A Review on a post on e-tailing from My E-Commerce blog

Sarawak handicraft to go for e-commerce – Posted on 31st July 2009.

Sarawak government is strongly urging the local handicraft industry players to venture into the online business. By doing so, through E-commerce, vendors will be able to market their handicraft products on a global scale and at the same time increase Sarawak’s handicraft industry more competitively. This proves to be easier said than done.
As a start, industry players are encouraged to utilize the one-stop e-handicraft mall set up by Sarawak Craft Council. The website, www.right.sarawak.gov.my/Rightmart, will be the gateway for the handicraft industry players to showcase their products and designs online. However, traditional vendors without adequate knowledge in operating a computer will find it difficult to even post the image of their merchandise for sale online.
In addition, there is also a main setback that many fail to take into consideration if all handicrafts were to go for e-commerce. Handicrafts are typically one of the main attractions of many place of interest in Malaysia. For example, Kelantan, Terrenganu, Pulau Pangkor, Kedah, and etc. Expatiates visiting Malaysia are often attracted to such places due to the richness and uniqueness of these handicrafts, often hand-made by the locals for extra income. Thus, if handicrafts were to be made available online, a negative impact will be imprinted on the tourism industry.
In conclusion, all aspects on e-tailing handicrafts has to be taken into consideration before its full scale implementation simply because tourism industry in Malaysia generates RM49.56 billion (US$13.76 billion) in 2008 and the Government will definitely be discontented if the figures were to drop due to incompetence and negligence in implementing e-tailing.