Meet the King & Queen of Facebook Live Shopping
A Q&A with the Belizean entrepreneurs that keep dominating our Facebook feeds
Scrolling through Facebook, you’ll find your feed peppered with multiple Livestreams of people selling clothing in real time to their viewers. Like the majority of the world, people have had to pivot during a COVID-19 era, and one of the more popular outlets Belizean thrift stores and small entrepreneurs have turned to is Facebook Live.
While there is an umpteenth amount of Belizean thrift stores-turned-digital, there are two particular individuals who have dominated the online community in Belize, raking in thousands of viewers a post. Meet Jordan McLaughlin and Abin Lima.
Tangamangapio – Abin Lima
Abin Lima is a 16-year-old high schooler from Ranchito, Corozal. His first Facebook Live was back in October 2020, on his mother’s Facebook, where he sold clothing his sister obtained from her previous job. The venture came about after Abin claimed he was bored due to the pandemic. Unbeknownst to them, Abin’s popularity would skyrocket, leading to the boy eventually receiving more than three thousand views on December 28’s Live, where his presence then became iconic amongst Belizean Facebookers and garnering the attention of some local news outlets.
Abin resonated with many, with his on-screen dance moves, jokes and humble charm. Supporters flooded the comments, and in no time, he began receiving merch and gift baskets, and more views with each post.
What did you used to do before selling on Facebook Live?
Abin Lima (AL): [Our family] used to sell bread and “capricho,” like food fast food, burritos, tostadas, salbutes, empanadas. Then I was selling some clothes that I had in front of my house. My dad made me a little palapa and right there I put my t-shirts, brand new t-shirts that my sister brought from her job she was working at [Free] Zone. It wasn’t quite selling, so I stopped and the shirts were all there stacked up. I kept seeing Live, Live, lots of people selling on [Facebook] Live and so one day I decided to do one.
His mother, Marbella Catzim, spoke on Abin’s ever-present salesman charisma.
Marbella Catzim (MC): He has always been like this, always helping. When he sees that we don’t have like to eat chicken, he says, “Mommy, mommy! I want to sell; make bread for me I will sell it.” He then goes all over the neighborhood and ask if they want to buy bread. The next day, he does it all over again.
How did your first Live go? Were you nervous?
AL: I was like so nervous; I forgot the codes! My first live I was like, ‘oh my god.’ I didn’t know how to put the Live on public, I was putting it on private. My cousin who does Lives told me that I need to put it in public mode because a lot of people wanted to comment. [It became] my second business. I used to sell one-dollar, five-dollar, clothing. I started doing more and more, so eventually the nervousness was taken away.
We noticed the word you used became a big hit, with even Caye Design Studio supplying you with your own merch and others making t-shirts out of you. How did the word “Tangamangapio” come about?
AL: It just popped up in my head! Though some people said it was a village in Mexico *laughs*. I was selling some underwear for female, and I called it a ‘tangamangapio,’ like “Come get your tangamangapios! Buy your tangamangapios!’ That went big, so lots of people started to come [to the Live.]
Why do you think so many people flock to your Lives?
AL: Because of the dances I did and the jokes I was making, and just the way I sell. When I saw 1k viewers I wanted to cry, then I saw 2k and when I saw that we made it to 3k, I was so happy I wanted to cry my eyes out. I don’t know how to describe it. But some people started to comment negative comments and they started to block off my live or reporting my live on Facebook.
Did these negative responses affect you?
AL.: Yes, I started to cry because it was like people were just reporting the Live, I don’t know why, I think they were jealous. But I just left the negative comments, I don’t care.
MC: It affected him a lot, that night he was crying and many people were calling him and people were letting him know he should continue to do more [Lives] and ignore comments.
How often do you do your lives?
A.L.: After I finish deliver all the things people purchased, I deliver all of them in one or two days, I finish all deliveries and then the next day I do a Live. With the help of my dad, I deliver everything on my bicycle.
What do your parents think of your new venture?
AL: They are so happy; they are so proud of me.
MC: [His popularity] was a surprise. The first time, he was nervous and he was not selling a lot but he said, “I will continue, I don’t care if I sell only 2 or 3 pieces.” He’s happy, doesn’t care if he sells a little or a lot.
