Online Shopping in South Africa :
Souths Africans love to shop. And increasingly, as internet access and the number of online retailers grows, they're doing it online, logging on to buy everything from books to wine to electronic equipment.So where are South Africans shopping online? According to internet researchers World Wide Worx, there are over 800 retail websites in South African cyberspace. Here's a roundup of some of the most popular sites - and links (see box on right) for those who want to hunt down the lesser known ones
According to World Wide Worx, the four South African airlines selling tickets online - kulula.com, FlySAA.com, 1Time and Nationwide - together accounted for R1.8-billion in e-commerce in 2005, more than doubling the 2004 figure of R850-million, and more than three times the size of conventional online retail.
"Kulula.com has in fact been the single biggest success story of e-commerce in South Africa, and is the first South African consumer website to reach R1-billion in online sales in a single year," said World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck.
"It is abundantly clear that online ticketing of air travel will continue to dominate consumer e-commerce in South Africa for at least the next five to 10 years, given present growth trends in conventional online retail."
Auctions, gifts, apparel :
The number of online retail sites in SA has grown substantially, from 719 at the end of 2003 to 826 at the end of 2005. This growth has come despite 210 sites - more than a quarter of those online at the end of 2004 - closing down during 2004 and 2005. No less than 311 new sites came online during this time.
The number of online retail sites in SA has grown substantially, from 719 at the end of 2003 to 826 at the end of 2005. This growth has come despite 210 sites - more than a quarter of those online at the end of 2004 - closing down during 2004 and 2005. No less than 311 new sites came online during this time.
World Wide Worx identified the fastest growing major categories, in terms of number of sites, as auctions (230% increase in sites), gifts (50%) and apparel (32%). Gifts were identified as representing "significant opportunity", but also as one of the areas of greatest competition in online retail.
10 sites dominate :
The South African market is dominated by 10 online retail sites, which between them account for most online retail sales in South Africa.
The South African market is dominated by 10 online retail sites, which between them account for most online retail sales in South Africa.
They are the two major malls, M-Web ShopZone and Digital Mall; the two largest online grocers, Pick 'n Pay Home Shopping and Woolworths; the two largest online book retailers, Kalahari.net and Exclusive Books; the largest online florist, NetFlorist; the fastest growing online auction & sale website which is unique for its secure and instant built-in-bank, OnSaleToday; the largest online electronics store, Digital Planet; and the largest online health and beauty store, Ascot Direct.
www.onlineshoppingsouthafrica.co.za