Kenya has a thriving e-commerce market, with people buying all sorts of items online. From groceries to clothes to electronics, Kenyans are buying it all. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular items that are being bought online in Kenya. Stay tuned for more fascinating facts about the Kenyan e-commerce market.
Here is a list of some of the items that people buy online in Kenya:
1. Consumer Electronics
A survey conducted by statista.com indicated that about 52% of online shoppers in Kenya purchase smartphones, with TVs taking the second spot at just over 30%. Smartphones are the fastest moving online products in Kenya.
2. Fashion
Clothing and shoes are the most popular items in the fashion category, with over 40% of online shoppers in Kenya purchasing these items.
3. Bags and Accessories
About 25% of online shoppers in Kenya purchase bags and accessories, with wallets and purses being the most popular items.
4. Household Appliances
24% of Kenyans engage in online shopping for household appliances such as TVs, refrigerators, and washing machines.
5. Food and Drinks
Food and drinks are the fifth most popular category (accounting for about 20%) among online shoppers. Popular items include alcohol, snacks or fast foods, and non-alcoholic beverages.
6. Books, Movies, Music and Games
19% of online shoppers in Kenya purchase books, movies, music, and games. The most popular items in this category are video games, followed by books and movies.
7. Beauty Products
14% of Kenyans purchase beauty products such as makeup, skincare products, hair care products, and fragrances.
8. Others
- Furniture
- Health products
- sports apparel
- Baby products (toys)
- Hobby supplies
- Pet supplies
- Gardening products
These are the top ranked items that most Kenyans are buying online.
Let us now look at some of the factors contributing to increased online shopping in Kenya.
Factors Contributing to Increased Online Buying
1. Feedback from Previous Purchasers
Other purchasers give online stores ratings based on their shopping experiences, and no one wants to buy from a vendor who has a bad reputation. With this in mind, vendors must strive to provide the finest customer experience possible in order to get a high rating and attract more customers to buy from them.
2. Flash Sales and Discounts
Online stores are well-known for offering reasonable discounts on products, particularly during clearance sales, and buyers can readily obtain this information via their mobile devices and take advantage of these chances. Flash sales provide products at extremely low prices, with some offering reductions of up to 50% off.
3. No Delivery Fees or Fees that are Reasonable
Some online retailers provide free delivery on selected products in their catalog, and if not, they charge a reasonable delivery cost to the buyer’s specific delivery area, which may be at the buyer’s doorstep, and they specify when the goods purchased will be delivered.
4.Anonymity
No one needs to know what you’re buying from an internet retailer if you’re a Kenyan who values their privacy and your things arrive while they’re still packed or sealed.
5. A Wide Range of Options at a Glance
The merchants do not press buyers to acquire items they do not want, as is the case in traditional stores. With the press of a button, a consumer can move from store to store, comparing merchandise in terms of pricing and design of products they want.
6. Time Management
Shoppers no longer have to walk from store to store looking for things; instead, they can scroll through their devices and select what they want in a matter of minutes, as opposed to going from store to store in the conventional sense.
7. Artificial Intelligence and Chatbots
Chatting has quickly become one of the most popular methods of communication. In 2017, chatbots made their way into the e-commerce industry, making online shopping more convenient and intelligent. Buyers will be able to place orders through online retailers in Kenya by simply interacting with intelligence bots associated with the store.
8. The use of video
Online stores that use videos to persuade customers to buy goods and services have seen a significant boost in conversion. Videos are more engaging, and the findings have demonstrated that they are one of the most successful ways for businesses to interact with their customers.
