ETMall, a subsidiary of Eastern Media International Corporation (2614), announced today (12th) that its consolidated revenue from the first three quarters, including Strawberrynet and Mama Bear Shopping, reached NT$20.78 billion, showing an annual growth rate of 18.5%, and consolidated net earnings of NT$1.28 billion. This shows a 31.2% increase from last year with a net earnings per share (EPS) of NT$12.63. The fourth quarter has traditionally been a peak season for e-commerce. This year, the sales from Double 11 and Double 12 shopping festivals have been further strengthened by the government-funded Quintuple Stimulus Voucher, promising extremely high sales. ETMall has placed its estimated net annual revenue at NT$32 billion.

For the first three quarters of this year, ETMall has experienced steady sales growth thanks to the pandemic, which has boosted demand for e-commerce. However, this growth is mainly attributed to ETMall’s diverse channels and steady operational strategies. The company plans to continue to expand its proprietary self-branded products and e-commerce channels. ETMall started offering proprietary brand products in 2015. This year, self-branded products in ETMall accounted for 35% of the company’s revenue and 60% of the profits. According to ETMall estimates, the average monthly sales of food products this year increased by 15% compared to last year. Notably, the growth rate of self-branded food products exhibited an impressive height of 118%, accounting for 26% of the revenue.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic last year, traditional retail industries in Taiwan have been greatly affected. In response, ETMall actively worked with established brands to launch a variety of co-branded products sold through the ETMall e-commerce platform which boosted company sales growth. The top 10 best-selling self-branded products include: VIVA nut products, CooKing kits, Ayi Baoyu beef noodles, Anlene milk powder, and Taiwan Adventists Hospital ready-to-eat meals. Among them, the CooKing kits sold a record 650,000 packs in 5 months, creating NT$30 million in sales. The latest launch of the EHS Select Jinbo-selection Jam’s Noodles set also instantly sold out the full stock of 12,000 sets as it became available. As for lifestyle self-branded products, Eastern Group, Namchow Group, and TCI BIO co-branded long-lasting antibacterial laundry detergent became the latest best seller with a certified antibacterial effect of up to 168 hours.

The pandemic has caused a clear shift in consumption patterns, and the growth in the e-commerce sector is particularly evident. For the first three quarters, ETMall’s annual growth in sales was 18.1%, but the annual growth rate of the online sales segment was a much higher 57.1%. Even though the pandemic in Taiwan is now subsiding, online shopping habits developed by the public during this period have resulted in ETMall’s online sales in September still growing by 37.4% compared to the same quarter last year. This shows that e-commerce is still a highly-promising industry in the post-pandemic era.

Going into the last quarter of the year, there are still several events, including the Double 11 and Double 12 shopping festivals as well as the government-funded Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers set to launch on October 8. ETMall is further boosting sales during the quarter with a “Stimulate the Economy and Get Bonuses from Eastern” limited event. Those who register for the event are qualified to receive a gift box worth NT$5,000 including ET coins, site-wide coupons, gift cards, Eastern Natural Beauty face masks and beauty course promotional price offers, and ETtoday Pets cosmetic coupons. The 20,000 limited gift boxes immediately ran out over two different registration sessions. A third session may be offered in the future depending on demand.

However, Eastern Group is as concerned about future financial prospects as it is about the health and well-being of its employees. The group has led the industry in announcing free universal PCR testing and vaccine insurance for all employees. Later in June, the group further announced a salary increase for entry-level personnel. The long list of benefits has led to ETMall receiving the Gold Award in the Happy Enterprise Awards organized by 1111 Job Bank. Eastern Group was also awarded a Special Award for its charitable contributions during the pandemic, cementing its position as a bona fide “Happy Enterprise.”