This archive report was first published on 18 May 2020.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, governments worldwide are advising citizens to adopt technologies that minimize physical contact. This shift has led to a surge in online shopping, with e-commerce platforms emerging as key players in the retail industry.
One such platform is Sky.Garden, an e-commerce platform that is giving retailers an opportunity to connect to the digital market for free. Founded in response to the pandemic, Sky.Garden is helping small businesses reach a wider audience without incurring any entry or registration fees.
According to Sky.Garden's Chief Marketing Officer, Isaac Hunja, the platform works on a commission-based model, taking an 8% service fee on every transaction. Sellers can easily set their prices, with two fields available: 'Your Price' and 'Sales Price'. The 'Your Price' is the amount the seller will receive, while the 'Sales Price' includes the 8% service fee.
However, Hunja notes that fraud is a major challenge faced by retailers during this crisis. Many informal marketplaces lack sophisticated e-commerce platforms, making it difficult for businesses to present themselves and their products as legitimate.
To address this issue, Sky.Garden has developed a fully stocked inventory management system that allows business owners to upload products, specify price points, stock levels, and variants. Once products are uploaded, they appear on the customer marketplace, which is accessible through the website www.sky.garden. Each business owner receives a unique link for their web shop and each product, enabling them to share it with their networks directly from the app.
Another significant problem faced by businesses is distribution. With Sky.Garden, business owners can have their products delivered for free, with the platform ensuring end-to-end fulfillment of orders. After a product is successfully delivered, the seller is paid immediately through mobile money (M-PESA).
