For cross-border e-commerce, the African market is a “virgin land” before reclamation. It has not yet formed economies of scale. It is the world’s largest “blue ocean” market, so the market demand is broad and full of business opportunities. It is very different from the “red ocean” markets such as Europe and the United States. Sellers do not need to rely on one or two advantageous products to compete with competitors in price and market. What sellers need to do is to combine their own product advantages, analyze market demand, and sell products to this land where commodities are scarce.
(I) There are many categories and little market competition
It is not difficult to avoid homogeneous competition of products here. As mentioned above, the demand breadth of the African market is very large, and sellers can choose to sell a wide variety of products. There is no need to focus on a certain hot-selling product.
(II) Choose products with appropriate prices
The current overall consumption level in Africa is similar to that of China 14 or 15 years ago (around 2004 and 2005). Although it is not high, it is not as poor as we imagined. The low-end and medium-end products on the Chinese market will be more in line with the consumption habits and consumption levels of the African middle class and even the general public. Of course, more expensive and more expensive products also have their own market. Someone once said that there are only two kinds of people in Africa – the poor and the rich. Although it is a bit exaggerated, this statement is enough to prove that the gap between the rich and the poor in Africa is very large. However, the rich in Africa are only a minority after all, so the sales of high-end products will be relatively small.
(iii) Lightweight and small products are more suitable for the African market
After all, the African market is still in a state of development. In order to minimize the risk of cross-border sales, sellers are better off choosing light and small products for sale, because such products have low shipping costs and are cheap.
(iv) Choose products that are not very seasonal
There are too many unstable factors in the African market. Products with strong seasonality are more likely to be unsalable and are not suitable for novice sellers, of course, except for sellers with supply chain advantages.
(v) Avoid misleading products
Avoid products that are restricted, have legal issues, or are prone to quality problems.