KASHA LAUNCHES AN E-COMMERCE PLATFORM FOR WOMEN

  Kasha, an East African E-commerce platform for women by women has been officially launched in Nairobi. The online health and personal care products company was first launched three years ago in Rwanda with the ambition to give women access to the products that they need in a confidential, convenient and affordable way.  The ambition has now expanded to Kenya.

“E-commerce is thriving in East Africa, with over 21 million people accessing mobile financial services hence making it easier for consumers to shop online. However, women, who directly make or influence 80% of consumer purchases remain highly underserved in their access to high quality and genuine products,” said Joanna Bichsel, co-founder and CEO of Kasha.

According to a report by McKinsey, Africa’s pharmaceutical market is estimated to hit USD65billion by 2020. The beauty and personal care market on the other hand will grow at a compound rate of 8.24% between 2014-2019, driven by the rapidly expanding middle class.

Kasha is tapping into this vast opportunity with its diverse product portfolio that includes: menstrual care products, bath and body, sexual health contraceptives and HIV self-tests as well as beauty and baby products. Due to the nature of their customers’ needs, the online company will be working to deliver purchased items to customers’ destinations within an hour.

”Women are driving the world’s economy. Kasha is a technological solution by women that prides itself in providing the products and resources that women need throughout the phases of their lives. More so,  we also empower women enterprises. Currently, our category partners who create these unique skin and beauty products are women,” added Ms. Bischel, Kasha CEO and former engineer and business leader at Microsoft. Some of the local category partners available at the platform include:  Marini Naturals, Zerufi Organics, and Mosara. The firm has also partnered with global brands such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson and Kim-Fay.

Kasha will accept payments through mobile money, cash payment on delivery as well as bank or credit card. Deliveries to customers will be done via motorbikes so as to ensure convenience and security. To that end, Kasha will partner with delivery agencies in order to serve customers across the country.

Kenya’s E-commerce is now estimated at 6 percent of all purchases made in 2017. With about 300 million smartphones, E-commerce has the potential to grow economies and also market local productions. According to a report by Citibank, Kenya’s E-commerce market could be worth more than Kshs. 400 billion in the long term, and between Kshs. 70 billion and Kshs. 120 billion in the short to medium term, presenting a lucrative revenue opportunity for fintechs.

Additionally, a report by Harvard Business report indicates that women control about USD20 trillion in annual consumer spending globally. Their total yearly earnings could reach USD18 trillion in the next five years. In aggregate, women represent a growth double the size of China and India combined, creating a huge market for the online platform.