Covid unleashes unprecedented e-commerce demand
As the Covid-19 pandemic forced the country indoors, there was one exception: the demand for e-hailing services continued to grow. By Jake Willis, CEO and co-founder of Lulaway Before the National Lockdown, South Africa was reluctant to adopt e-commerce. But the...
Be extra vigilant on Black Friday this year
Despite the negative impact the hard lockdown has had on South Africa's economy, the annual Black Friday retail sales tradition is expected to remain popular this year. Instead of limiting sales specials for just one day, many retailers have taken to doing Black...
FNB ramps up digital transaction security ahead of Black Friday
As cybercrime continues to be one of the barriers that hinder the growth and potential of e-commerce activities in South Africa, FNB is rolling out its Online Secure authentication service to all merchants and individual customers to provide an additional layer of...
Online threats this Black Friday
Black Friday is around the corner and as always consumers are being warned to look out for scams while shopping online. But with more people shopping online in 2020, cybercriminals are likely to be out in full force. A new report by Mimecast called 'Company-issued...
Black November looking bullish
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, with the increased uptake of online shopping and the adoption of new digital payment methods, November should be a successful month of shopping for all. Craig Duggan, commercial head at Transaction Junction, says: "Black November is now...
Black Friday: high risk, high reward
Black Friday is what happens when the dangerous mixture of anxiety and excitement are blended in a retail test tube. By Howard Feldman, head of marketing and people at Synthesis Although we might think that we know what is going to happen, the result is almost never...
Boost online sales on Black Friday
This year's Black Friday and Cyber Monday are set to break all records as the boom in online sales continues. But how can online retailers ensure they take full advantage of this boom? Richard Falconer, chief operating officer at e-commerce expert Optiseller, gives...
Be Black Friday smart, not hacked
In 2019, the queue to get a hot TV deal was outside the doors of the shops. People pressed against one another in a bid to snag that offer and head on home with the perfect Christmas gift. In 2020, the dynamic has changed. Retailers are implementing online specials...
How to nail Black Friday during a pandemic
Black Friday - the American-born commercial holiday celebrated annually on the day after Thanksgiving - has gained significant local traction in recent years. From revenue of just under R2,5-billion in 2017, to almost R2,9-billion in 2018, last year saw total South...
Don’t confuse e-commerce with omnichannel retailing
The age of the mall is waning. The phrase that sends property fund managers into a cold sweat. But it's not just the lower foot traffic as a result of Covid that is to blame for the pressure on brick-and-mortar stores. Businesses which have refused to embrace the...
Black Friday: the pandemic edition
Black Friday 2020. It's a date that, in the past, would herald long queues, close confines and fights over discounted television sets and kitchenware. Today, this picture needs to be framed by social distancing, masks, and reduced physical risk. But, asks Wynand Smit,...
PayFast launches e-commerce performance index
2020 has been a shot of adrenaline to the e-commerce sector, with the Covid-19 pandemic boosting adoption rates across the board. It is estimated that the 1% to 2% hold the sector had in the retail space will double to as much as a 2% to 4% share by the end of the...