Written by Vase.ai | Sep 30, 2025 7:56:39 AM
This week, our team took the stage at Retail Summit Asia 2025 to answer one big question the organisers asked us: “Do you have retail shopping data that could help both physical and e-commerce retailers grow?”
We did fresh from a survey we ran just last month with 400 Malaysian shoppers to uncover the latest retail behaviour in Malaysia. And in three fast-paced sessions, we shared 11 consumer insights and 12 practical growth hacks to help retailers grow online and offline sales.
Here’s the full breakdown plus how these insights connect with the Retail Shopping Trends Malaysia 2025 report so you can act on them right away.
What We Covered at Retail Summit Asia 2025
Session 1: Unlocking Growth with Smart Discounting
🔍 Insight 1: Malaysians Live for Promotions
Half of Malaysian shoppers buy only when there are promotions. They do not just like a good deal; they plan for it. Many delay purchases until sales go live, which creates clear and predictable buying waves. For retailers, this means you can plan campaigns and inventory around known promo cycles. If you miss those windows, you risk missing your customers’ main buying trigger.
⚡ Hack 1: Burst & Repeat Flash Sales
Run short, sharp flash sales lasting 48 to 72 hours instead of long discount periods that drain margin and attention. Shopee’s 9.9 campaign drove a 6.5 times sales spike and over 100 million user interactions. You do not need that scale to see impact. Timed bursts create excitement, urgency, and habitual shopping.
🔍 Insight 2: Malaysians Shop Frequently
It is not just promotions pulling shoppers in. More than 40 percent shop weekly and over 70 percent shop at least every 2 to 3 weeks. Shopping here is routine, part social outing and part necessity. If your brand only shows up a few times a year, you risk losing visibility and relevance.
⚡ Hack 2: Use Basket Thresholds to Nudge Spend
Review your average basket size and raise your free shipping or perk threshold 15 to 20 percent above it. Shoppers will stretch their cart to reach the next reward. Bundle bestsellers with slower movers to help them cross the line. This gentle nudge quietly increases average order value without feeling pushy.
🔍 Insight 3: Price Is King, But Patience Is Thin
Malaysians still look for good prices, but equally important is speed. Online buyers expect fast delivery, while physical shoppers want to walk out with the product right away. Pairing attractive pricing with rapid fulfilment is what seals the deal before shoppers change their mind or click away.
⚡ Hack 3: Monetise Immediacy
Offer express delivery or instant click and collect at a 5 to 10 percent premium. Many are happy to pay a little more to skip the wait. This satisfies the “I want it now” mindset while protecting your margin.
⚡ Hack 4: Click and Collect as a Permanent Channel
Click and collect is no longer a temporary solution. Add clear pickup stations and send instant SMS or app notifications when an order is ready. Customers get online convenience plus offline speed, and you drive foot traffic for upsell opportunities.
Session 2: Enabling Try Anywhere, Buy Everywhere
Want the full insights & downloadable slides?