How To Sell on Carousell Singapore: An Essential Guide
- Published: 8 December 2024
- 13 min read
- Ecommerce, Running a Business
Heather Cameron
Business Writer
From expert guidance and helpful accounting tips to insights on the latest trends in fintech, Heather is here to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners in Singapore with great content. With a background in digital marketing spanning eight years, she has experience writing for various industries and audiences. As Osome’s copywriter, she’s here to inform and inspire our readers with great storytelling.
Looking to learn how to sell on Carousell? This guide will help you create an account, list your items, manage transactions, and handle deliveries efficiently using the Carousell app.
Key Takeaways
- Carousell is an easy-to-use online marketplace that connects sellers with a large audience in Singapore, allowing for quick and secure transactions.
- To start selling, create an account, set up a detailed profile, and list your products with clear descriptions and high-quality photos.
- Utilising effective selling strategies, like using keywords, engaging on social media, and communicating transparently with buyers, can boost your sales on Carousell.
What Is Carousell?
Carousell is a consumer marketplace that allows users to sell products to a large audience. Whether you want to declutter your home, make some extra cash, or even start an ecommerce business, Carousell provides a straightforward and effective platform to accomplish these goals. With its large customer base and easy-to-use interface, it is easy for anyone to sell on Carousell Singapore. You can also earn Carousell coins to enhance your selling experience.
By listing on a Singapore-based company, Carousell sellers are exposed to the platform's considerable customer base in Southeast Asia. This large audience means that your products have a higher chance of being seen by potential customers. Additionally, Carousell facilitates direct communication between buyers and sellers, making transactions smooth and efficient. This direct interaction fosters trust and allows for quick resolution of any concerns, enhancing the overall selling experience.
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Setting up a Carousell account is free for individual sellers, although there are optional fees for additional features that can help boost your visibility and sales. The first step to selling on Carousell is to create an account and install the Carousell app, which we’ll cover in detail later. Whether you’re looking to declutter or start a side business, Carousell makes the process easy and accessible.
Why Choose Carousell?
Carousell stands out among online marketplace for several reasons:
- Compared to other ecommerce platforms, Carousell Singapore has a strong focus on Southeast Asia with over 250 million listings across at least seven countries in the region.
- As a community-centric marketplace, Carousell allows potential buyers to communicate directly with sellers, enhancing trust and transparency.
- Carousell Groups allow Carousell sellers to bring their real-life friendships and communities onto the platform or sell to people with similar interests, allowing you to accurately target specific populations easily.
Another reason to choose Carousell is its ease of use. The Carousell app is designed to be user-friendly, allowing sellers to list products quickly and manage their listings with ease. While selling on Carousell is free, sellers have the option to pay for increased visibility through promotional features, which can be a game-changer in attracting more buyers. Additionally, Carousell’s large and active community means more potential buyers for your products, increasing your chances of making sales.
Carousell also offers several features that set it apart from other online marketplaces. For instance, Carousell Protection ensures secure transactions by holding the payment until the buyer confirms receipt of the product. This feature provides peace of mind for both you and the buyer.
With its combination of a large user base, ease of use, and unique features, Carousell is a top choice for anyone looking to sell in an online flea market.
How To Start Selling on Carousell?
Selling on Carousell is straightforward, allowing users to list items quickly through its app or website. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start selling on Carousell, from creating your account to delivering your items.
1. Create your Carousell account
To sell on Carousell, you need to create a new account. You can register using your Facebook, Google, or email account. During the registration process, you’ll need to provide a local phone number, choose a username, and set a password. Once you’ve registered, verify your account by confirming your mobile number via a text message.
These verifications protect both the buyer and yourself and ensure your account is genuine and trustworthy, which, in turn, helps attract more buyers. You can also choose to register using a social media account or an email address, giving you flexibility in how you set up your profile.
2. Set up your profile
A complete and well-detailed profile fosters trust among potential buyers, making them more likely to purchase from you. Start by adding personal details like your name and a profile picture. Including a profile picture can significantly enhance trust and credibility.
Adding relevant information to your profile helps build credibility in the marketplace. Ensure your profile is complete, connect your bank account and fill out the necessary bank transfer information for receiving payment.
3. List your products
Your Carousell business is now ready to sell. Carousell listings can be created using the Carousell app or the desktop website. Start by clicking the ‘Sell’ button located at the bottom of the main profile page on mobile or at the top right-hand corner on the web. Fill in all the required fields on the listing form to create a valid listing.
Make sure to provide an understandable title, relevant details, and price for your product. Upload up to 10 high-quality images to effectively showcase your items. A comprehensive description that includes features and advantages can attract more buyers. Double-check everything before making your items visible to customers and save your listing.
If you have multiple items to sell, you can specify the quantity for each product and select delivery and payment options. This flexibility allows you to manage your inventory efficiently and cater to different buyer preferences.
