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How WhatsApp Is Pushing Jumia’s Growth

How WhatsApp Is Pushing Jumia’s Growth

Written by Katie Collin| From Wired UK

“In most of Africa you have a vibrant economic situation happening,” says Christina Hawley, managing director of online shopping service Jumia, speaking at WIRED Retail.

The fact that Jumia didn’t even exist two years ago, and is now operating in nine different countries and seeing double-digit growth, is in itself testament to the blossoming economic environment across the continent. In the next five years Jumia expects to see 5-8 percent GDP growth in most markets and a 30 percent in people coming online.

“The issue in Africa has never been demand — the issue has always been supply,” says Hawley. On average there around 60,000 people served by every shopping centre. In Lagos there is a population of 21 million and only two shopping malls to meet their needs. This was just one of the reasons Jumia launched in Nigeria first.

“Nigeria had all the complications of an African market,” she points out. It had massive potential, it was one of the largest most populous countries in Africa and their were massive groups coming quickly online. “Unlike a traditional market the evolution… when African consumers come online they come online on all channels very quickly.”

Read more at Wired UK