If you stay in Africa, eCommerce is not new to you as even before the days of Konga and Jumia, there were still many small players that just didn’t embrace PR and that’s why you forgot them faster than they came.
A new player dubbed Zidoff.com, has launched and wants to Africa’s first global eCommerce marketplace providing Business to Consumer services to it’s global customer base. According to the firm, customers can buy a wide range of products including Electronics, Fashion, Computers, Books from various merchants worldwide, from over 150 countries.
According to Charles Edegbe, Founder and CEO, Zidoff e-Commerce Limited, “We have created a platform where Africans and the world over, can shop globally without barriers. Our ability to establish direct partnerships with global brands, do volume purchases, which translates into significant discounts, reduced shipping costs, results in savings, which are passed on to our buyers.”
Just some basics. Zidoff wants to sell to everyone in the world. The firm says it’s securing partnerships with merchants worldwide to list their goods to buyers worldwide. The firm says it wants to create a global marketplace without borders, provide more buying options to online shoppers and building their confidence in global trade.
Backed by Challydoff Limited, an Information Technology Consulting, Services and Software firm, Zidoff.com gives merchants customized store fronts and auctions dubbed the Zidoff Merchants Store Front for quick sales. Buyers can pay for products online using MasterCard, Visa, Verve and e-Transact debit / credit cards, or by Bank wire transfer to Zidoff and the transactions are kept and protected until buyers confirm delivery of the ordered item(s).
The firm says it has partnered with renowned global delivery companies, such as DHL, FedEx and EMS, to deliver all its orders to customers in time.
Begining from Nigeria, the firms aims to serve the growing global online community everywhere and is banking on discounts, low prices, direct purchases from global merchants and free global shipping on select items. Though this is great move, we think the firm is too ambitious and might not even serve the Nigerian population like Konga and Jumia is doing, let alone the world. However, everyone’s dreams are valid and we look forward to them providing value for your money.
Just yesterday, we covered another startup in Ibadan also backed by an ICT solutions firm promising to disrupt e-commerce in Nigeria and beyond.