We have high hopes to bring the most up-to-date, complete and precise shopping directory to you in our Malaysia’s Blogshops Online Shopping Directory . While we will do our best to deliver that,  realistically we will miss some blogshops and those blogshops might be listed in other review sites.

So, we thought we’ll compile a list of OTHER shopping directory for your perusal. We have googled and ask many people about the best shopping directories and found these:

• Blog catalog
• Blog Malaysia
• Digglor
• Emmagem
• Malaysian babes
• Ministry Of Fashion
• Shoppy

One of the many online shopping directories

Do check out Other Online Shopping Directories. It would be updated frequently to include new directories and removal of older ones. One thing about the internet is that it is  moving so fast that things get out-dated a little too quickly. Fortunately, there are many sites doing the same thing–listing all blogshops in one page for readers convenience. We believe that a variety of information from different sites benefits online  shoppers. Now, who says too many cooks spoil the broth?

Any other online shopping directories we left out?

If you know of any other directories that is not in our list, do tell us and we will include it.

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We finally completed our shopping directory–Malaysia’s Blogshops Online Shopping Directory. Your first reaction is probably “NOT ANOTHER ONLINE SHOPPING DIRECTORY?” Yes, this is one of the shopping directory available BUT it’s different. Remember how we ranted about the 6 problems with online shopping directories? Realising all that, embarked to create a completely different shopping directory to solve those problems.

What is it?

The Malaysia’s Blogshops Online Shopping Directory is a directory listing all blogshops which ships to Malaysia. Most are operated in Malaysia. There’s no voting system in our directory (We think it’s so easily manipulated so how true can it be when a shop is the ‘most popular’?). So we simply collect all the active shops and put them in their respective category.

How is this shopping directory different?

1. Up-to-date

We have visit over hundreds of blogshops from the other shopping directories and realise 1/4 of them are no longer in business. One by one, we emailed hundreds of blogshops which are active. So far, near 250 of them replied. So we can say that these blogshops in our directory are active and replies quickly to emails (That’s one sure sign to tell whether they are serious in their business).

To ensure that our directory is always up-to-date, blogshops which have not update in 6 months time would be removed. So you can be sure that the blogshops found in Malaysia’s Blogshop Online Directory are the most active ones around!

2. Complete

We would include ANY active blogshops around. Yes, even those which don’t link us back (though its always nice to do so). We don’t believe in requiring other blogshops to link us first before including them in the directory. Since there’s no such requirement, in this sense, this directory is complete as compare to the rest.

3. More precise

We’ve included other categories such as ‘swimwear’ and ‘eyewear’. We hope that more categories would enable online shoppers to look for things easily (But since many blogshops sell variety of items, we know there would be overlaps and there can never be ‘precise’ per se)

What do you think?

We realise that many blogshop owners are students and may leave their site for more than 6 months before getting back into business. Hence, this directory might leave out plenty of inactive e-shops but which are still in business. However, we feel that shoppers prefer to shop at e-boutiques which are more consistent and serious about their business. We think its a great idea. How about you?

Go check out the Malaysia’s Blogshops Online Shopping Directory! If you know any e-shops which are active but not included in it, please drop us a message. If you wish to be listed, fill in fill in the form here. Thank you and happy shopping!

p.s: and this is just our elementary shopping directory, we’re still working to improve it!

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I wrote 10 reasons why I love to shop online but I didn’t tell you that it’s a love-hate relationship. As much as I love buying things online, there are things that drives me up the wall and convince me that brick-and-mortar shop will always be around. So I thought I’ll highlight some problems with blogshops.

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I cannot try the clothes on!

I’ve spoken to many shoppers and that is the first problem with shopping online. We cannot touch and feel the clothing, what more trying it on? It turns off a lot of buyers who feel that the fun of shopping lies in going into the changing room, trying the clothes on, look into the mirror and decide whether how the clothes look on you or not.

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What do you hate about buying from blogshops?

Drop us a comment about what you hate about shopping online and we’ll put it in the next entry. Blogshop owners come and refute these statements. We love if all of you would tell us how the problem can be overcome.

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I’ve never bought anything from Ugly Duckling–they are so popular that their clothes are always sold out! It’s not surprising why as they also designs and custom-made some of the clothes.

Fashiono.my  had an exclusive interview with the owner of Ugly Duckling, Miss Tju Siew Li, in her tastefully decorated showroom. The showroom is like a replica of the website! There are pink colour wall, white plaster ceiling, Victorian-style chandelier, white ccounter made of bricks, pink buntings, rubber ducks and more. Check out more photographs at our Facebook page (While you’re at it, add us as a fan to get daily blog updates!)

1. Fashion is about everything pretty. How come you decided to name your shop Ugly Duckling?
The name Ugly Duckling was given by my sister. Initially, I wanted something short and easy to remember. We thought of a few names such as but they are all taken. We then think of something more fairytale-like and finally came up with Ugly Duckling.

