Online retailer Shopee reported a 19 percent increase in orders during its 3.3 sale, based on newly released consumer data showing how Filipinos shop online.
The data revealed a gap between what shoppers search for and what they actually buy. Fashion items such as sandals, dresses, and shoes topped search trends, but did not appear among the most purchased products.
Instead, Filipinos prioritized everyday essentials at checkout. Top purchases included cooking staples like canola oil, baby diapers, snacks, and small personal items such as cardholders and beauty products.
Fashion remained a key category for browsing, especially women’s accessories, which performed well among actual purchases. Meanwhile, beauty products such as lip tints and lipsticks stood out as the only non-essential items consistently included in shopping carts.
Both international and local brands saw growth during the campaign. Global names like Maybelline appeared alongside Filipino brands such as Issy and BASH among top purchases.
Shopee also reported strong growth in its live-selling feature, with Shopee Live checkouts rising 84 percent compared to a regular day. Popular purchases during live sessions included essentials and beauty products.
Overall, the data shows that Filipino shoppers browse widely but spend carefully, focusing on household needs while allowing for small personal treats.
