Eva Nyambura
MallforAfrica shopping App has collaborated with DHL, an express courier delivery company and have launched an e-commerce website MarketPlaceAfrica.com, where skilled Africans will promote their products to people across DHL’s 220 supply nations.
The shopping app is already vetting sellers with their priority being fashion items; clothes, jewellery, footwear of high quality with the aim being putting African craftspeople on the map.
“We’re starting off in Nigeria and then we’ll open in Kenya, Rwanda and the rest of Africa, utilizing DHL’s massive network,” says MallforAfrica CEO Chris Folayan.
The venture has backing from a private equity investing firm operating in Africa and based in London, Helios Investment Partners and American department store chain, Macy’s.
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Folayan notes that the company does not release financial performance figures, but says it now ships to 17 countries, averages a ton a day of goods shipped to Africa, and plans to grow by 3-4 times this year over 2017.
In partnership with eBay, MallforAfrica launched eBay Powered by MallforAfrica platform, which allowed US vendors to sell in Africa back in 2016.
Africa’s e-commerce space will according to experts exceed Ksh7.5 trillion ($75 billion) in revenue by 2025 despite the continent’s socio-economic challenges.
“There are 175 million [online shopping] users today and there will be 600 million users in 2025. Internet penetration is 16% today and will be 50% in 2025. There are 57 million people who have smartphones in Africa and there will be 360 million in 2025. There are clear opportunities,” predicts Emilian Popa, Groupon South Africa’s former CEO.
Jumia, formerly known as Africa Internet Group was in 2016 valued at Ksh100 billion ($1 billion dollars).
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