2. How did the shop started and how has it grow?
I started with selling my old clothes at Sell Trade Malaysia. Then I created a blogshop at blogshop to sell them and the response was not bad. So I started buying clothes to sell and we slowly improved to be where were are now.

3. We like the design of your boutique! Did you design it yourself?
Its designed by one of our models. She’s very good in designing and is currently working for Padini as visual merchandiser. All the things from the shop we get from IKEA.

4. Do you handle the blogshop all by yourself?
I run this whole job by myself. I take the photos, edit them, upload into the system, set the pricing and deal with customers. The hardest part is to reply to emails as we receive around 80 to 100 emails per update. Thankfully my advertising job is flexible which allow me to spend time running Ugly Duckling.

5. What is the best thing about having a blogshop?
The best part is that I can shop and do business at the same time. Sometimes, I get a few pieces for myself!

6. Worst?
The worst is that I have to be very patient. It’s not easy to entertain everybody and fulfill their wishes. I was scolded a few times and sometimes it’s not my fault. Both buyers and sellers have to be responsible. There are a lot of backout buyers and it’s not right. (We agree, check out buyer’s responsibility)

7. You’re in close contact with pretty clothing all the time. Do you shop or only wear Ugly Duckling Clothing?
Sometimes I see same pieces I bought in Bangsar selling at around RM 80 to RM 100. Now, I go to Bangsar less as I already know the cost price. But I still shop at Topshop. Also, my sister who is working as a stewardess often buy clothing for me when she’s overseas.

8. How long in business? How have things changed?
Nothing much has change. Except that Blogspot is free. My website and domain cost me a lot. Well, then we don’t have models. Since I wanted people to see the full outfit, so I got my friends to be my models. We got a hair saloon to do the models hair and in return we help them advertise [note: the hair saloon is right below Ugly Duckling's showroom!]

9. I see a lot of pinks, lollipops and ribbons in your shop. I feel that when there is a certain style in your clothing and also your showroom. What kind of style of clothing do you bring?
I like something not too girlish, a little quirky and unique. High street style is also not bad.

10. Where do you get inspiration from?
I go through a lot of overseas shop such as Newlook. Sometimes, I also check out magazines like CLEO and Seventeen, though I’m not seventeen. I like to see what’s trendy.

11. I never get to buy anything from your shop because it’s always sold out. Heard that a lot from your customer?
Yes. Actually each design I bring about two or three pieces. So its sold out quickly.

12. I think the pieces very unique. How do you that?
Maybe I’ve got different taste. I’m planning to do own label. I’ve submitted some designs. Unfortunately, the supplier mass made them and them sell to other people. It’s my first time doing it and it’s quite trick. So I’m learning to be more careful and I am looking for suppliers I can trust. At the mean time, we’re selling what’s available in the market.

13. How often can we expect new updates?
At most 3 times per month. It’s not easy as I go overseas to take my stock. When I come back there are still many things to do such as taking photos. Its all very time consuming.

14. What plans do you have for Ugly Duckling?
I plan to start my own label. Maybe expand to selling men’s clothing. Not so fast though. Don’t have time to plan everything. I’m still trying to sort things out.

Now you’ve heard it. If you’ll like to put your hands on any of their items, you may like to drop by at their showroom. Just remember to give Miss Ugly Duckling a call!

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Ugly Duckling Closet
+6012 242 3481
admin@uglyducklingcloset.com
31-1, Jalan Menara Gading 1,
Taman Connaught,
Cheras, 56100 KL,
Malaysia.

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photo credit

When I started to shop online, I saw so many unfamiliar terms which I didn’t understand. What is COD? What does pre-order means? To help you understand the terms (so not to be as clueless as I was), we compiled a list of terms in alphabetical order. Find out the most frequently used terms in blogshops and what they mean.

Available
Available means the item is still not sold. However, due to the fact that most blogshops do not stock up a lot of items of the same design, it may be sold out very quickly.

Back-out customers
Back-out buyers are buyers who had made an order and, before payment is made, cancel the order. Usually, back-out buyers would be blacklisted in the blogshop.

Blacklisted
If a buyer had been blacklisted by a seller, it means that the buyer is no longer welcomed to shop in the particular blogshop. Some blogshop do list the email of the blacklisted buyer on their blog.

Blogshop
An online shopping site which uses free blogger or wordpress service. Blogshops do not usually have their own domain or a shopping cart.

Blogshop owner
A term to refer to the person who owns a blogshop.

Buyer
Customer/consumer/shopper. Its a generic word usually used to describe consumers who buy items online.

Cash deposit machine
A cash deposit is a machine which accept actual cash and deposit them. If a seller offers this payment method, you can transfer actual cash to their account. Note that cash deposit machines do not accept notes below RM10.

Chatbox
A chatbox or c-box is a public chatroom where you can send and receive message to/from other people in the same chatbox. Sellers and buyers utilise the chatbox to communicate live with each other.

