.

Asked about lingerie and sex toys, Imran said that "sensitivity of the community" is important. "In Singapore itself there are a lot of OB markers (Editor's note: out of bound markers mark where products, services or concepts considered socially unacceptable)," he said.  "Aladdin is not just about making money. We have our social responsibility and we have our corporate responsibility as well."

AladdinStreet Singapore is also focused on educating the public that halal does not only refer to food. Halal cosmetics, health and pharmaceuticals are growing markets, and cosmetic giants from Europe and Korea are already manufacturing halal cosmetics for Muslim markets, the Aladdin Group notes.

Dr Al Masrie also shared that Aladdin Group is pushing for a global halal standard. "We're trying to work with religious authorities in each country, and looking to form a halal academy to assist each country to be up to our standard," he said, adding that he hoped to get the support of Muis (the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. "We are putting Singapore on the global halal route."

"Singapore is one amongst 15 countries which have a Muslim population with the highest purchasing power, as revealed by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The nation has been named the friendliest non-Islamic destination for Muslim travellers for 2012-2014, according to the Global Muslim Travel Index. Countries like China and Japan look to Singapore as a benchmark for a successful halal industry without disrupting social and economic culture. So, Singapore is indeed fortunate to have such capabilities and favourable factors. But doing business in Singapore has never been about simply its local market. Plugging into Singapore's business network and infrastructure typically serves as a powerful launch-pad and gateway to the regional and global market," added Ambassador Zainul. 

Various companies have partnered with AladdinStreet Singapore to extend their reach beyond Singapore and hope to increase sales by 40% in the next 12 months. One of AladdinStreet Singapore’s merchants is Singapore-listed Food Empire, a company since 2000, which has been manufacturing halal-certified instant beverages, frozen food and snacks to Muslim majority markets such as Malaysia, Central Asia and the Middle East. All four of its factories in Malaysia are halal certified. Its partnership with AladdinStreet Singapore aims to further expand its halal business into Southeast Asia.

Artistic-Arrivo offers the Atelo Collagen Jelly Mask on AladdinStreet. The halal-certified product has ingredients that penetrate cells to encourage collagen generation, smooth skin and reduce acne, the company said.

Ice's Secret's Pure Radiance Mask has skin brightening properties. It can be used for the eyes and anywhere the skin is duller, and is suitable as foundation. Apply overnight and wash off in the morning. 100% herbal.

ZAC Meat has been supplying halal meats to restaurants and hotels from day one, and recently expanded to supermarket shelves - and AladdinStreet, says ZAC Business Development Manager Selvam S. ZAC's portfolio includes sausages, cold cuts, ready-to-eat products as well as cheeses, dips, and spices.

Two Grayns rice cookers on display. To the bottom left is the strainer which lets sugar-laden water flow through into the container in the foreground, where it can be used for other purposes like watering plants.

Alcurea is distributing the Grayns rice cooker, which strains out the sugar content of rice, reducing its glycaemic load, as part of the cooking process. Zahid Masauood, MD, Alcurea, said that the distributor had been invited to join AladdinStreet as Dr Al Masrie had started off using Grayns and liked it.

Note Cosmetics was established in 2015 after they noticed a lack of halal cosmetics retailers in the market. The company has since seen an increase in sales from non-Muslim customers, who have grown to appreciate their products because they do not contain ingredients derived from animals.

Nadia Nadzirah of Budinadia poses with her creations. She is modelling one of her limited edition shawls, which has a subtle Western-style print.

Budinadia marries modern and vintage fashion to create limited edition clothing. Founder and MD Nadia Nadzirah has abayas, jubahs with kain songket embellishments, as well as shawls which make use of high quality fabric with Western-style prints. Her collection also includes kurta-style tops for men. Asked why she chose to go with Aladdinstreet Nadia said being part of a community of merchants gives her opportunities to learn that would not have been possible going it alone. (Hashtag: #budinadiaofficial)

Tudung Ku Collection was set up in 2012 to address the modern Muslim woman who want easy-to-wear scarves but with a touch of luxury. It has seen a 20% increase in sales over the last four years.

Tea Ideas is a Singapore-based company offering tea wands as a new way to enjoy tea.

Goshen Art Gallery will have art on sale at AladdinStreet.com.sg. Pictured is Wu Xueli's Rhapsody of Colours.

