Even pre-COVID-19, buying items in bulk online in Africa was often challenging and frustrating for many buyers in the Diaspora.
With a slow uptake in e-commerce by businesses, most African suppliers remain inaccessible and hard to reach from an e-commerce perspective.
However, Plendify, an e-commerce startup is eliminating this hurdle by introducing a robust platform where global buyers and African suppliers can do business using either local or international payments.
The Plendify B2B Marketplace allows buyers around the world and African diaspora to purchase products in bulk or retail quantities conveniently and securely from local suppliers, wholesalers, and manufacturers in Ghana (and very soon in other African countries as they expand).
Plendify was established in 2018 in Toronto, Canada by the trio of Beau Sackey, CEO, (Ghana) Michael Manirakza, COO, (Rwanda) and Roger Vandomme (Ivory Coast).
The co-founders had complementary skill sets across business, finance, data science and technology and wanted to build a scalable and impactful business in Africa to eventually support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Since launching the platform in November 2020, Plendify has signed up over 1,000 suppliers including national Ghanaian brands such as Vitamilk, Bel Aqua and Tika Mall.
This has given local buyers a wide variety of choices of high-quality products in major categories such as Food & Beverage, Homeware & Appliances and Building & Construction.
As they continue to add household and major brands, they are also supporting small and medium-sized suppliers to build online storefronts on their trusted platform.
This relatively new platform enables those in the diaspora now to enjoy access to these previously hard to reach suppliers.
Buyers can now pay with their international cards and track their local deliveries directly in the app or website from anywhere in the world.
The Plendify Client Success team is ready to provide a high level of customer service via chat or via their toll-free international line.
The startup plans to connect with other African countries very soon to help more buyers from around the world to start doing business with incredible African brands across the continent.
Plendify B2B Marketplace is available on all platforms including Android, Apple, and the Web
You can register for the launch here.
Featured Image: Beau Sackey (Left); Roger Vandomme (Middle) and Michael Manirakza (Right)
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