Date: 22 March 2011
Virtual marketplace is a soaring success
Cape Town, 22 March 2011: kalahari.net marketplace is soaring to new heights as buyers and sellers take
advantage of all the benefits the internet has to offer. The consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer
trading platform that allows users to buy and sell new or used books, CD’s, DVD’s, games and electronics to
kalahari.net’s users has reached a milestone of seven million product listings in under a year, making it the largest
online marketplace of its kind in Africa.
Some small businesses have achieved such a level of success that they have closed their bricks-and-mortar stores
and are now using the kalahari.net marketplace as their primary trading platform.
Gary Novitzkas, CEO of kalahari.net attributes this success to several factors, “kalahari.net marketplace has
exceeded all our expectations and has achieved record numbers since launching in July 2010. Marketing savvy
consumers and business owners have realized that our marketplace provides them with an unrivalled audience of
connected consumers to tap into. Trust in our brand and our reputation for safe trading has also assisted greatly.
Moreover, the marketplace payment model removes the risk of fraud for both buyers and sellers,” he says.
35% of buyers are ordering books, 30% Films (DVDs), 18% Games, 15% Music (CDs) and 2.3% Technology
(computers and cell phones).
“kalahari.net has historically been strong in the books category making it a popular destination to bargain hunt. It is
therefore no surprise that books tops the list. We anticipate our recently launched electronics category to catch-up
quickly however.”
Ends.
About kalahari.net:
A pioneer in the South African e-commerce industry, kalahari.net is the market leader in South African ecommerce. Established in 1999, kalahari.net is SA’s largest online retailer of millions of books, eBooks, music,
DVDs, games, cameras, and electronics.
Prepared and issued by FD Media & Investor Relations on behalf of kalahari.net. For interviews, visuals or further
information, please contact:
Tarryn Rinkwest : 082 776 2888, tarryn.rinkwest@fd.com
Donoven Gloy : 079 692 1676, donoven.gloy@fd.com
Office: 021 487 9000
On behalf of:
kalahari.net
Liz Hillock – Head of Marketing
MIH Internet Africa & Middle East
Email: Liz.Hillock@mihinternet.com
DID: 021 468 9135