Holding a Masters in Communications from Amsterdam University, van Der Louw says it is an exciting time to be part of a leading company within a bourgeoning eCommerce industry. "I accepted this opportunity to not only grow the company and strengthen its position as a market leader; but also to grow its market share at a faster rate than the growth of the South African ecommerce industry.
"It is far more intricate to grow an online retailer in South Africa than it is in Europe, where ecommerce is well established; but this is a challenge I am ready for and excited about. The improvement of communication infrastructure, mainly the availability, prices and quality of broadband will be significant in fast tracking the growth of the local ecommerce industry in the next few years."
His core mandate is managing the commercial forefront of the online retail store, which also includes product and category management as the site is known for its wide range of books, eBooks, cameras and electronics amongst other products.
"My other key objectives are to ensure enhanced accessibility to the site and increase user-friendliness of the site itself. This is a core part of the business that informs how consumers experience the site and plays an even bigger role in customer retention," says Van der Louw.
"His appointment is strategically important in ensuring that kalahari.com remains at the forefront of online retail in South Africa and on par with global eTailing trends. He joins an energised team that is driving a single minded objective of taking the site to its next growth plane," says Caren Genthner-Kappesz, CEO at kalahari.com.
