As prospects of viable e-commerce business in Zimbabwe increase, startups are launching to meet the opportunities. One such startup, MyZimStore.com, has launched a network of websites to sell gifts and flowers online. The site?s target customers are both internet users in the country and those in the Diaspora.
The network of websites, all centered on the MyZimStore domain, comprises the following websites: myzimflorist.com, myzimgifts.com, myzimwine.com, myzimjewel.com, ourzimwedding.com and myzimleisure.com. According to co-founder Roddy Chakaipa, the idea behind the different addresses for what looks like related products was to create a network of sites that are separate businesses so that they didn?t saturate a single site with too many types of products.
The products sold on the sites are delivered anywhere in the greater Harare area by the next day.
?We didn?t want to deliver just another supermarket solution but something that offers exclusive product and service? said Chakaipa in his communication to us. ?We realized this type of service for specialised goods was so lacking in Zimbabwe and also driven by the fact that people in the diaspora are not able to attend many events such as birthdays, funerals, anniversaries, graduations etc, so how best could they show love and support,? he explained their motivation.
So far MyZimStore.com uses the 2checkout payment processing platform as well direct deposits into their local bank account. He said though that they are looking to implement EcoCash as an option for their local customers. The websites themselves use the Magento open source e-commerce platform.
The other founders of the startup are Jo Powell and Karen Bean. The team feels the time is ripe to get into e-commerce as according to Chakaipa, online business in Zimbabwe as the industry ?is on the verge of exploding.
MyZimStore.com are not the first to target the Diaspora with an online shopping service that delivers to Zimbabwean addresses. Other e-commerce sites with this model include magrosa.com and zimseller.com . A number of websites were also set up during Zimbabwe?s hyper inflationary era to address basic commodity challenges faced in Zimbabwe at the time. Some have since shut down or scaled down operations.
Source: http://www.techzim.co.zw/2013/02/zim-startup-launches-gifts-e-commerce-site-network/
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