Online platform for selling of craft and expertise aims to help the vulnerable

SINGAPORE – A new online platform has been set up to allow people to hawk their craft and skills, with an eye to helping vulnerable groups like single mothers, ex-offenders and low-income senior citizens gain regular work.

Deal'n, the brainchild of Ms Nadia Al Sheikh, 45, allows anyone to create an online business profile that they can then use to list their products for sale or expertise for hire, say, to conduct a cooking class.

But listings by vulnerable individuals will be prioritised whenever someone searches for a particular product or service, said Ms Al Sheikh, who drew inspiration from her own struggles as a single mother raising a son on her own.

"I know how tough it is when you are trying to overcome personal problems and trying to work," she added, expressing hope that the new platform could help some of these vulnerable individuals become "productive members" of the community.

The platform, launched in September, has more than active 200 users currently. Users are charged 10 per cent for every successful business transaction.

"If every member in the community can become productive, that means they (can) be earning a certain amount of income … you'll feel more independent, your level of confidence is higher, your self-esteem is better, you feel happier about yourself … it's a complete circle," said Ms Al Sheikh, who came up with the idea for Deal'n while studying for a Masters degree at Insead last year.

To prevent fraud and potential abuse of the platform, she works with non-governmental organisations like the Singapore Environment Council, Diamonds on the Street and Daughters of Tomorrow (Dot) to identify and reach out to vulnerable individuals who might benefit from the platform's features.

The Deal'n team also monitors each transaction to make sure that the product or service is delivered before the payment is released.

Dot executive director Carrie Tan said the Deal'n platform could help some of their beneficiaries earn an income, particularly those who have difficulties in finding jobs that can accommodate their caregiving duties at home. Dot's beneficiaries are women aged 20 to 60 from low-income families.

The Deal'n team could also help some of them start and develop their own business, added Ms Tan.

Ms Aema Salim, 52, a Dot beneficiary who had attended one such session with Deal'n recently, said it got her thinking more seriously about setting up a business through the platform.

"I have so many ideas but I didn't know where to start or how to do it," said the mother of three children, aged 10 to 20.

Ms Salim, who has just created an e-store on Deal'n called Aema Trading, said she is now thinking of selling her homemade sambal chili – something she used to sell to her neighbours in Malaysia before returning to Singapore after her divorce.