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4. Manage transactions
Managing transactions on Carousell involves effective communication with buyers and handling logistics. It’s crucial to provide accurate and detailed information about your products to minimise the chances of returns and negative feedback. Use Carousell’s in-app chat feature to handle buyer inquiries and negotiations.
After shipping the item, provide the buyer with a tracking number and updates on the shipping status. This transparency helps build trust and ensures a smooth transaction. Clear and consistent communication is key to managing transactions successfully.
You can also enable express checkout for a faster process.
5. Accept offers and payments
Accepting offers and payments on Carousell is straightforward but requires careful attention. When you accept an offer, you enter into a formal deal with the buyer, so be sure you’re fully committed before accepting. Backing out after accepting an offer is not in the spirit of Carousell.
Carousell comes with several payment options, including cash on meet-ups, electronic payments like PayNow or card payments, and Carousell Protection. Carousell Protection is the in-app payment feature that holds the payment until the buyer confirms receipt of the item.
For sellers, make sure you receive payment or that payment is in escrow before shipping anything out. For direct payments, provide clear payment details, including your bank account wiring information or online payment username to avoid any confusion. Again, make sure you receive the payment before processing an order.
If a deal is cancelled, any payment made through Carousell will be refunded to the buyer using the original payment method. Clear communication about payment methods and bank transfer details is essential for smooth transactions.
6. Deliver your items
Delivery is the final step in completing a sale on Carousell. Discuss and agree on a delivery method with the buyer before finalising the transaction. You can choose to deliver items using Carousell’s integrated shipping options or your preferred shipping providers, including meet-ups, normal mail, registered mail, or door delivery with Carousell Protection.
After confirming payment, arrange the item’s delivery. Carousell’s logistics partner, uParcel, offers same-day delivery, making it a convenient option. Clear communication about shipping details ensures a smooth and satisfactory delivery process for both parties.
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Payment Methods on Carousell
Carousell offers a variety of payment modes for different preferences. Sellers can receive payment via Caroupay, electronic payments like PayLah! and PayNow, or cash on delivery. Caroupay is Carousell’s integrated payment system, designed to secure transactions by holding the payment until the buyer confirms receipt of the product.
Using Caroupay involves a 10% commission fee, but it provides more security for both buyers and sellers. To facilitate secure payment methods, sellers should enable the ‘Buy’ button on their listings. The enhanced security can also attract buyers. Meanwhile, direct payments between buyers and sellers are more cost-effective for some transactions but come with a higher risk.
It’s essential to keep all transactions and communications within the Carousell platform for better record tracking. Carousell Protection offers various mail delivery options, including Basic Package and Registered mail, enhancing transaction security. By choosing the right payment method, sellers can ensure smooth and secure transactions.
How To Sell Better on Carousell?
To maximise your success on Carousell, adopting effective selling strategies is crucial. Here are some tips to help you attract more buyers and boost your sales.
1 Utilising keywords
Keywords make your listing show up higher in the results when someone uses the search bar. Include specific details such as brand names, sizes, and colours in your titles and descriptions to make your listings more discoverable. Avoid overloading your listings with excessive keywords to keep them appealing.
Striking a balance with keywords is essential. Relevant keywords enhance searchability, while too many can detract from your listing’s attractiveness. Strategically using keywords increases the chances of your products being found by potential buyers.
2 Using high-quality photos
High-quality photos are crucial in attracting buyers. Carousell allows you to upload up to ten images per listing, so take advantage of this feature to showcase your products from multiple angles and with detailed views. Use good lighting, preferably natural light, to enhance the quality of your product images.
Avoid using stock photos as buyers prefer to see actual images of the items for sale. Taking photos against a plain or textured background can help your product stand out and grab the buyer’s attention.
Clear, well-focused images can significantly boost your chances of making a sale.
3 Leveraging social media presence
Sharing your Carousell listings on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can greatly increase their visibility. To share your listings, select the desired listing, tap the three dots, and choose ‘Share’. Promoting your listings via social media is cost-free and can attract more potential buyers.
Being active on social media helps you find buyers interested in your products. You can also share listings through messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram if friends are interested in your offerings.
Joining online communities related to your products can help you connect with more interested buyers.
4 Relisting old items
Relisting items is crucial to keep them recent and avoid perceiving outdated content. Items on Carousell should not remain listed for more than 12 months. Delete the previous listing and relist them if they haven’t garnered traffic for a year. This refreshes the listing, making it appear new and more appealing to potential buyers.
Add keywords to the product's detailed descriptions to attract more attention when relisting an item. Combining multiple items from the same product category into a single listing can also enhance visibility and simplify browsing for buyers.
5 Communicating with buyers
Clear communication with buyers is vital for successful transactions on Carousell. An open dialogue helps foster trust and transparency. Use the in-app chat feature to handle inquiries, discuss payment and shipping details, and negotiate deals. Responding promptly to buyer inquiries builds trust and improves your credibility as a reliable seller.