Abin has his own Facebook page now, where he now conducts and shares his Facebook Lives, which range from 3k views to even 33k.
Discounts, vibes & lotta holy wata – Jordan McLaughlin
Tuning in to Facebook Live on Rubi’s Quality Clothing, you will be greeted by a warm smile and positively riotous personality that encompasses none other than Jordan McLaughlin. Jordan’s signature laugh reaches many Orange Walkeños through their phones as she holds up a dress, bra or even liquor up to the screen. The more views she receives, the more we are convinced people come for the clothing and stay for the Jordan-ness.
Jordan McLaughlin is an Orange Walk native with a license in Gastronomy from the Universidad Viscaya in neighboring Chetumal, Mexico. Like many of us, the pandemic had her move back home for the time being, and being the compassionate busy-body she is, Jordan offered to help her mother and sister-in-law sell their clothing on Facebook Live. She has since been proclaimed the “number one” in Facebook Livestream selling by many of her viewers, even catching the eye of well-known distillery Travellers Liquors. Though her jokes and “realness” are what people love about her, Jordan’s constant companion is her “holy water,” a bottle of alcohol she nurses responsibly throughout the two-hour Lives to keep up with the ‘hype.’
How did you first start selling on Facebook Live?
Jordan McLaughlin: Actually, that is my mom’s and sister-in-law’s business. They had this clothing business in the market but because of this pandemic and people not respecting social distancing, they decided to try a little Live, to see how this goes. That is what became the catalyst of this and the whole Covid-19 situation.
Travellers Liquors got you to host their Christmas Bazaar Facebook Livestream back in December. How did that come about?
JM: I was actually doing a sale for a very well-known person here in Orange Walk, and this Live actually became very popular because it’s clothing that is very much to date right now. Pretty Little Thing, stuff like that, and they were selling at really nice prices, $15, $20. So that right there got a lot of views, a lot of people fighting, a lot of fun I would say. And I have something I call my ‘holy water’ *laughs*. So this right here this is very special to me because it gives me that extra hype, easy and simple. I would have my holy water and Hernan Perez (from Travellers) saw this and he said, “oh she’s very charismatic and wow she drinks but not like crazy.” He actually contacted me via the live and I didn’t notice until my sister mentioned it to me. The day after, I received a message via Facebook as I usually do and it was Hernan explaining to me he likes my way of talking in front of the camera, etc. and that was it; he just asked me to do this show.
Do you like doing these sorts of entertainment?
JM: You know me since high school, I believe I have always been very, very flagrant. I’ve been that way and I think that’s just me being in front of the camera being me and you know I’ve never been shy.
Why do you think so many people enjoy watching your Lives?
JM: Because I keep it real. Because if the thing is ugly, I will say, “this thing ugly but everyone has their cup of tea, but this is not mine, honey, but if you like it, that’s you!” I will be very straightforward. Like okay, I know this thing ugly but it’s only 3 dollars! I would convince them, “do you want three dollars tacos or a brassiere?”
When things go back to normal, do you see yourself continuing these Lives since they’ve been so successful?
JM: I’m going to tell you a secret, I’m not really into the selling clothes live, I’m into helping my mom. What I would love to do is my own show; the same charismatic Jordan but cooking. To show how I do it, and when I’m done be like, “I got 5 of these available who wants it? Come get them!” They would know how to do it at home if they wanted. But I don’t know yet because I have nowhere to do that yet, it’s just something I would like to do. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch. Like I told my mom, I studied to be a chef but I want to go to the U.S., go on Top Chef but, boom, all of this stuff happened and you get stuck in one place. I’m like okay, sure let’s do Live, it’s a new outlet. I don’t know, maybe I’m just a dreamer, who knows?
Jordan is also open to helping those who are shy yet wish to Marie Kondo their closet via selling on Facebook Live. You can watch her in action on Rubi’s Quality Clothing on Facebook.
Kindly note some copy has been edited and formatted from Creole to English for clarity.
Congrats to Abin for his 3K views. He is very humble and love his charisma. Very hard working young man.
Wow Im So proud of my sobrina!! Very charismatic,shes outspoken like her dad, and has the humour of her mom.