Archive for September, 2008
September 15, 2008 at 3:01 pm
· Filed under Entrepreneur, Getting Started, Nigeria ·Tagged african e-commerce, african entrepreneur, etranzact, interswitch, mitchell elegbe, naija entrepreneur
There’s a drawback to our site and this has to do with our payment platform. I was of the opinion that it’d be quite easy to integrate Authorize.net’s e-commerce platform to our site but as I post this update, we’re yet to find a reseller that offers their services for African merchants. For now, we intend to ask our clients to make direct payments into our bank account before they can have access to our services.
Now this is a short note to Mr. Mitchell Elegbe (i’m talking about the man behind Interswitch) and this also goes out to the man behind E-Tranzact…both organisations should offer less expensive entrance fees to small business who desire to establish an online presence offering payment platform. Now this is a prevalent trend within Africa cos even in South Africa, I observed that most companies that have an online presence do not offer an e-commerce platform.
My question is … who will take up this challenge for small businesses?
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September 6, 2008 at 8:56 am
· Filed under Entrepreneur, Getting Started, Nigeria ·Tagged africa, african entrepreneurs, ecommerce, naija entrepreneurs, online payments, online presence, virtual business
House by the lake
Yesterday, I finally had a chance to chat with our web developer on the progress of our website and to my suprise, we’ re finally around the corner to launch day. I’m excited and have been thanking God for supporting and helping me to achieve this dream thus far. The future of this country lies in our generation and I still maintain that belief. I must say that this journey was challenging and atimes, I almost gave up but I got tremendous support from my colleagues who gave me all the moral support I needed (I love you guys).
One of my managers was so excited that she has placed her first order since the web development process began.
The future is virtual and the earlier we embrace this, the better for millions of Nigerian budding entrepreneurs out there. Gone are the days where you’re required to cough out outrageous amounts for shop rentals before opening up for busines. The Internet has made it more easier and affordable for a lot of people to express their creativity and ingenuity through affordable web hosting platforms.
So, what are the next steps for us? Our unique and preppy business cards have arrived, we’re currently in the process of executing our launch strategy which will be through viral marketing. If you’re out there, a budding Nigerian or African entrepreneur and you need some basic advice on what you can do to establish an online presence for your business, do not hesitate to get in touch.
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September 5, 2008 at 11:35 am
· Filed under Entrepreneur, Nigeria ·Tagged africa, e-commerce, naija entrepreneurs, nigerian women, nigerianbanks, online payments, websurfer, zenith abnk
One major complaint I hear often is frustration involved in paying for goods and services online using the various mastercar’d available in the country. Oftentimes, these cards are not accepted when paying for goods and services. I remember what I had to go through when paying for web development services. I had to transfer the funds on a bi-weekly basis incurring other charges.
However, those days are long gone at least for me cos I stumbled across a most innovative product at Zenithbank known as the Mastercard Websurfer. The Websurfer card by Zenith Bank is a debit card that gives you the same functionalites as your normal marstercard. The big difference however, is that you’re hardly charged for any services or goods paid for online. It is not a personalised card and you can only use it online and no where else…so don’t even think of using it on one of your trips abroad except you’ll be making online purchases.
If you’re interested in having this card, visit www.zenithbank.com and apply online for the websurfer card. You will need your driving license or an international passport for registration and identification purpose and you will also be required to select the nearest branch where you would like to pick up this card. The process usually takes about 15minutes and voila! you’re off to the bank. You’ll be required to activate this card with $120 ($20 is for annual charge while you’ll be charged $5 everytime you reload this card).
This has saved more money than the normal mastercard where I was incurring some stupid charges that were unexpainble. So, i’ve been paying for online goods and services ranging from VictoriaSecrets, web design and development, business cards and stationeries and several other things that were shipped directly to Nigeria. So, if you need a revolution in the way and manner you conduct online e-commerce transactions, the WebSurfer card is the way to go.
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