This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
September 13, 2019 - Jumia, a leading e-commerce platform in Kenya, has taken a significant step in building trust in online shopping with the introduction of Jumia Mall.
Launched on September 16th, Jumia Mall is a curated section on the platform that allows customers to easily identify the official distributors of leading brands on the site. This move aims to provide transparency to customers, enabling them to choose between buying directly from their favorite brands or from the wider marketplace.
According to Jumia Kenya CEO Sam Chappatte, the company is on a mission to build trust in online shopping. '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.'
As part of the launch, Jumia will hold a week-long Jumia Mall Campaign from September 16th to 22nd to sensitize customers to the new service. Customers will have the option to buy from Jumia Mall (official brands), Jumia Global (international vendors), or a large number of quality-vetted local resellers (the marketplace).
BLU smartphones, an American company based in Miami, is one of the 50 brands that will have online shops on the new Jumia Mall. BLU Smartphones Managing Director for East Africa, Mohammed Dalmar, expressed optimism about the platform, stating, 'Jumia Mall is an amazing opportunity for E-commerce to grow in the country.'
Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer Hisense has also partnered with Jumia as the official distributor of Hisense products under Jumia Mall. Hisense Head of Marketing, Manish Bhami, noted that 'Jumia has been our most strategic partner over the years, helping us reach more customers through their platform and marketing channels.'
Other brands, including Ramtons, have also partnered with Jumia for the Jumia Mall. Ramtons Director, Ronak Popat, stated that the introduction of the digital mall is a step towards the right direction, adding that 'Jumia Mall overcomes that trust barrier and adds an additional level of authenticity to the shopping experience.'
