If you ask Hadi and Dian, owners of RoseValley, one year back about starting an online business, they will most probably tell you that they can barely sparea ny time between juggling with their jobs and taking care of their little boy. But the idea to sell online was always at the back of their mind, and it was when they tell themselves "it's now or never" that they decided to take the first step to source for quality products to sell online.

"I personally think that the best way to get something done is to begin. We have procrastinated for a long time before deciding to sell online. We never know this decision will lead to the RoseValley today - a brand that is well-received by many customers for its high-quality headscraves and modest wear which are endorsed by celebrities." - Hadi

Selling celebrity-endorsed products is their key to winning Shopify Asia Build A Business Competition

The inspiration to sell celebrity-endorsed headscarves came when Dian realized that it has become a fashion trend among the youths in Singapore and Malaysia. "It's like a craze! Everyone wants to own a piece of headscarf that the celebrity is wearing," exclaimed Dian. As a business owner, this was an opportunity to meet the demands and become a celebrity-centric online store.

They approached several celebrities like Noor Neelofa, Diyana Halik, Rozita Che Wan and Ayu Raudhah who are known for their exquisite and refined taste for hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women that covers the head and chest. The responses were overwheling with stocks being sold out within a few days. This was encouraging for RoseValley as it has proven that their business concept works well with their target audience.

The success of their online store was covered by Berita Harian, the sole Malay language broadsheet newspaper in Singapore, which further articulates their unique selling proposition. According to Hadi, the biggest advantage of selling celebrity-endorsed products is that they do not need to invest time and money into promoting the products as the celebrities have created a brand name for the hijabs. "You tell someone that this hijab is worn by Neelofa and the response will be dissapointing," said Hadi.

Instagram brings them the highest sales conversion

Unlike other online business owners, RoseValley only owns two social media accounts -Facebook and Instagram. Although both platforms help them to engage with their customers, they generally prefer Instagram and Facebook. The reason is simple: customers tend to share or post their purchases on Instagram and tag the products to RoseValley, which help to increase brand awareness. "Visuals appeal strongly to people and Instagram i a photo-centric platform. When they see their friends or relatives wearing something pretty or unique, they will want to know where to buy it. As such, we see higher sales conversion from Instagram than Facebook," shared Dian.

Their future plan for RoseValley

Being the winner of Shopify Asia Build A Business competition, RoseValley is all geared up to increase their existing production and introduce more brands to their customers. Not forgetting their commitment to provide convenience and personable customer service, both Hadi and Dian hope that RoseValley can expand regionally, and even the European market in the near future.