IVORY COAST-CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Abidjan residents turn to online shopping in last minute Christmas rush

Record ID: 182804

  • Title: IVORY COAST-CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Abidjan residents turn to online shopping in last minute Christmas rush
  • Date: 24th December 2014
  • Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAN WALKING IN THE STREET / TRAFFIC SCENES VARIOUS OF SANTA CLAUS ARRIVING AT A SUPERMARKET WITH GIFTS VARIOUS OF SANTA'S ASSISTANT PACKAGING THE GIFTS VARIOUS OF STAFF WORKING AT JUMIA OFFICE VARIOUS OF FATOUMATA BAH, MANAGER AT JUMIA WALKING WITH STAFF MEMBER DRESSED AS SANTA (SOUNDBITE) (French) FATOUMATA BAH, MANAGER AT JUMIA SAYING: "So we start with 6 Santa Clauses. We are going to have one that will deliver gifts to a winning family and another who will surprise an Ivorian customer who is paying for their purchase at Jumia, by delivering them several more items. To deliver them happiness first, they have the option of having their gifts delivered by a courier dressed as Santa Claus in a car or motorcycle." VARIOUS OF JUMIA STAFF WRAPPING CUSTOMER ORDERS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FATOUMATA BAH, MANAGER AT JUMIA SAYING: "This enthusiasm shown by Ivorians illustrates the real expectation. Because you know it is a very festive period conducive to spending and Jumia has both quality products and quality service, but also with the guarantee to get more on a smaller budget." ARRIVAL OF JUMIA TEAM AT THE HOUSE OF THE WINNING FAMILY LOUIS VALERE HUDSON MEETING JUMIA TEAM (SOUNDBITE) (French) LOUIS VALERE HUDSON, JUMIA WINNER SAYING: "Frankly speaking, we were not even going to celebrate this year. Christmas is really early." VARIOUS JUMIA'S SANTA CLAUS HUGGING THE HUDSON'S SON CHILD CRYING AND HUGGING HIS MOTHER VARIOUS OF YOUNG BOY RIDING TRICYCLE VARIOUS OF SANTA CLAUS GIVING TELEVISION TO JUMIA WINNER, ANGELIQUE HUDSON (SOUNDBITE) (French) ANGELIQUE HUDSON, JUMIA WINNER SAYING: "We had planned to buy a new television but we had a little bit of a setback in late November, so we could not afford to buy it, even for Christmas, so it was really difficult. It's a double joy for us." STREET SCENES VARIOUS OF SHOPKEEPER, MARIE JEANNE KOUAME ARRANGING TOYS IN HER STALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARIE JEANNE KOUAME, SHOPKEEPER SAYING: "We believe that the Ivorians are great, they will never forget their children. So we think that before the holidays, they will come to buy gifts for their children." (SOUNDBITE) (French) FATOUMATA SACKO, TRADER SAYING: "This year the price of the goods has increased somewhat, but we have not increased the prices here. We are kind of like the wholesalers in Adjame (Abidjan's biggest market). Customers only have to come and we will offer good prices for them." MORE STREET SCENES / TOYS ON SALE
  • Embargoed: 8th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA504KD2JLFDQ6PNSP52H7CTGIG
  • Story Text: Christmas is in full swing in Abidjan with shoppers working their way through stalls and stores in the city's commercial district. But this year, some have also turned to online shopping to find the perfect gift for their friends and family.
    African online retailer Jumia, which emerged out of Nigeria, has a presence in Ivory Coast. Jumia offers a wide selection of electronics, fashion, home appliances, and kids items.
    Customers can have their purchases delivered or pick them up at the Jumia warehouse. The retailer has added a special touch to its delivery service, a Christmas Santa.
    "So we start with six Santa Clauses. We are going to have one that will deliver gifts to a winning family and another who will surprise an Ivorian customer who is paying for their purchase at Jumia, by delivering them several more items. To deliver them happiness first, they have the option of having their gifts delivered by a courier dressed as Santa Claus in a car or motorcycle," explained Fatoumata Bah, manager at Jumia in Abidjan.
    E-commerce remains in its infancy in most of Africa but is growing exponentially with a growing middle class with money to spend and the advent of online retailers such as Jumia, partly owned by South African phone operator MTN.
    Jumia, which also has operations in Morocco, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Kenya, aims to be Africa's answer to Amazon.
    In emerging markets like Ivory Coast, it is usually price comparison and availability of a varied number of products that entices shoppers onto the web.
    "This enthusiasm shown by Ivorians illustrates the real expectation. Because you know it is a very festive period conducive to spending and Jumia has both quality products and quality service, but also with the guarantee to get more on a smaller budget," added Bah.
    This year the Hudson family was on Santa's surprise list. Louis Valere Hudson, his wife and young son won free gifts from Jumia as part of the retailer's holiday promotion.
    "Frankly speaking, we were not even going to celebrate this year. Christmas is really early," said Hudson.
    The couple received a television and a new tricycle for their son.
    "We had planned to buy a new television but we had a little bit of a setback in late November, so we could not afford to buy it, even for Christmas, so it was really difficult. It's a double joy for us," added Angelique Hudson.
    Ivory Coast -- French-speaking West Africa's largest economy -- is emerging from a decade of crisis that ended in a brief civil war in 2011. Its rapid revival and vast potential have made it the new darling of frontier investors in Africa but for many in the country, life is still tough despite the recovery.
    Traders like Marie Jeanne Kouame who run small stalls on Abidjan's streets have filled their shops with toys and other gift items in hopes of drawing customers.
    "We believe that the Ivorians are great, they will never forget their children. So we think that before the holidays, they will come to buy gifts for their children," said Kouame.
    "This year the price of the goods has increased somewhat, but we have not increased the prices here. We are kind of like the wholesalers in Adjame (Abidjan's biggest market). Customers only have to come and we will offer good prices for them," added Fatoumata Sacko, another trader.
    Ivorians celebrating Christmas this year say they are cautiously optimistic as the world's top cocoa producer continues to rebuild its once thriving economy.
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