Ensure your communication is professional and polite to maintain a good impression. Provide clear and accurate information about your products to inform buyers effectively. Good customer service and quality products are sure to bring you positive feedback that will help elevate your store's reputation.
Discuss methods of payment and preferred meet-up locations during your inquiries with buyers. Quick responses can lead to better sales opportunities as they demonstrate reliability.
6 Engaging with the Carousell community
Engaging with the community can help your listings stand out to the right people and boost sales. Carousell is a community-driven marketplace with a vast user base, allowing sellers to interact directly with potential buyers. Joining Carousell groups and participating in community discussions can help you connect with more potential customers.
Utilize the Carousell Groups function to build a strong presence in front of the right audience. Carousell Groups are sub-communities formed based on real-life connections and shared interests. Actively engaging with other users in Carousell Groups can bring you more sales without spending anything on ads and promotions.
7 Leveraging paid features
Sellers can spend Carousell coins to add a paid feature to their ecommerce business. You can buy Carousell coins in batches and store them in your Carousell wallet. Since Carousell offers bundle discounts for coin purchases, buying a larger bundle upfront can come with significant savings.
Paid Carousell features include Bumps, Spotlight, Shoutout, Listing Fees and Custom quota.
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Expanding Beyond Carousell
Expanding your selling efforts beyond Carousell can help you tap into wider markets and reach more customers. Utilising the benefits gained from Carousell, such as community engagement and reputation building, can effectively aid in transitioning to other platforms.
By selling across multiple platforms, you enhance your visibility and business growth potential, allowing for a more sustainable and profitable ecommerce experience.
Registering a business
Registering your ecommerce business in Singapore can provide numerous benefits, including government grants and incentives. You can register a private limited company for your ecommerce business, which can enhance your credibility and open up more business opportunities.
However, registering a business can be a barrier to entry for new sellers on some ecommerce platforms. It’s important to weigh the benefits against the potential challenges and decide if it’s the right step for your business growth.
Exploring alternative platforms
Expanding your online presence across various ecommerce platforms can enhance visibility. This approach also allows you to reach a wider customer base. In Singapore, there are popular alternatives such as Shopee and Lazada. Qoo10 is also a well-known option among consumers. These platforms offer different features and customer bases, which can help you reach more potential buyers.
Using multiple platforms may lead to some drawbacks. These include higher fees and the challenge of managing several accounts. It’s important to consider these factors and develop a strategy that maximises your benefits while minimising the challenges.
Summary
Selling on Carousell allows sellers to reach a large audience, make extra income, or start a small business. You can maximise your success on the platform by following the steps outlined in this guide, from creating your account to engaging with the Carousell community. Utilising strategies like using quality photos, leveraging social media, and relisting old items can further boost your sales and visibility.
Now that you've learned about how to sell on Carousell, it's time to expand by registering your business and exploring alternative platforms to reach even more customers and grow your ecommerce business sustainably. With the right approach and dedication, you can turn your Carousell selling efforts into a thriving online marketplace.
Take your ecommerce venture to the next level with Osome’s expert incorporation and accounting services. Our comprehensive solutions simplify business registration and financial management, so you can focus on expanding your reach and boosting sales on Carousell and beyond. Don't hesitate to reach out!
From expert guidance and helpful accounting tips to insights on the latest trends in fintech, Heather is here to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners in Singapore with great content. With a background in digital marketing spanning eight years, she has experience writing for various industries and audiences. As Osome’s copywriter, she’s here to inform and inspire our readers with great storytelling.
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FAQ
How do I create a Carousell account?
Creating a Carousell account is hassle-free. You can sign up using Facebook, Google, or your email. After entering a local mobile phone number, you then pick a username and set your password. You’ll receive a verification text to get you started!
What are the payment methods available on Carousell?
You can use several payment methods on Carousell, such as Caroupay, PayLah!, PayNow, or even cash on delivery. However, Caroupay does add a 10% commission fee for secure transactions. Also, if you prefer face-to-face transactions, pay attention to the buyer's preferred location to ensure you're within their reach.
How can I improve my listings on Carousell?
To improve your listings on Carousell, focus on using relevant keywords, optimising for the photo preview box, competitive pricing, and providing easy-to-understand product details. Don't forget to share your listings on social media and relist old items for extra visibility!
What are the benefits of engaging with the Carousell community?
Engaging with the Carousell community boosts your credibility and sales while helping you connect with potential buyers. It’s a great way to enhance your presence and grow your business! With tens and thousands of active monthly users in the community, ensuring active participation is key to your ecommerce success.
Should I consider expanding beyond Carousell?
Absolutely, expanding beyond Carousell is a smart move! Ecommerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada can significantly widen your market reach and boost your success.
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