THE MOST RELIABLE SHOPPING MALL
Kilimall, a Kenyan online shopping mall, established in 2014 hosts hundreds of different goods from more than 2000 local and international merchants. The company was started to address the high cost of imported products in Kenya. “In the traditional ways of trading there are many middlemen in the supply chain, and the margin increases each time the product switches hands. This makes the price in Kenya almost three times more expensive than in developed economies. I think that technology and internet can change this and reduce the costs”- company CEO
Kilimalls network of merchants operate by either selling their products via the platform or through physical outlets, with some small traders operating from their home. The company offers its merchants free warehousing in Nairobi, from where sold goods are transported by the firm’s fleet of motorcycles and vehicles. The value proposition offered to merchants is cost saving, in that they do not have to pay goodwill, rent, electricity or warehousing and in turn receive access to a wider market. Customers are either able to choose their purchases, ranging from home appliances and electronics to fashion items from Kilimall’s series of offline locations or from the Kilimall website itself.
The company also boasts a strong quality assurance team to make sure each product delivered to customers is authentic and in good condition. The site is positioning itself as offering Kenyans the benefits of e-commerce which simplifies the product supply chain, keeping prices competitive, and allow for shopping convenience. According to Kilimall's marketing director Kariuki Maina: “Other e-commerce players are basically retailers, that is, they source for products from traders then sell at a profit. We're a platform that gives traders professional service where they can manage their shops. Each merchant has his own unique back-end where they can be able to track their shops' activities in real- time."Kilimall has been cited for its innovative strategies in attempting to attract shoppers to its online space. In 2014, Kilimall initiated negotiations with the Kenyan government and the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority to allow it to use unmanned drones to deliver goods to its customers. In January 2015 Kilimall launched a new business model dubbed “Flash Sale” which aims at cutting buying costs to online shoppers for selected products at specific times. The company’s Operations Director Qui Wen explains that the model of flash sales is intended to fulfil the e-commerce ideal objective of making online shopping cost effective to its customers. “Since Kenya has embraced technology, we intent to open more time-saving and convenient ideas hence encourage more people to opt for online shopping”
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