The fintech startup Flutterwave has launched Flutterwave Store, a portal for African merchants to create digital shops to sell online.
The new store initiative is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought restrictive measures to SMEs and traders operating in Africa.
Users can create a profile with Flutterwave and then showcase their inventory which is linked up to payment options. For pickup and delivery, Flutterwave Store operates through existing third-party logistics providers, such as Sendy in Kenya and Sendbox in Nigeria.
The service is free for SMEs to create an online storefront and for buyers and sellers to transact goods. It has rolled out to 15 African countries including Ghana and the only fees Flutterwave charges are on payments.
“The goal is not to become like eBay, that’s advocating for everybody. We’re just giving small merchants the infrastructure to create an online store at zero cost right from scratch,” Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga “GB” Agboola said.
