The Zimbabwe Business Ideas and Network is the top African business forum with a strong presence in India. We have more than 200 members from India who are part of us, some are on our Whatsapp platforms and are always sharing business ideas from India and looking for business partners in Africa. We are slowly establishing ourselves as a business gateway to Africa from India!

So today is Africa Day and is a National Holiday for many African countries as we celebrate the formation of the African Union (AU). Inorder to promote business the 2 continents of Africa and India we have decided to bring you information of e-commerce opportunities in South Africa and this information is primarily targeted at Indian nationals. The information is just basic statistics but can guide you in your analysis of the needs and gaps in this sector that provide opportunities for investment.

Statistics

Capital:    Pretoria Population: 51.7 million (2011)
GDP (USD): 350.63 billion (2013)
Currency:    South African rand (ZAR) Languages: English (business), others

Market Entry

Generally business to business (B2B) customers are also business to consumer customers, so relationships are generally the same. Both types of customers have become accustomed to performing consumer product research online. As a result, both are using either consumer websites or B2B versions of consumer websites to purchase products and services for their companies or in their capacity as   individuals

Popular E-Commerce Sites

•    takealot.com
•    amazon.com
•    bidorbuy.co.za
•    groupon.co.za
•    ebay.com
•    game.co.za
•    computicket.com
•    mrp.com
•    zando.co.za
•    picknpay.co.za
•    clicks.co.za
•    edgars.co.za
•    spar.co.za
•    woolworths.co.za

Digital Advertising

Studies have shown the effectiveness of digital ads that appear on mobile devices. South Africa currently boasts a mobile penetration rate of 135 percent, and as data prices and smartphone prices continue to drop, this platform will be at the forefront of digital advertising. Other traditional methods include the use of company banners that appear on popular social media, news, and e-commerce  sites.

Current Market Trends

•    45 percent of online shoppers are in Gauteng, one of South Africa’s nine   provinces.
•    9.23 percent ofshoppers have household income of over ZAR 70,000 per   month
•    73.7 percent of shoppers use e-commerce to make payments, pay utility bills, and transfer money at least once a  week.

Online Payment

Credit cards, cash cards, bank transfers, and PayPal are all used in South Africa. Special online shopping credit cards are the most frequently  used.

Social Media

•    Facebook
•    Twitter
•    Tumblr
•    LinkedIn
•    Pinterest
•    Instagram
•    Flickr
•    Google+
•    Badoo

Cross-Border E-Commerce

The South African consumer market tends to trust international retailers more than local business and uses them much more  frequently.

Mobile E–Commerce

38.51 percent of South African consumers use their mobiles for online   purchases.

Current Demand

Services

Books, airline tickets, hotel reservations, and event tickets are the service-related items most often purchased online.

Regulations and Initiatives

Commerce is regulated in South Africa by the Consumer Affairs  Committee.The committee sets out basic guidelines that require that suppliers (not users) of “cryptography” services or products register their names and addresses and the names of their products with a brief description in a register maintained by the Department of Communications. Unless the (local or foreign) supplier has registered, it cannot provide services or products in South  Africa.

The major advantage of being a ZBIN member is access to business opportunity information. A ZBIN member is technically a rich person because you have access of where to get funding, you also have access to a large pool of practical business ideas. If you follow us, all you need to do is to go through the hundreds of articles posted on this site. There can be no better hub of business opportunities than ZBIN. If you want more information then you can follow discussions on our Facebook Page. If your hunger for more informaion on business opportunities is not satisfied then you can join our Whatsapp Platforms where business resources and information is shared through active discussions. If you want more detailed information then you then subscribe to ZBIN membership for $10 for 6 months and have access to a lot of other information which we do not easily share on the other platforms.

Take for example the information we are sharing for free with you today, we have already shared it with subscribed members, some have taken advantage and we now share it for free with you for weekend reading.

Candy Floss Business Idea

Did you read our post on areas where Zimbabweans are spending money on? Food is on top of the priority list. Education for kids-infact Zimbabweans are spending more money on kids when compared to other areas. Food for kids, Education for kids, Clothing for kids, Entertainment for kids etc. The idea of a candy floss business would suit someone interested in kids business. Making candy at pre-school parties, school events, kid events. Target areas include places where parents take kids for entertainment-Megga2, Longcheng, Lake Hunyani etc. For inspiration one may need to visit the Lion and Cheeter Park.

Price Ranges

You can purchase them from South Africa and prices vary from R800 for basic candy floss machines to as high as R8.000.

Where to get information

https://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/ZA/candy-floss-machine-supplier.html

https://www.gumtree.co.za/s-candy+floss+machine+for+sale/v1q0p1

http://www.softservemachines.co.za/candy-floss-machine-candyfloss-for-sale.html

Second Business Idea

I was in Rusape in March this year and needed to fix my truck which had a key problem. So when i asked for directions of where to find a locksmith, I was referred to Nyathi who operates next to Ok Stores. So i went there and got Nyathi to fix my key and in the meantime decided to find out business at the flea market located next o Ok Stores.

Whilst there-i got an opportunity to have a chat with one of the ladies who was selling fresh fried chips. She had a wonderful Chip Fryer and at first i thought it was powered by electricity but got a suprise to learn that it is gas powered and mobile too!

Then we got to serious business talk, how much does she earn per day? Her answer was that business had gone down in recent months. She was now making on average daily sales of $7 per day from the previous $20 -$30 she used to make in 2016. Sometime business peaks when she sells her chips and sausages at church functions or sporting events or during weekends.

Potential

We recommend the mobile chip fryer for our members dotted across the country. It is fuel economic, it is mobile and affordable. You can use it to earn an extra income at sporting events, school functions, church gatherings etc. One setting up a fryer at a busy rural business centre such as Mverechena or Showgrounds should be able to make profits. The hidden trick in the business is the price of chips….for $1 a pack, customers will always be willing to buy-who doesnt want fresh chips for such a small amount? It can provide serious competition to $1 sadza plate sellers.

So there you are-sometimes we are talking of megga investment business ideas such as the Truck Inns, or opening up a pub at Westgate or we are talking of businesses that do not require a lot of capital, businesses that bring $5-$20 in revenue-this is the beauty of ZBIN, we cover the needs of everyone-small scale or big scale investor.

In the meantime we are blessed to recieve an invite from one of the leading pentecostal churches in Chitungwiza. We hope to do our best for a free business presentation. The aim is to inspire church members and equip them with business identification skills and be able to take advantage of them.

ZBIN wishes you a Blessed Weekend.