Africa-focused e-commerce firms Jumia and Konga have initiated campaigns to mark their respective anniversaries.

Jumia plans to celebrate the event with a consumer- and seller centric campaign, focusing on SMEs, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theme of the company’s anniversary is ‘Stronger Together’ and considered by the firm to be one of its major annual commercial events, running from 22 June to 5 July 2020.

Jumia co-CEO Sacha Poignonnec said, “This event comes in the continuity of the multiple actions undertaken as part of the fight against COVID-19, to help our consumers safely access goods and services, at the best possible prices. This event will also help to support our local sellers and logistics partners who operate on the Jumia platform during these challenging times.”

The platform believes that with over one billion people and 500 million internet users in Africa, e-commerce is making people’s lives easier and creating new opportunities for SMEs to grow, and job opportunities for a new generation to thrive.

In April 2020 ITWeb Africa reported on mounting speculation over Jumia’s future after German investment company Rocket Internet sold its 11% stake in the e-commerce site, reportedly between November 2019 and March 2020.

This – together with increasing loss in revenue, has fuelled market speculation over the e-commerce company’s ability to sustain operations.

At the time Jumia was understood to be closing shops in at least three African countries, including Cameroon and Tanzania.

Konga’s ‘Beyond the Hype’ campaign

Meanwhile e-commerce firm Konga initiated the K8onga Beyond the Hype campaign, also to mark its anniversary.

According to a statement released by the company, feedback from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Imo, Delta, Kano, Ibadan and Akwa Ibom howed that Konga’s physical stores witnessed some significant walk-in traffic, a factor attributed to the store-only deals..

‘‘During my lunch break, I decided to visit the Konga store in Ikeja along with a couple of my colleagues,’’ disclosed Funke Olojede, a copywriter at a marketing communications firm in Lagos. ‘‘It turned out to be a great idea as we were able to grab some heavily discounted products which were only available in-store. Throughout the remaining days of the promotion, I will be on the hunt, online and in the stores, for other sweet deals.”

Throughout the anniversary period, from 29 June to 7 July 2020, Konga will host daily flash sales at 10am, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.