I am glad there are many online boutique nowadays.  I miss the time (in Plymouth) when I was able to buy apparels from high street fashion boutique like Dorothy Perkins, eBay and Topshop.

When I Google for Malaysia’s high street online fashion boutique, the result was nil. However, there are many personal online boutique in Malaysia. Hundreds of them. (Thousand I bet if it includes the blogs that sell accessories like handbags and jeweleries). There are too many! I don’t know how to choose!  Then I found Emmagem Shopping Directory, the place that shares links of online boutiques. It is the site for Malaysian fashionistas.

I have a very essential question. What are the factors that made us feel safer (and happier) doing online shopping? Hopefully, this blog post will help the buyers decide better, and the sellers sell more. Quid pro quo!

1. Observe the latest date : If the blog is not recently updated, there are chances that the site is no longer active, or you will get old stock item from the boutique owner (or seller). In a word, tak maju.
2. Read the small prints: Read all the details of–ordering terms, payment terms and delivery terms. Different seller applies different regulations. Different charge for delivery. Is it Poslaju or Pos express? Poslaju arrives earlier than Pos Express. For 3 piece of clothes, the normal charge would be RM6. Study them first before you decide to buy. Best seller will offer best service. It’ll worth your money.
3. Simple is ample: Layout is important because it’ll either–gives you an eyesore or, make one’s online shopping experience good. Look at any most visited site in the world. Google. Simple. I really like a particular blog (I wouldn’t want to name it here as she already told me only positive remark). However, she puts all the pictures at the front page. One, it slows my computer down. Two, the pictures’ loading time makes me want to close my internet browser.
4. Picture tells a thousand words: Blurry and dark pictures won’t convince any online buyers. The brightest, most detail, high resolution picture will help sellers sell their items. Buyers can take a closer look at the item since they are not able to touch and be presence near the item.
5. Postage delivery list: The only blog (that I’ve met so far) who offers this kind of information is My Budget Corner. She provides the bar code number of Poslaju.  As a buyer of this blog, it was easy for me to check my delivery status.
6. Sale sells: My brother said “Whether it’s a Year End Sale, or any kind of sale, women would love it”. He was cynical but it’s true. I used to be Dorothy Perkins’ loyal buyer because they offer me promotion codes, VIP invitation (limited period of online shopping). There is similar concept applied by shoplikeacelebrities and it offers me 10% discount on Xmas item and free gift if I were to buy more than RM100. Like I said, who couldn’t resist a sale? Or a free delivery?
7. Communication is vital: I prefer prompt response from seller. Most of the seller that I met check their emails regularly. When they check their email regularly, it means they will get information about your order and payment quicker. Thus, they’ll do the delivery faster. So ask your seller ‘serious’ question about the item and see how quick she gets back to you.
8. White is IT: Ever wonder why almost all high street fashion site is in white? Dorothy Perkins, Bag borrow or steal, bluefly (sponsor for Project Runway accessories), Target and eBay has WHITE background. The item’s colours will stand out. The colour also gives ‘clean and neat’ impression.
9. Shopping cart: Who says shopping cart is only for hypermarket? Online shops need one as well. Online shopping cart helps me to do wise purchase. I can get the total amount automatically. I can ditch the item whenever I want. I can compare and contrast. I don’t have to go back to and fro flipping numerous pages of items.

   
   
   Screen shot taken from Bluefly.com

10. Language lingo: Beware of language errors because it will leave a bad impression.

Shopping cart: Who says shopping cart is only for hypermarket? Online shops need one as well. Online shopping cart helps me to do wise purchase. I can get the total amount automatically. I can ditch the item whenever I want. I can compare and contrast. I don't have to go back to and fro  flipping numerous pages of items.

Note to seller: You may PM me via eyekneekawai[at]gmail[dot]com if you want me to promote your blog.

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