AVEDSON MARKETPLACE: First e-commerce marketplace launched in Micronesia

PC Bargain is known for selling gadgets and equipment products. When they expanded their offered products to groceries and apparel in 2022 for their Saipan branch and 2023 for their Guam branch, it resulted in the founding of Avedson, LLC—Micronesia’s first e-commerce marketplace website—to solely sell products online.

With the success of the Avedson, LLC website for PC Bargain, owner Leo Legaspi decided to offer it to third-party sellers in Micronesia and U.S. personal shoppers which led to the creation of Avedson Marketplace (www.avedson.com).

“I want to help the local businesses on Saipan who don’t have a website, who are not yet doing business online. The advantage of having the iWebsite is to sell their products not only on Saipan, but the opportunity to expand their market in Micronesia with a population of more than 500,000 compared to Saipan’s population of less than 50,000. That’s why Avedson, LLC created an online marketplace so all local businesses could grow their businesses or may create more small businesses on the islands, including Rota and Tinian. Their local produce can sell directly to residents in Guam and nearby islands through the Avedson Marketplace website,” said Legaspi.

How does it work:

• Go to their website www.avedson.com to register for free.

• Upon approval of the registration as seller, you will have to set up and customize your online store wherein a set-up guide will be provided.

• The seller can now put their products that they would like to sell.

• The seller can utilize Avedson Marketplace’s marketing tools to attract customers.

• The seller can keep track their orders and manage customer interactions through the platform.

• The seller will have an opportunity to grow their business by monitoring their sales and adjusting their strategies as needed to continue growing.

Avedson Marketplace earns 10%-12% from the seller’s total sold items for the month.

Legaspi also added that while most products are welcome, there are guidelines and restrictions on certain items and Avedson Marketplace’s policies are included when setting up your store.

Meanwhile on the shipping part, he said that Avedson Marketplace provides tools and resources to help them manage the shipping, but they need to handle the logistics. They offer support to ensure their products reach customers efficiently.

Avedson Marketplace currently has 20 third-party sellers in Guam and Saipan; five U.S personal shoppers in California; two in Honolulu, Hawaii; two in Texas; and one in New York.

One of the most effective marketing strategies for Legaspi is their weekly live selling and/or webinar on their Facebook page.

“Almost one year now we are doing live from the Guam branch, our sales grew more, I am very hands on in our weekly webinars which schedule is every Monday in U.S. personal shoppers (Monday, 6pm California time); every Tuesday webinars for Saipan and Guam aspiring sellers (Tuesday, 7pm, Saipan time),” he said.

Avedson Marketplace is located at Courtney’s Plaza Building in Chalan Kanoa (right after the stoplight at the U.S. Post Office). You can also email www.avedson.com for more details.