COD
An abbreviation for Cash on Delivery.
If a seller provide this type of payment method, it means that seller would pass the item(s) to buyer in exchange of cash. Usually, buyer would suggest a few location convenient to them and do the transaction face-to-face.

COD Location
Locations where COD takes place. It is the place where the buyer and the seller agree to meet up to exchange the item(s) for money. Usually, the place would be determined by the seller. However, sometimes buyer may request for a new place in which the seller will usually obliged if it is convenient.

Courier Service
Faster delivery service such as Poslaju. It requires the recipient’s signature

Delivery
The process of sending items that the buyer had ordered to their address through courier service such as Poslaju.

Deposit
A partial or initial payment of an item. Sellers usually require buyers to pay deposit for pre-order items.

Designer inspired
Designer inspired products are product which design is inspiredfrom famous designers. It is similar, but not the same as the original. Usually, to avoid getting in law suit for stealing someone’s idea, the designs are usually different in colour, material, etc.

E-shop
An online store. It is a wide description which includes blogshops and proper e-commerce site.

Enquiry
Enquiry is the act of asking the seller for more information on an item. It is gathered from from the online community that customer ethnics requires that only buyers who are genuine interested should send enquiries to the buyer.

Bank/fund transfer
Fund transfer is a form of payment method. It can be done online or over the counter.

Item code
A set of numbers and letters given to a certain item. It is usually done to enable the buyer to identify the item easily.

Limited Stock
Limited stock means not many piece of the item is left. If you do not place an quick enough, you may not be able to get the item.

Manual bank Transfer
Fund transfer that is not electronic e.g payment using cash deposit machine

Maybank2u
An electronic service provided by Maybank to enable someone to do banking anytime, anywhere on the Internet

Non-restockable
Non restockable means that the item cannot be restock even if customers request for it. It can be due to many factors such as the items are imported, the suppliers no longer have the items or other reasons.

Non-exchangeable
Items which are non-exchangeable means that if the buyer is not satisfied with the item, the buyer cannot choose another item from the blogshop in exchange of the initial purchased item.

Non-refundable
Items which are non-refundable means that if buyer is not satisfied with the item, the buyer cannot return the item and get the money back.

Online Banking
A computerized service offers by the bank to allow buyers to get online with the bank to transfer funds to the seller.

Order form
An electronic form on blogshop to enable buyer to place an order. Buyer who are interested in an item need only fill in the form and click submit to order.

Payment method
Ways in which payments can be made to sellers. Popular payment method in online shopping includes electronic transfer through Maybank2u, paypal, etc.

Pos Expres
A mailing service offered by Pos Malaysia. It usually reach destination within 2 business days. It is slower than courier but faster than ordinary mail. Unlike Pos Laju, it does not require recipient’s signature.

Pos Laju
A courier service offered by Pos Malaysia. Parcels usually reach destination the next business day to major towns in Malaysia.

Postage
See delivery

Pending
If the item is marked as pending, it is awaiting for confirmation of purchase from the interested buyer.
If you are interested in the particular item and wish to try your luck, you can try to email the buyer to put you in the waiting list had the initial buyer decided to give up the item.

Pre-loved
Pre-loved item is a secondhand item which had previously been owned or used.

Pre-order

According to wikipedia, a pre-order is an ‘order placed for an item which has not yet been released’. It means that buyers can order item(s) in which the seller had not buy. This method allows buyers to know the demand of the item and lower the risk of unsold stocks. Usually the seller would require interested buyer to pay a deposit.

Restockable
Items marked as restockable usually means that the seller is willing to re-order from their supplier to sell to buyers. Usually, seller would only do so if there is popular request.
If the item is already sold out, you can try to email the buyer to show your interest. If the buyer receive enough request, they would probably oblige.

Refundable
It means that items sold could be returned in which buyer will get their money back/change for another item.

Reserved
An item which is reserved means that another buyer had made a confirmation to buy the item but yet to make any payment. If you’re interested in that particular item, you may inform the seller to put you on the waiting-list. If the initial buyer back-out from buying the item, the seller can release it from you.

Reserved with deposit
An item which is reserved with deposit means that the buyer who is interested in the item had reserve the item and pay a sum of money to the seller as deposit.

Return policy
Rules on returning items sold.

Seller
In the online shopping scene, seller refers to the e-shop retailer

Shipping
Look at delivery

Shopping Cart
Shopping cart keeps the list of items a buyer had chosen from the online store. When the buyer is ready to ‘check out’, the buyer could see the list of final purchase before buying the items.

Sold
The item is unavailable as it had been sold. That is unless it is stated as ‘restockable’.

Spammers
A negative term to describe person who floods chatboxes with the same messages.

Terms & conditions
A set of rules set by the sellers that form an agreement with the buyer who orders from them.

Tracking
Parcel tracking is a service offered by courier company to track the status of the parcel.

Anything to add?

We hope that the terms above shed some light to shopping online. Are there any other you don’t understand? Drop a comment and we will add it in our list.

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