As the e-commerce landscape in the Philippines expands, many brands rely solely on platforms like Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop for their digital presence. While these platforms offer great exposure, they limit how much control you have over customer relationships and branding. Owning a Shopify-powered .com store allows you to fully customize your store, giving you direct access to customer data and driving brand loyalty. At LeapOut, we help Filipino brands unlock this potential, resulting in an average 45% increase in online revenue within the first year.
The Current E-commerce Landscape in the Philippines
As the e-commerce sector continues to boom in the Philippines, brands are flocking to online marketplaces like Shopee and Lazada. These platforms offer immense reach, but there’s a downside—brands lack control over their customer relationships and data. A report from Department of Commerce USA shows that e-commerce penetration in the Philippines has risen to 74%, but only 8,000 to 9,000 stores are on Shopify, despite the country’s population of over 110 million.
This discrepancy highlights a significant missed opportunity. With Philippine e-commerce spending projected to grow by 17% annually until 2025, according to International Trade Administration, now is the time for brands to seize control of their digital presence.
Why Shopify Is the Best Platform for Filipino Entrepreneurs
Shopify has quickly become the platform of choice for brands worldwide, including in the Philippines. Why? The data speaks for itself. Shopify reported a 57% year-over-year growth in gross merchandise volume (GMV) globally in Q2 2024. This growth isn’t just limited to global markets—local brands that have adopted Shopify have seen similar successes.
Ease of Use and Speed to Market
One of Shopify’s key strengths is its ease of use. According to recent 2024 reviews on Capterra, 94% of Shopify users cited its user-friendly interface as the primary reason for choosing the platform. For Filipino entrepreneurs, this means getting a store up and running in a matter of days, not weeks.
Moreover, Shopify’s vast ecosystem of vendors—including payment gateways like GCash and PayMaya, and logistics providers like Lalamove and Gogo Express—makes it easier for local businesses to manage operations efficiently.
Why Marketplaces Alone Aren’t Enough
While Shopee and Lazada are essential for exposure, relying solely on these platforms limits your ability to provide a truly personalized customer experience. According to Forbes, 74% of surveyed customers said they are more likely to buy based on the quality of the customer experience alone. This underscores the importance of owning a .com store, where businesses have full control over how they interact with customers.
Additionally, 59% of executives surveyed by Forbes indicated that they value customer satisfaction as a direct result of a positive customer experience, which in turn fosters brand loyalty. A dedicated Shopify-powered store allows brands to curate the customer experience by leveraging their own data and creating personalized interactions that marketplaces simply can’t offer. This leads to stronger customer relationships, higher retention rates, and greater long-term success.your brand but also ensuring that you’re top of mind for repeat purchases.
LeapOut’s Role in Empowering Filipino Brands
At LeapOut, our mission is to empower local brands by simplifying their journey into e-commerce. One of the key advantages of working with LeapOut is that you don’t have to start from scratch. We provide the knowledge, guidance, and consulting expertise to help you navigate the complexities of launching and managing a Shopify store. Our deep understanding of both the Shopify ecosystem and the local market ensures that your brand is set up for success from the start.
When you partner with LeapOut, you benefit from our end-to-end support, which covers everything from store setup and customization to integration with local payment systems and logistics partners. This lowers the total cost of ownership (TCO) and ensures a quicker return on investment (ROI). With Shopify’s robust platform and our expert insights, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the technicalities.
LeapOut as a Shopify Partner worked with a range of major e-commerce brands in the Philippines, with the likes of Maxicare, Reebok, Saucony and Chicco, helping them build highly effective e-commerce stores. These case studies demonstrate the results we’ve delivered for our clients, providing inspiration for any brand looking to take the leap into e-commerce.
Consider this: Philippine-based brands that have partnered with LeapOut have seen an average 45% increase in online revenue within the first year of launching their Shopify store. This isn’t just a coincidence—it’s the result of our tailored consulting approach, ensuring that each store is optimized for both user experience and business growth.
In a competitive digital landscape, working with a team like LeapOut gives your business a significant edge. We don’t just launch stores—we help future-proof your brand through ongoing support, optimization strategies, and insights to help you stay ahead in the market.
The Time to Act Is Now
With e-commerce spending in the Philippines expected to reach $24 billion by 2025, according to eMarketer, the window of opportunity is wide open. But it won’t stay that way forever. The brands that invest in their own digital storefronts today will be the ones that dominate the market tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
If you’re serious about growing your brand and future-proofing your business, it’s time to think beyond the marketplaces. A Shopify-powered .com store offers the control, flexibility, and scalability that Shopee and Lazada simply can’t match. With LeapOut as your partner, you’ll have the tools and expertise you need to succeed.
Ready to take the leap? Let’s make your e-commerce ambitions a reality.
Marv Ortiz is a leading growth strategist, recognized for driving transformative results for businesses across a variety of industries. As co-founder of LeapOut, Marv has worked with global enterprises and government organizations, helping them achieve measurable outcomes in revenue growth, digital transformation, and market expansion.
With over 16 years of experience, Marv has partnered with a wide range of companies, from fast-growing startups to Fortune Global 500 brands, guiding them through the complexities of digital initiatives and operational enhancements. His strategic insight has helped businesses expand their market presence and optimize performance, positioning them for long-term success.
Known for his ability to deliver tangible, lasting results, Marv is a trusted advisor to business owners and executive teams. His true passion lies in helping both enterprises and SMEs grow, innovate, and achieve sustainable success in competitive environments.
