The BEMA Store leads online shopping platforms

Virtual markets supported by the growth of e-commerce have inspired the Botswana Export Manufacturers Association (BEMA) to grow its multi-vendor e-commerce website designed to create an online marketplace simultaneously used by both sellers and buyers.

Developed in 2020, the platform provided a safe and opportune way for people to buy and sell products virtually during and after COVID-19 lockdowns. It has now passed its pilot phase and is set for expansion.

It has grown to become one of Botswana’s leading online shopping platforms. The growth is both in terms of the user base and in the range and number of products on offer.

“So far, the platform has sold over 1500 products and generated revenue of over P350 000 from August 2020 to December 2022,” said BEMA Chief Executive Officer, Mmantlha Sankoloba, adding, “We aim to grow the revenue to monthly sales of P1 500 000 by increasing the product offerings, inviting more sellers, and marketing the platform locally and internationally.”

The online store allows vendors to operate as separate shops with a dedicated area of the store backend where vendors can manage their product catalogues, shipping or courier, their orders, and payment transactions.

Sankoloba said the platform is the most efficient and lowest-cost sales channel in the African market.

BEMA Store currently sells downloadable files such as e-Books, music, movies, and videos, as well as physical goods.

“The leading category of local products sold on the platform is music, both downloadable and physical CDs, followed by fashion or clothing,” said Sankoloba.

And so far, BEMA Store has attracted both local and international buyers. The international buyers are from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Norway, Europe, China, and the Americas.

Supported by Absa through the Visa payment platform, BEMA intends to onboard more payment options such as PayPal, coupon payments, and EFT.

“BEMA Stores is currently working on integrating with the Pan African Payment Settlement System (PAPSS) developed by AFREXIM Bank in line with AfCFTA,” said Sankoloba.

Sankoloba believes that BEMA Store is a perfect solution for selling, as it offers sophisticated e-commerce tools with a minimum of investment to clients.

“We have introduced new effective marketing campaigns; goods on the site are exposed to a high volume of traffic. “We believe that by selling on the BEMA Store e-commerce platform, sellers can benefit a great deal,” said Sankoloba.

She highlighted that through BEMA Store, sellers get expanded access to the global market without any geographical limits, and customers can browse your store at any time and order goods 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Establishment and operation costs are much lower because an online store does not require a physical shop and can be operated from any location at any time. In addition, compared to traditional physical stores, other costs such as marketing and other fixed costs are almost nonexistent.”

Meanwhile, BEMA is collecting data from its online customers that will be analysed to gain a better understanding of consumer buying preferences and demand. Based on this, marketing activities will be conducted to improve the transaction rate of orders.

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