MallforAfrica.com, the online store founded in Nigeria six years ago, plans to expand to a further 20 countries in the continent in the next two years, starting with Kenya.
Along with 500 other startups, MallforAfrica.com recently partnered to create a coalition that will showcase the investment opportunities in the continent. As part of this tour, co-founder Tope Folayan revealed that the company plans to seize on these opportunities, starting with East Africa. According to data disclosed late March, Kenya is seen as the market with greatest e-commerce potential in the region and where the expansion should start from. However, this is part of a broader plan to be operating in 20 other African countries by 2019.
MallforAfrica.com is an online platform that allows African customers to buy products from leading international retailers, while paying and picking up their orders locally. One of the partnerships announced by the company allows international eBay sellers to have access to the African market without eBay needing to be actually present in African countries. Products sold on eBay will be showcased in MallforAfrica.com and available for users to buy. Other existing partnerships include retailers such as Amazon, BestBuy, Topshop UK, Barneys, Bloomingdale’s and J. Crew.
MallforAfrica.com’s expansion happens at a time where e-commerce is clearly on the rise in African retail. Just last week, Ghanaian retailer Melcom announced the launch of its online store and Jumia and Mastercard partnered to create a new cashless payment solution.
