Afrikrea, the online marketplace which has been hailed as “Africa’s Etsy”, offers a platform for emerging and established designers to advertise and sell their goods to over 50, 000 users from 175 countries.
Buyers are spoilt for choice with over 40, 000 products to choose from, including women’s, men’s and kids’ clothing.
There are also plenty of accessories, art and handicrafts to choose from, most of which are inspired by the African aesthetic.
Variety
Among the 2, 000 designers featured in the Afrikrea marketplace are artisans from over 75 countries. This means that customers are not limited to designers based in Africa only, and can access brands that they wouldn’t normally come across.
However, what really gets excitable shopaholics like us really thrilled about Afrikrea is the fact that they add thousands of new products to their platform each week, and they always offer a wide variety to choose from.
Community
Since its inception in April 2016, Afrikrea has amassed an ever- growing community of 150, 000 followers that benefit from a highly responsive and visually appealing online destination. Plus, the platform is more than just a marketplace but a destination for followers to connect and engage with like-minded individuals from all over the world.
How It Works
In order to become a part of the Afrikrea marketplace, interested designers are required to create a shop that represents their brand. This process is made remarkably easy by the tools and knowledge that Afrikrea provides to sellers.
To further guarantee customer satisfaction and security, Afrikrea has quite a strict vetting process that requires each designer to send a sample of their work before they can be featured on the platform. However, they also approach designers that are semi-established through social media or word of mouth.
All transactions that are carried out through the Afrikrea marketplace are completely transparent as customers are able to interact directly with the designers if they so wish.
In exchange for facilitating this smooth and effortless exchange between designers and their clients, Afrikrea gets 10% to 15% off each sale, which can be seen as the “rent” that designers pay in order to be a part of the marketplace.
Benefits for Both Sellers and Buyers
Afrikrea offers considerable benefits for buyers and sellers alike. For example, sellers can pool their resources together to offer more profitable deals and sales to customers. This helps to increase the client base of each individual brand, while sellers can also save up to 40% on sales events rental space when exhibiting with other designers.
Meanwhile, buyers are given the option to make monthly group purchases and save 50% on certain deals through the crowdbuying and Afrikrea Box function. Plus, when you pre-order exclusive products as a group, you get to access them at lower prices.
The Founders
Abdoul Kadry Diallo and Moulaye Taboure are the dynamic duo behind the Afrikrea marketplace, and both are passionate and hard-working entrepreneurs that are committed to ensuring that this platform reaches its potential.
Moulaye is an experienced executive who hails from Mali, and after completing his studies at Paris Dauphine University, he held positions in a number of multinational corporations. He has also worked as an auditor and IT/financial process improvement consultant at the prestigious PwC Consulting group.
His background in the corporate sector means that Moulaye has a lot to contribute to the back-end of business operations at Afrikrea, especially when it comes to financial management and auditing.
Kadry is a Malian native and former project planning engineer who has found fulfilment in promoting the African aesthetic through the Afrikrea platform.
The founders are backed by a team of 10 equally passionate staff who are based in the company’s headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, which is in the heart of Africa.
The Verdict
In a nutshell, Afrikrea is a dynamic ecommerce marketplace whose mission is to make African fashion and design more accessible to a wide range of customers.
Not only is their product range made up of diverse brands and unique merchandise, but they cater to a varied customer base that includes men, women, children and people of all shapes, sizes and preferences.
To order, visit https://www.afrikrea.com/en today, and experience first-hand the mind-blowing variety, creativity and innovation offered by this amazing platform. And we at StreamAfrica say, long may it continue!
By Anelisa Nokoyo
Africa Global News Publication
