With the Covid-19 pandemic seriously limiting retail sales in physical stores, online sales are booming like never before in South Africa. Pioneering the way is the discount online grocery retailer eButler which aims to reach every sector of the South African marketplace including those in townships and rural areas.
According to global forecasts and statisa.com, ecommerce will make up 22 percent of global retail sales by 2023. To give context to this growth, last year 14.1 percent of global retail sales were ecommerce.
eButler – which is headed up by group executive Sibongiseni Mkhungo and chief operations officer Vusi Mthimunye – is determined to stand out from its competitors by providing nationwide convenient access to affordable groceries.
The business, which currently focuses only on dry goods, isn’t just a grocery shopping service, but also
Customers can order goods conveniently from their mobiles or desktops with the order being delivered the same day (within Gauteng or specified areas) and elsewhere the next day. Customers can also place monthly grocery orders, or gift any of the available hampers to distant families or make charity donations. There is a standard R45 delivery fee.
As importantly, eButler aims to reach every community in South Africa – from townships and inner-city precincts to rural areas and informal settlements. The goal is to democratise access to affordable groceries and deliver nationwide.
Explains COO Vusi Mthimunye: “eButler is offering value-for-money and convenience, which is what everyone is looking for in this current climate. So we move the product from the manufacture to the consumer’s door without the additional middleman costs that come with being a traditional retailer.
“We are also available to all South Africans. We realise that we are not going to change how the township consumer does things. Rather we are going to integrate ourselves into their existing journey and enhance it. It’s why customers can also create an eButler account on WhatsApp since not everyone has access to a laptop and WhatsApp uses less data.
He continues: “The ‘homebody economy’ is here to stay, especially with unpredictable and varying levels of lockdown. This situation has already affected all communities, affecting the ability for family members to work and put food on the table. Many consumers are now financially constrained and others are insulated, so there’s a high demand for services that cater for this ‘new normal’ socio-economic landscape across suburbs, townships etc. We are gearing eButler to remain future-proof and relevant for all stages of the economy and changing consumer behaviours.
“Our value proposition is to democratise easy access to affordable groceries throughout South Africa – let the people eat and be nourished!”
Go to:
- Website orders: www.ebutler.co.za
- WhatsApp orders: 060 070 2641
