You don't have to depend on this platform alone for such if you are genuine in your endeavour. E-commerce is better marketed in social media space so use your handle to market through your social media friends in Facebook, YouTube, X etc. There you have friends who already know you either physically and you can relate with them P2P, your worth will be appreciated with them more.
I think asking that here is not a bad thing, there's no harm in asking here, even though the market on social media is bigger.
but maybe he might find a partner here, who knows, right?
Yeah. I think I didn't ask him outrightly not to request here but I mean he shouldn't depend on the platform and like you admitted, he needs the social media more for the kind of product he would be looking for. He needs people who might want to see him physically especially if they are in close location. Moreover, pictures and his picture are selling point for people to know him.