The Heavy Chef Foundation's report shows that 63% of all e-commerce companies in South Africa are started by women. But like all South African entrepreneurs, they too need support to keep growing.
E-commerce presents fewer barriers to entry, making it a viable option for entrepreneurs starting out. It’s also fairly easy (and more affordable) to set up an e-commerce website, compared to a physical store. These cost-savings can be passed on, meaning products can be offered at lower prices. It is also possible to connect with – and find new – customers via digital channels.
According to the report, since the pandemic, 68% of South African consumers are shopping more online. It’s projected that Africa’s e-commerce value will quadruple by 2030. This presents a unique and exciting opportunity for women in e-commerce to capitalise on this growth. In fact, payment specialist Payfast reports registering more than 25,000 new merchants between March and October last year, far surpassing any previous peak periods.
According to the report, only 18% of e-commerce entrepreneurs know of or have attended a training programme about building an online business. To rectify this, Heavy Chef and xneelo have identified three ways to support the development of women e-commerce entrepreneurs in South Africa (the 3 M’s):
As a brand that’s passionate about empowering entrepreneurs, xneelo is excited about the story of emerging women in e-commerce – and how we can support them as they grow.
The Heavy Chef E-Commerce Entrepreneur Education report was created by the Heavy Chef Foundation and xneelo to map out the learning needs of e-commerce entrepreneurs in South Africa.
“Xneelo is passionate about enabling South African entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to create and grow their businesses. We’re proud to be associated with Heavy Chef and their community of entrepreneurs. We believe that every successful business creates a multiplier effect for society to thrive,” says xneelo CEO, Philip Delport.
To download a copy of the report visit https://heavychef.org/2021-ecommerce-report.