On Christmas Eve, a little-known e-commerce platform called Isokko surprised holiday shoppers with a big discount: it dropped the price of soft drinks by 85 per cent and that of the popular Heineken beer by 70 per cent. “Our Christmas Eve promotion. Buy Fanta Citron (1.5L), Coca-Cola (1.5L), and Heineken (33CL) at RWF 300,” the e-commerce platform announced on its Instagram account, reducing the price of Fanta Citron and Coca-Cola from Rwf2000 and that of Heineken from Rwf1000. The company also discounted the price of Bio-branded yoghurt by 90 per cent. The big discount, which lasted a couple of hours, had internet shoppers going crazy, with many circulating the news among their circles and rushing to take advantage of the holiday discounted products. ALSO READ: Kigali businesses look to cash in on Christmas fever Isokko is not the only e-commerce platform that has put up offers this season. Murukali, another e-commerce platform, is doing the same. Yvette Uwimpaye, the owner of Murukali, an online marketplace, highlighted her company's strategies to make holiday shopping more convenient and affordable. “We are offering a 30 per cent discount on our platform to attract customers, she said. “The festive season is a perfect time to help our community access services more easily and quickly. Gift cards are proving to be one of the most popular products this year. Uwimpaye also noted an uptick in international orders, especially from the United States, reflecting the growing demand for Murukali’s services. “Compared to last year, this festive season holds even greater potential for growth,” she added. Surge in shopping Many other online delivery companies have anticipated the holiday shopping rush and are racing to meet expectations of customers who are flocking online to take advantage of deals, promotions, and conveniences that brick-and-mortar stores might not always offer. Olado, an e-commerce platform that connects buyers and sellers, is offering a 30 per cent exclusive discount on select products. RwandaMart, too, has discounted most of its products with special deals on offer. “This festive season, we’re thrilled to offer you 5% OFF on all international shipments!” National Post Office (Iposita) told its clients. The discount runs from December 15 to January 15. The surge in holiday shopping packages every December and early January is something that delivery vendors and e-commerce businesses anticipate. To cope with increased shopping orders, e-commerce platforms like Vuba Vuba are running campaigns to attract and retain their consumers. Albert Munyabugingo, the chief executive and co-founder of Vuba Vuba said they are trying to lure customers through targeted discounts, as well as gifts and vouchers. “The festive season is an important time for us, and at Vuba Vuba, we are focusing on several key initiatives to better serve our customers while in the comfort of their homes,” Munyabugingo told The New Times in a recent interview. He added; “We have expanded our services to Uganda, offering our trusted delivery platform to new customers this holiday season.” “With our two products Vuba Wallet and Vuba Prime, customers can top up the wallets of their loved ones, making gift-giving simple and seamless, while Vuba Prime lets customers purchase a subscription for their loved ones, which grants them the benefit of free delivery on all orders – perfect for the holiday season.” Based on last year’s returns particularly for the holiday season, Munyabugingo maintained that his business has resorted to working full-day hours 24/7 in a bid to cater to the growing demand. “We are operating 24/7 to ensure our customers can order anytime, even during the busy holiday period.” Reacting to the projections, he said that Kigalians ushered into the festive season as early as November, laying grounds for even bigger returns this year. He maintained that for e-commerce, the last months of the year normally generate the largest sales for market players, with December reaching peak volumes.
