African Artisans Get Access to Global Markets as MallForAfrica Launches MarketPlace for African Products

Domestic crafts makers are about to get a huge online exposure for their products. African eCommerce player, MallforAfrica has partnered with the logistics company, DHL, to launch MarketPlace Africa, a new online marketplace for African made products.

Although there are already quite a few e-Commerce websites in Africa, MarketPlace Africa has a different market scope. MarketPlace Africa was created to remove the barriers to buying directly from craftspeople and small enterprises throughout Africa.

MallforAfrica and #DHL are giving #African #merchants a #global stage with the #launch of https://t.co/J7Oem1hJjJ https://t.co/qSRufDtwmk @TechCrunch @DHLAfrica pic.twitter.com/jaubcKBjxR

— DHL Global Trade (@DHLGlobal) July 16, 2018

The service aims to make it easy for African crafts people to list their products online and sell directly to customers in the US and the global market. Using DHL’s existing logistical infrastructure, MarketPlace Africa gives sellers access to over 200 global markets

MarketPlace Africa was created to take the complexity and uncertainty out of buying direct from craftspeople and small enterprises. It “will open the door for African designers and craftspeople and enable customers in the US and the world the ability to purchase authentic African-made products directly from the source,” said Chris Folayan, MallforAfrica CEO.

.@DHLAfrica and @MallforAfrica's new Marketplace Africa platform is helping bring African-made products to the global market

🚛 https://t.co/T7lxvTKgaU #distribution #ecommerce pic.twitter.com/gr03l3vjvB

— Business Chief (@Business_Chief) July 16, 2018

Presently, the digital store focuses on clothing, bags, jewelry, footwear and personal care. “We’re starting off in Nigeria and then we’ll open in Kenya, Rwanda and the rest of Africa, utilizing DHL’s massive network,” said Chris Folayan.

However, selling on the platform is tightly vetted. According to its listing policy, the criteria for selling include: all products must be made in Africa, be of high quality, and sellers must be over 18 years to sell.

Importantly too, MarketPlace Africa uses the Africa Made Product Standards (AMPS) for product verification. AMPS helps to verify if a product is truly made in Africa and to check its level of quality.

MallForAfrica Continues to Push Support for African Ecommerce

Founded in 2011, MallForAfrica has been aiming to solve challenges global consumer goods companies face when entering African markets. On one hand, it has sought to fix problems when Africans buy from abroad. And on the other hand, it aims to fix challenges when Africans sell abroad.

Using a unique payment and delivery system, the platform makes it easy for African consumers to purchase items directly from international online retailers. In 2016, it partnered with US ecommerce giant, eBay to make it easy for Africans to buy on items on the website.

While in 2017, MallForAFrica announced another partnership with eBay, this time allowing Americans buy African goods using eBay’s platform. By August 2017, eBay had access to products from 6 African countries. These include Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Burundi.

MarketPlace Africa is its latest attempt to boost African online ecommerce activities.