A leading e-commerce platform MallforAfrica has set up its office in Kenya.
The company says that the decision was advised by the rising demand for products by UK and US retailers.
MallforAfrica is an online shopping platform selling over 8.5 billion items by over 150 US and UK stores.
Prime examples of renowned retailers are Amazon, Carters, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Topshop UK, Barneys, Footlocker, Sports Direct, M&S, Bloomingdale’s, J. Crew, and others.
Speaking during the official launch of the offices, MallforAfrica Country Manager Naomi Konditi-Kivuvani noted,
“A growing number of Kenyan consumers have been ordering goods through our platform and it makes sense for us to set up our second base in Nairobi”
Konditi-Kivuvani also noted that more Kenyans are becoming tech-savvy and have embraced online shopping. Nevertheless, the challenge of getting genuine international products locally still remains.
She assured those in attendance that MallforAfrica will make it easy for customers to purchase genuine goods from a store of their choice and have it delivered to their doorstep within 15 working days.
She further noted
“…Our platform makes it easy for one to purchase goods from a store of their choice and have it delivered to their doorstep within 15 working days. Additionally, customers can easily pay for their goods through local payment solutions including M-Pesa”
MallforAfrica was founded in 2013 by two Nigerian-born brothers, Tope and Chris, who attended college in the US.
The e-commerce website has since rolled out operations in various parts of the world and its entry into Kenya is seen as the ideal strategy to grow its operations in Africa.
Currently, the e-commerce platform operates in West Africa, UAE, and the Caribbean.How do I place my order from MallforAfrica?
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How do I place my order from MallforAfrica?
It’s pretty simple.
To use the MallforAfrica platform, you have to download the MallforAfrica app and create an account or make your orders via the company’s web.
Consumers can visit the company’s website to register.
You can then proceed to place your order and pay for it.
The order is then delivered to the company’s warehouse in the UK and US after which it is shipped to Africa.
You can either opt to pay for home delivery services or pick your product at the pick-up center which is at the Mirage, Westlands Nairobi.
The entire process from placing an order to receiving it takes between 10 and 15 days.
The reception of e-commerce in Kenya
E-commerce platforms have become popular in Kenya with the likes of Jumia, OLX, and Kilimall leading the pack.
At first, Kenyans were a bit skeptical about online shopping but their attitude towards these platforms is gradually changing.
The benefits of e-commerce can be felt in various industries such as travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
Direct benefits include increased revenue returns and efficient transactions both online and via mobile.
South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria are the leading countries in online shopping in sub-Saharan Africa.
The company hopes to improve online shopping experiences in Kenya.
Konditi-Kivuvani promised a better experience by noting,
“We are going to revolutionize the e-commerce space in Kenya, with a safe, reliable and cost-effective service to access international high-quality products”.
The increased penetration of smartphone and data use will help online shopping efforts since this means a wider reach.
