Malaysian Sellers Innovate as E-Commerce Evolves Beyond Price Wars

 In Malaysia’s fast-evolving digital marketplace, local sellers are redefining how to grow and connect online by innovating how they sell. Local sellers like Arwaafood, JK Biscuits, and Hollywood MotorSport are making the most of Shopee’s suite of tools: using Shopee Live for authentic storytelling and direct engagement, Shopee Video for product showcases and education, Shopee Affiliates to drive peer-led discovery, and the ‘Lagi Murah’ tag to signal competitive value. By combining these features in ways that fit their brand and goals,  they’re building not just sales, but trust, visibility, and community.

Arwaafood: Building Trust with Storytelling and Mukbang Content

 

Founded by Hadi Kaderi, Nizar Mustafa, Ardell Aryana, and Nadzmi Adhwa, Arwaafood offers preservative-free instant meals rooted in traditional recipes. Their Shopee Live sessions go beyond promotion, they tell their stories behind their ingredients and values, connecting deeply with health-conscious Malaysians. “A lot of instant food options have unhealthy additives,” says Hadi. “We wanted to change that with natural ingredients that reflect our cultural roots and care.”

This storytelling-first approach has helped Arwaafood grow a loyal community and drive tangible business results. In just three months, their Shopee Live sessions drew over 660,000 viewers, while affiliate-created Shopee Videos, especially “mukbang” content, serve to validate the product’s quality and taste, particularly for new buyers.

This strong community connection shapes how Arwaafood plans promotions, offering value when customers are most ready to engage. “Our customers are smart, they wait for campaign days, voucher drops,” says Hadi. “We realise our customers tend to top up our products during these periods, so we bundle our products to give more value to our customers.” By aligning their promotions with Shopee’s peak campaign moments, Arwaafood maximises visibility and drives conversions when shoppers are most primed to purchase. 

During the recent Shopee 5.5 Fashion & Beauty Festival, this strategy led to a 144% increase in orders, powered by a mix of daily livestreams, strategic bundles, and timed vouchers. Notably, affiliate-driven efforts contributed over 40% of total orders, underscoring the impact of trusted, peer-to-peer recommendations in turning interest into action.

JK Biscuits: From Fruit Stalls to Online Success

Innovation isn’t limited to packaged foods. In Bidor, Perak, Madam Lai Nyuk Ling of JK BISCUITS shows how fresh produce sellers can innovate beyond traditional fruit stalls by embracing e-commerce and digital engagement. What started as a humble fruit business evolved into a thriving online store shipping fresh guavas and dragon fruits all over Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak.

For Madam Lai, the challenge was how to bring the tactile, sensory experience of choosing fresh fruits, something buyers usually inspect personally, to the online space. Shopee Live became her key platform to do this. By cutting open fruit live on stream and showcasing her packing process, she gives customers a transparent view into the care and quality behind every order. “They know exactly what they’re getting,” she says. This real-time interaction helps replicate the trust shoppers feel when picking fruit in person, reassuring them about the freshness, juiciness, and quality of her produce.

This hands-on, interactive approach has not only reassured buyers, but also driven tangible business results, with Shopee Live sessions generating up to RM4,000 in daily sales. Madam Lai's success has inspired others in her community to explore e-commerce, showing how traditional fresh produce sellers can harness digital tools to innovate, build trust, and connect meaningfully with modern Malaysian shoppers.

Hollywood MotorSport: Bringing Offline Expertise Online and Expanding Its Reach

Traditional sectors like automotive retail are also finding powerful ways to scale by blending in-store expertise with digital touchpoints. Hollywood MotorSport, a trusted name in motorcycle parts and accessories, is using Shopee to replicate the personalised, hands-on service of their physical store while reaching customers far beyond its usual walk-in base.

Through Shopee Live, they simulate the in-person consultation experience by walking viewers through installation steps, answering questions in real time, and providing visual comparisons to help buyers make informed choices. Shopee Video content breaks down complex features, making even first-time buyers feel confident about their purchase.

“We’ve always taken pride in offering personalised service at our store. Now, we can deliver that same experience to a wider audience online,” says Simon Tan, Company Director of Hollywood MotorSport. “Shopee helps us go beyond walk-in traffic with tools like affiliate marketing, data insights, and real-time engagement. We’re creating new growth without replacing what works.”

This hybrid approach is paying off. Over recent months, Hollywood MotorSport has seen strong momentum through Shopee’s livestream and affiliate tools. Each month, affiliate-driven efforts now account for nearly 1 in 5 of their online orders, and together with livestream sessions, these channels contribute to almost a quarter of total monthly orders. Shopee Video content has seen a tenfold increase in engagement, helping demystify complex purchases like brake kits or suspension parts. These tools not only drive conversions but also strengthen Hollywood MotorSport’s reputation as a trusted, expert-led destination for automotive needs.

Shopee Empowers Smart Selling

At the heart of these success stories is Shopee’s commitment to empowering local sellers with the tools and insights they need to adapt.

“Malaysian sellers are becoming more sophisticated in how they market and connect with buyers,” says Tan Ming Kit, Head of Marketing at Shopee Malaysia. “They’re moving beyond price competition to focus on real value through innovation and genuine engagement. We support them with data and tools to tailor their approach, build lasting connections, and grow steadily, creating a healthier e-commerce ecosystem for everyone.” 

Whether it’s Arwaafood sharing stories behind their natural ingredients, JK Biscuits recreating the fresh fruit experience live, or Hollywood MotorSport bringing their hands-on expertise online with step-by-step guidance, these sellers show value goes beyond numbers. It’s about innovative approaches that create meaningful connections, one thoughtful transaction at a time.