Valentine: Jumia Kenya Flash Sales Frenzy

You see it, now you don’t, it’s gone! This is the adrenaline pumped shopping experience, where sales start at a particular time and shoppers must make their online purchases and complete the buying process before the time or quantity runs out.

At this year's Valentine’s Day deals, Jumia offered discounts of up-to 90% on gifts, fashion wear, electronics and home appliances a perfect recipe that hooked Kenyans onto a shopping experience. The Jumia Valentine Flash Sale lasted for 14 hours with mega deals being released every hour starting from 8:00AM.

Parinaz Firozi MD, Jumia Kenya said, “We are excited to have offered our customers a reason to smile this Valentine's Day with our Valentine's Flash Sale offers. Our Valentine’s Day shop is open 24/7 to ensure everyone can smile this love season. Our countrywide deliveries and 7 days return and exchange policy ensures a stress-free experience. ”

​Some highlights of Jumia's mega deals, offered hourly, include a 32“LED Sharp TV selling at Ksh. 13,999 down from Ksh. 23,999, a Quantum 3G tab at Ksh. 3,499, a Techno R7 at Ksh. 17,299 and a Lenovo laptop Ksh. 18,999 down from ksh. 43,000, a Ksh. In addition, customers were also granted 500 Ksh. discount off any item purchased, fashion items are also available at incredible discounted prices.

“I noticed an unusual silence in the office, everyone was clicking on the same page and the excitement of getting an item at quarter its retail price was real,” Said Melisa a Jumia fan, “I wasn’t lucky this time but two of my colleagues laughed all the way home. I can always try next time.”   

According to Parinaz, digital television sets topped the list of most purchased items followed by fashion wear, smartphones and home appliances. She also noted that men spent more than women and while women preferred certain fashion brands, men were less categorical over fashion brands.

On sales per geographical location, Nairobi recorded the most orders followed by Mombasa and Nakuru, Firozi accredits this to the affordable internet access in those regions.49% of customers preferred to pay cash on delivery for their products alongside 48% who preferred Mobile money transfer and 3% for credit card payment method.

While most e-commerce entrants are struggling in the Kenyan market, Jumia is going the other way and offer entrepreneurs, small, medium and large enterprises a platform to sell their products online. Companies like BATA, Nairobi Sports House and Text Book Center among others are already selling on the online marketplace platform. Parinaz says, "Rural electrification, internet penetration and access are the drivers of e-commerce and with these in  place ‘The potential for e-commerce in Kenya are limitless.”

For its partner-sellers, Jumia offers the best prices in the market, as sellers only pay an agreed commission for items sold thus exempting them from further charges, while ensuring maximum profits as the shop is open 24/7.