Zando initially launched selling only shoes but has expanded its enterprise to include accessories, clothing and sports and beauty products.
“When comparing the South African market to more established markets like Europe or the USA one can see that online shopping is still very new in South Africa. It is still in its infancy phase. A lot of people still shop in bricks and mortar stores, Manuel Koser, managing director and co-founder of Zando, told News24.
Koser said 65 percent of Zando visitors are women. The most popular items purchased from Zando includes sneakers, heels, boots and T-shirts.
Koser said Zando has features reminiscent of a physical store with its free immediate returns within 14 days for those who prefer to feel and try on garments before purchasing.
“Our home page is much like a store front, we need to make sure it is merchandised to capture the shopper and bring them ‘inside’, in order to continue shopping before checking out,” added Koser.
“What we find is that customers want the reassurance that their products or returns will be processed. It is very important to read all the email communication that is sent upon ordering, this assists with a lot of the questions and answers that are asked on this platform.”
