Online retailer Amazon.co.za has launched ‘Shop Mzansi’ – a curated storefront on Amazon.co.za showcasing unique local products that reflect South Africa’s diverse cultures.

Shop Mzansi features thousands of products across different categories – including toys, home and kitchen appliances, outdoor and braai, baby, luggage and beauty – making it easier for customers to find products from local small businesses.

“We . . . celebrate National Heritage Day with the launch of a distinctively curated store on Amazon.co.za to promote innovative South African products across a range of categories. Shop Mzansi showcases more than 160 brands from new, emerging, and established South African businesses, each with their own unique story.

"South Africa’s entrepreneurial spirit is undeniable, and we . . . provide a dedicated online store that provides opportunities to support the growth of small businesses so they can thrive in our economy,” Amazon sub-Saharan Africa MD Robert Koen said on September 27.

The storefront promotes thousands of products from independent sellers across South Africa alongside recognised brands.

“We are committed to the ongoing success of our independent sellers as they are fundamental to our ability to offer a broad selection, great prices, and a convenient shopping experience for our customers. Launching the Shop Mzansi storefront is a continuation of our promise to continually invest and innovate on behalf of our customers, while providing independent sellers with customer reach and the tools and services needed to grow. We will continue adding to the Shop Mzansi selection as we onboard more sellers and help them list their products,” Koen added. 

Among the local businesses supported on the Shop Mzansi storefront are Heartfelt, Tiger Lily Tots, King Kong Leather, African Mamas and Suki Suki Naturals.

More than 60% of sales in Amazon’s stores globally are from independent sellers, most of which are small- and medium-sized businesses. Independent sellers on Amazon.co.za have access to various tools and services, including the option to use fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), which is a service that stores, packs and ships independent sellers’ products to customers, enabling them to reach customers more efficiently.

Other tools that help independent sellers grow their online presence include onboarding tools, payment processing solutions, and promotional features to help them be discovered by customers, as well as reports and analytics to improve sales. 

“Since we launched in South Africa, we have worked closely with independent sellers to help them onboard their products on Amazon.co.za. Today . . . we pay homage to local entrepreneurs and artisans by showcasing their products in a store dedicated entirely to them, further enabling them to reach millions of customers across the country.

"Additionally, our local curated store provides opportunities for local businesses to expand to other global Amazon stores such as Amazon.com, thereby boosting the country’s efforts towards digitising small businesses and positioning them for real success and longevity,” Amazon Marketplace sub-Saharan Africa head Suzelle Abe said.