NAIROBI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- From mobile phones to shoes and watches, Kenyans are buying various products at discounted prices on online platforms as the stores cash in on Black Friday concept to boost their sales.
A TV set, which normally goes for 25,000 shillings (250 U.S. dollars) is being sold for as low as 100 dollars in Black Friday flash sales on the online platforms.
The latest models of mobile phones, on the other hand, are going at between 2 to 4 percent less than the normal price.
Black Friday is a day firms use to usher in the holiday shopping season by offering various items on discounted rates. In China, there is Single's Day where online stores offer goods at discounted rates.
Black Friday means "great discounts" for the ordinary buyer in the East African nation.
There are dozens of online stores in Kenya, with the popularity of the shops rising thanks to the vibrant use of smartphones and mobile money and cheaper internet.
Besides things like clothes, shoes and mobile phones, Kenyans can also buy fresh produce, cooked food and medicine from online stores.
Popular online stores in the East African nation include Masoko, run by leading telecom Safaricom, Kilimall, owned by Chinese investor and Jumia.
At Jumia, among things on offer under Black Friday sales, are smartphones, play stations, clothes, watches, TV sets, and shoes.
Kilimall, on the other hand, is offering shoes, wigs and weaves, cosmetics, watches, handbags and dresses, among others.
Beatrice Kimani, who works with an education NGO in Nairobi, is among Kenyans who have benefited from Black Friday sales.
"I bought a 32-inch television set at 110 dollars instead of 210 dollars. The savings one makes with Black Friday offers are exciting," said Kimani, adding she always looks forward to the promotion every year as last year, she bought a refrigerator.
Sam Chappatte, the chief executive of Jumia, noted last week that the e-commerce firm has registered record sales thanks to black Friday.
"Sales spike during Black Friday as people seek bargains. More customers are now buying from online," he said.
Bernard Mwaso of Edell IT Solution in Nairobi noted that online shopping is gaining currency in Kenya as shopping trends change.
"People are seeking continence and bargains and the use of mobile money is ubiquitous. The three things are combining to make Kenya's online commerce vibrant," he said.
While the older generation still prefers to visit the shop to buy what they need, younger buyers have moved online where they spend most of their time, he observed.
"Kenya's online business is built around the youth, who make the biggest population in Kenya and are always online thus can see what is being sold and go for it from the comfort of their homes or desks," he said.
As of June 30, internet subscriptions in Kenya stood at 50 million with 99.9 percent being on mobile phones, according to the latest data from the Communication Authority (CA).
"The rapid growth in mobile and internet networks has created opportunities for development and deployment of innovations and e-commerce," notes CA.
But it is not only online stores that are cashing in on Black Friday in Kenya, offline stores like supermarkets and furniture outlets are also selling their items under the Black November and Black December themes.
