Leading e-commerce platform, Jumia, has introduced a new service to customers dubbed ‘Jumia Mall’.
This is a curated section on the platform that allows customers to easily identify the official distributors of leading brands on the site. By providing this transparency, customers can choose to buy directly from their favorite brands or from the wider marketplace.
“We are on a mission to build trust in online shopping. As part of this, we have partnered with over 50 brands to launch their Official Online Stores with Jumia Mall. Through this, we seek to attract new customers into the online shopping category, for the benefit of both our brands and wider marketplace vendors” said Jumia Kenya CEO Sam Chappatte.
To celebrate the introduction of the new category, the company will hold a week-long Jumia Mall Campaign from 16th – 22nd September to sensitize customers to the new service.
Customers who log onto the Jumia platform will have a choice to buy from Jumia Mall (official brands), Jumia Global (international vendors) or a large number of quality-vetted local resellers (the marketplace).
Speaking to a Business Today reporter at the launch, the Managing Director for BLU smartphones in East Africa Mohammed Dalmar said that Jumia Mall is an amazing opportunity for E-Commerce to grow in the country.
“BLU Smartphones has been the number one bestseller on Amazon in the US for the last seven years which means technically we get 30% of the company revenue from E-Commerce. What we are hoping is that Jumia Mall can emulate that and use it as a way to go. Generally, it is a good platform and we have no doubt that it will be a useful system that will see E-Commerce grow in the country,” Dalmar noted.
BLU smartphones, an American company based in Miami, is one of the 50 brands which will have online shops on the new Jumia Mall.
Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer Hisense has also partnered with Jumia as the official distributor of Hisense products under Jumia Mall in a bid to strengthen its online presence locally.
“Jumia has been our most strategic partner over the years, helping us reach more customers through their platform and marketing channels,” said Hisense Head of Marketing Manish Bhami, adding that “Hisense will continue to sell the latest innovations in technology, including affordable appliances and TVs on Jumia Mall.”
Ramtons Director Ronak Popat whose company has also partnered with Jumia for the Jumia Mall said that the introduction of the digital mall is a step towards the right direction.
“Internet penetration is pretty healthy in Kenya and it’s growing but the issue is a small fraction of people actually shop online. Research from our sides suggests that the main reason this doesn’t happen is because of logistics and mostly trust,” Popak told Business Today.
“Jumia Mall overcomes that trust barrier and adds an additional level of authenticity to the shopping experience,” he added.
