An online cable vendor has seen average sale order sizes grow by around 80 per cent in the past two months as they bid to increase South Africans’ confidence in e-commerce.
Cable Kiosk was set up by 26-year-old Andrew Lynch after getting frustrated at not being able to get his hands quickly on an iPod charger, while at Rhodes University in 2011.
Lynch discovered he could source cables cheaply from China and then sold them on Bid or Buy, before realising he could build his own speciality platform.
Cable Kiosk made its first sale on March 30, 2012, and shortly after bringing co-founder Kiril Dobrev on board they were accepted onto the 88mph accelerator programme in Cape Town.
“I started off by storing all the cables in my dorm room. We began by offering just four or five different cables, but now we offer 400 to 500 and that is growing rapidly,” Lynch said.
Last month saw revenue double compared to March and the average order size has rised around 80 per cent in the past two months.
One of the features of the sight which appears to comfort customers is the ability to web chat with, or call, the team with any cable enquiries.
Dobrev said: “I think we provide something different because we are clearly a niche site and can provide that dedicated and expert customer service.
“Based on what people have been telling us our customer service has been driving our success. No one does customer support better than us.”
The team ensure there is always someone available between 9am and 5pm to speak with customers either online or on the phone.
The site has grown to a point where it half of its stock now comes from Johannesburg, complementing its supply from China and it offers a lot of branded iPod accessories.
Future plans for the site include a blog and guides on, for example, how to put together a home sound system.
The team has also seen growth in its business to business sales, despite not advertising that as a service.
Lynch added: “We are in a position to scale and the aim is to become the go to site for technology in South Africa.
“You cannot build a brand overnight, but the time put in is definitely paying dividends now. We have seen huge organic growth.”
