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International express services provider DHL announced a partnership with e-commerce company MallforAfrica’s new platform, Marketplace Africa.
The aim is to help online retailers bring African-made products to the US and global market. The site offers items from African designers and artisans from a variety of categories including fashion, body care, handbags, jewellery and home décor.
"Until today, African craftspeople have been isolated from global customers due to distance, fear of not receiving overseas payments, and complex shipping requirements," DHL said in a statement released on Monday.
"Customers who wished to purchase products directly from African artisans faced obstacles regarding accessibility of items, authenticity and validation of the product, uncertainty of delivery, high delivery costs, and payment security."
Marketplace Africa was created to help artisans sell on a global stage and simplify the ability to buy directly from African craftspeople and small enterprises.
DHL will manage all logistics services. Marketplace Africa will provide craftspeople and customers order verification, fast delivery, and shipment labelling and packaging services.
Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express sub-Saharan Africa, said the new partnership will go a long way in helping small businesses grow.
The Africa Made Product Standards (AMPS) is used to ensure that the highest quality products are being sold on the Marketplace Africa platform. It provides consumers with the assurance that products meet an international standard in quality.
“Africans finally have the opportunity, whether banked or unbanked, to showcase their amazing talents and skills to the world and sell their products. DHL and MallforAfrica saw the need to promote African-made products to the world,” said Chris Folayan, CEO of MallforAfrica.
“Marketplace Africa will open the door for African designers and craftspeople and enable customers in the US and the world the ability to purchase authentic African-made products directly from the source.”
Worldwide retail e-commerce sales reached over $2trn in 2017 and according a DHL report. The report estimates that the cross-border market is expected to grow by about 25% annually until 2020 – nearly twice the rate of domestic e-commerce.
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