Jumia Black Friday. [Photo/www.techslize.com]Kenyans are expected to break the internet today to shop online during this year’s Black Friday sales bonanza, an American concept which is slowly getting entrenched in the country.
Banking on discounted sales, the annual shopping craze which traditionally happens immediately after Thanksgiving Day to usher the US to Christmas festivities, is now becoming an annual ritual globally.
While the hype has not reached frenzy extents in Kenya, elsewhere shoppers sometimes camp outside retailers’ outlets to secure a place in front of the line, and thus a better chance to buy discounted items.
The event is a bit new in Kenya, but with the entry of online retailers such as Jumia, Olx, and Kilimall who have already treated Kenyans to unbelievable Black Friday deals in the past, things are looking up today, particularly with the growing influx of international retail chains who have joined the promotion and bandwagon.
Carrefour, Game, Two Rivers Mall, and Deacons are some of the local retailers hyping the day by offering discounts in anticipation of recording mega sales.However, the icing on the cake is believed to be Safaricom’s Masoko, which experts say could take e-commerce to the next level.
Safaricom says it is taking a different approach to the concept of online retailing targeting those selling and buying online yet not captured as online traders. They include those selling goods and services on social media platforms including Email, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
“We welcome their interest in driving the adoption of e-commerce in the country. With only one percent of the more than Sh1 trillion retail market in the country being done online, we think there is enough potential to develop the market,” said OLX country manager Peter Ndiangui.