LOCALLY made products will take centerstage in the digital space as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 will hold a live online selling activity in its social media pages.
DTI 7 Director Maria Elena Arbon told SunStar Cebu that they have partnered with a local startup company to build the platform for the activity.
“We will use influencers to pitch our products to our markets. Also, we have partnered with a local startup to put up the supporting website or platform to facilitate online buying and fulfillment,” she said.
There will be live online selling at 2 p.m. for local bags on Feb. 12, figurines on Feb. 16, food on Feb. 19, home and kitchen essentials on Feb. 23 and favorites on Feb. 26.
Arbon said the website is still under construction for now, but it will be ready for launch on Feb 12.
Initially, for the four runs, DTI 7 will feature some 20 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with more than a hundred of their products.
The DTI 7 chief said they hope buyers would patronize local products to help MSMEs, especially now that Valentine’s Day is drawing near.
“So we are hoping that with the upcoming Valentine’s Day celebration, people will buy local. Let’s all help our economy recover by patronizing our local producers and buying local. Buying local means we are acknowledging the value of the products of our craftsmen and artisans, helping someone get or retain their jobs and livelihood and ultimately helping in growing our economy,” she said.
The act would be a very meaningful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day at this time, Arbon added.
The campaign, dubbed “Buy Local, Bai Bisaya,” features quality Bisaya-made products. It aims to amplify local product awareness and purchases by encouraging viewers to patronize local brands that boast high-standard Bisaya quality.
“They’re more like a pilot test to see how it goes. But for sure we will be doing more of this (albeit with some tweaking after the initial runs). The website that we will also be launching will be like the virtual version of our brick and mortar One Town, One Product hubs that are already existing in the provinces,” she said. (JOB)