Online Retail Shop

 Raphela High School in Orange Farm, South Of Joburg

SA Townships and Rural areas have emerged as a new market for National Retail Stores. As we see an increase income level in this market segment that has lead to an increase in Shopping Centre development in Townships.

Developers and Investors are investing millions in Townships to develop Shopping Centres and employing market researchers to help them understand the dynamics of this market segment.

The reality is in Townships the sources of fresh food are street corners not Shopping Centres and the relationship between Street Vendors and Township consumers is deep, because of price, fresh food packages on offer and easy access points for consumers.

My School Learners have identified a gap in the Township Shopping Centre development, that is driven by raising income levels in this market and National Retail stores.

My School Idea is to develop Online Retail Shops in Townships by utilizing the Fresh Food Street Vendor strategy to meet the needs of this market segment. The whole strategy is Price, FMCG packages, easy access points and 48 hrs turn around time to consumers who shop online through My School Idea access point.

According to MasterCard Worldwide research 77% South Africans with access to internet have shopped online. Online retail grew 30% in 2010 passing the R 2 billion mark and pointing 40% growth in 2011. Last year 3.6 million people had been online for five years, by 2015 6.8 million will be online.

My School Learners have identified that an increasing income level in Townships has lead to a rise in shopping activity, and we want to shift 10% of that market share from physical shopping activity to online space. How?

By using the fresh food Street Vendor Strategy to lure consumers to shop online.