You know Jumia as the online marketplace where thousands of retailers sell their products. You know Jumia as the company that delivers to the doorsteps of customers anywhere in Kenya and allows them to pay cash on delivery. But how much do you really know about Jumia? Would you believe that the company started in an apartment? Or that its first delivery was made by the Managing Director three kilometers away on foot?
Take a look at some little known facts about the company
- Jumia began in an apartment in Ngong road in March 2013 with 5 employees and a modem as a WI-FI hot-spot. The internet was too slow that it took 3 minutes to load a page.
- The first item sold by Jumia shortly after its launch in mid-March 2013 was a Ksh. 1200 size 43 pair of brown moccasins. It was delivered by then-MD Nick Miller on foot 3 kilometres away from the office. Nick helped the customer fit the pair shoes and he paid cash on delivery, thereafter becoming a Jumia addict to date.
- The most expensive item on Jumia is a BOSE 55″ VIDEOWAVE Series II Entertainment System worth Ksh 942,999. The cheapest item is a dice worth Ksh. 12, which comes with a Ksh. 200 in shipping fee for a Jumia rider to drop it on your doorstep in Nairobi. Perhaps not the smartest purchase, but we don’t judge.
- Jumia owns about 15% of the items it sells on its website. The rest are owned by entrepreneurs selling on the online marketplace. Jumia makes the most of its revenue from commission on these items, but only when the item is sold.
- Jumia was the first African company to win an award at the World Online Retail Awards 2013 in Paris as the “Best New Retail Launch” of the year.
- Managing Director Parinaz Firozi was born and raised in India until the age of 11. Her first suit was a black pantsuit she bought for her first interview and was hired! She loves to spend her free time mentoring disadvantaged kids.
- Jumia is a sister company to Kaymu, Lamudi, Jovago, Hellofood and Easy Taxi, all e-commerce ventures in Africa owned by Africa Internet Group.
- Jumia was the first company to bring Black Friday to Kenya. Considered one of the biggest e-commerce sales in Kenya, Jumia offered over 8,000 products on discount and the sale lasted 14 hours. The traffic was so high that the website crashed momentarily, leading to a public outcry as shoppers jostled for deals!
- Jumia employees spend 2 days every six months as customer service agents to interact with the customers and understand the process. They also go out for drinks at the terrace every Friday evening.
- .Today Jumia is the leading e-commerce company with 3 hubs across the country and makes deliveries everywhere in Kenya. Jumia has its sights set high for the future, and no plans of slowing down any time soon.
The following two tabs change content below.
Robinson Murage
Public Relations Manager at Jumia Kenya
Robinson Murage is a professional communicator, corporate and PR strategist, writer, teacher, and thinker. He is the PR Manager Jumia Kenya and has been active in corporate communications, marketing public relations, and journalism for over five years.
Latest posts by Robinson Murage (see all)
- WAYS TO MAKE MONEY ON JUMIA IN KENYA - December 21, 2018
- Jumia Donates 1 million to Good Samaritan Children’s Home - December 22, 2016
- Mother of Quadruplets wins a year’s supply of Papers - December 15, 2016
About the author
1 comments
Pingback: As Crazy as it sounds, you can Buy a Phone for Half its Price on Jumia - Phone Review Zone