MummyBebe displayed a chair from Taiwan which can be adjusted to grow with the child.

Organic skincare for babies and high quality cotton bedding from Australia is available on AladdinStreet.com.sg from MummyBebe.

Dream Sparkle offers green cleaning services using steam cleaning, which deep-cleans and sanitises surfaces at homes and offices. Stains can be removed easily from carpets, as the company showed in a demonstration. The water used is drink-quality, the company said.

Sports hijabs from Juz Demure.

Juz Demure is selling dri-fit sports hijab after the company saw more Muslim women wanting to pursue an active lifestyle without compromising on modesty. The hijab is designed to fit snugly and securely even with a wide range of movement, and under conditions such as under a motorcycle helmet.

The Camellia dri fit hijab, at an introductory price of S$38, also has reflective lines and a logo at the back for safety during night runs. The company has seen an increase in sales of 20% since it started operations in 2015.

“Finally, a trusted and a convenient one-stop e-commerce site for halal and quality products for me and my family, “ says Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad. Fandi will be launching his biography on the site in the future.

In terms of its pricing strategy, Aladdinstreet.com.sg does not plan to indulge in discounts and flash sales often seen with e-commerce sites because its priority is quality and integrity, values driven by its business integrity checks and stringent halal compliance requirements. It is also rolling out a halal educational programme for merchants to help them better understand the halal compliance requirements.

Aladdin expects to be a top 10 e-marketplace globally, hosting over 100,000 merchants and more than 3 million unique products in three years. "Our vision is to become No. 1 in halal e-commerce. The market is huge. We are focusing on quality control, what is premium. We are hoping that in a short time we will be as big as Alibaba," said Dr Al Masrie.

"The key difference that sets Aladdinstreet.com.sg apart from other e-commerce platforms is that our merchants and customers will enjoy support and assistance from Aladdinstreet’s network offices located in 30 countries in phase one and another 20 more in phase two - covering a combined total population of approximately 5 billion consumers," said Dato' Kong. 

AladdinStreet Singapore is one of 29 countries that the Group has since entered into joint ventures, including India, Indonesia, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Iran and the US. The next announcement to come will be on AladdinStreet China, the Aladdin Group executives said. Today, there are more than 20 million Muslims in China where the domestic demand for halal by non-Muslims is also increasing given the recent food scares there. The launch of AladdinStreet Singapore provides a viable and safe option for Chinese Muslims and non-Muslims until AladdinStreet China goes live.

The Aladdin Group is also on the verge of confirming an exclusive and first-ever brand partnership with one of the world's biggest football clubs, which will give consumers and merchants access to 650 million fans in over 200 territories, allow for faster access into China and helping to meet AladdinStreet Singapore’s target of S$50 million in sales within the first year of its launch.

Dato' Sri Desmond To, Co-Founder and President, Aladdin Group, disclosed that the company is also negotiating its own Islamic payment gateways in various countries. The gateways will work like AliPay. In Malaysia, the group is working with Maybank, while in Singapore the partnering bank is UOB.
 
A sum of US$130 million in marketing dollars has been invested in the group for the next three years. Aladdinstreet’s objective is to be the world’s largest premium quality products and halal e-marketplace of choice and to be amongst the top ten most profitable e-commerce platforms in the world in the near future. The bulk of customers on Aladdinstreet.com.sg are aged 18 to 32. The group plans to go for an IPO in two to three years' time.

Interested?

Merchant participation in Aladdinstreet is by invitation only. Listings on Aladdinstreet undergo mandatory halal integrity audits by an in-house team of halal experts before they can be included in the e-marketplace. 

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about Cosmax, the Korean cosmetics company with Indonesian halal certification

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about the halal discussion at the Global Islamic Economy Summit

*In Singapore, agricultural and biochemical products, food and beverage (F&B), pharmaceutical and cosmetics products may be halal-certified. Products in other categories are not covered by the certification process by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Aladdin executives said. Different halal certification bodies around the world have different rules on what may be certified and what criteria constitute halal.  

**The Dato' Sri honorific in Malaysia is conferred on top performers to a state by the ruler of that state. The title of Dato' is the next level of honorifics conferred on people who have contributed significantly to a state by the ruler of the state. Daro' titles may also be inherited in selected noble families. See this article by Expatgo for more details.