The year-end shopping festival is heating up with many e-commerce platforms starting their 11.11 sale.

Shopee announced on Wednesday it was kicking off the most anticipated shopping festival in the region.

It said the number of sellers and brands this year was up 60 per cent.

Products in over 25 categories will be discounted, and 11 billion coins and vouchers and free shipping (no minimum spend) will be offered.

Tran Tuan Anh, managing director of Shopee Vietnam, said: “Our year-end shopping festivals have evolved to be more than about the deals. Shopee has pioneered efforts to expand our digital eco-system to help more consumers, businesses and community’s access and benefit from e-commerce.

“We will also make 11.11 more meaningful and impactful by providing better support to help businesses of all shapes and sizes grow together. We want to uplift underserved local communities so that we can all move forward into a digital-first future.”

Lazada also announced its 11.11 sale from November 11.

Its vdiscount voucher volume would be doubled this year and over 10 million products would be discounted by 50 per cent and more, it said.

Many programmes to stimulate buying will be organised to help merchants after they were badly affected by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has invested in logistics and technology to be able to bring the best services to customers, the company said. — VNS