Amazon Egypt: Provides a Stress-Free Shopping Experience Amid Economic Challenges
Updated 4/3/2024 11:32:00 AM
Arab Finance: The growing internet user base is expected to reach 62.4 million this year, with millions turning into online shoppers.
Ramadan and El-Eid periods are special times for the flourishing of online shopping. International marketplaces like Amazon have joined local platforms, creating a dynamic landscape and defying devaluation and increases in prices, especially during this time.
That is why Arab Finance sat down with Omar El-Sahy, General Manager of Amazon.eg, to explore how Amazon Egypt is navigating economic challenges to offer customers affordability and convenience.
This interview will delve into Amazon's strategies for success, from festive season sales to fostering a thriving online marketplace for local businesses.
1-The recent period has witnessed significant changes in the prices of goods because of the devaluation and economic conditions. How does Amazon offer a flexible and affordable experience for its customers?
At present, the economy in Egypt is facing some headwinds similar to those in other parts of the world. To minimize the financial burden on vendors and customers, Amazon Egypt offers competitive prices, a wide selection of products, and a convenient shopping experience for customers.
When it comes to saving and providing value for our customers, we make sure to offer a variety of payment solutions to help ease their financial burden. This includes installment plans with more than 10 Egyptian banks, in addition to the “Buy Now, Pay Later” solution with ValU and payment methods with Etisalat Cash and Vodafone Cash, to offer more convenience options for customers. For instance, installment plans start from EGP 500, with participating banks, and offer flexible terms.
In addition to this, we also provide customers with the option to pay cash on delivery. All these different solutions help build customers’ online shopping comfort levels by giving them access to a more affordable and convenient shopping experience while ensuring more flexibility and control over their budgets.
Additionally, we offer our customers added value through our Amazon Prime program, which comprises multiple savings and entertainment benefits in a single membership in exchange for an affordable monthly fee of EGP 29, with an option for Vodafone and Orange customers to join through their bundle packages.
We also launch continuous key sale events, including Ramadan, Eid, White Friday, and Prime Day, to leverage our value offerings and provide customers with an affordable shopping experience.
In light of the evolving conditions, we still maintain the same pricing strategy to continue offering the best possible prices while ensuring that we sustain the quality and reliability of our service.
2-How does Amazon support the local economy and encourage customers to shop for Egyptian products?
Egypt is still at the beginning of this journey, but progress is promising. For example, in 2022, we signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA). A few months later, we announced the launch of a curated storefront for locally produced Egyptian products on Amazon.eg. We helped local enterprises sell over 10 million handicraft products, growing their business by over 40% year-on-year.
This year, we kicked off the "Khan Sherif with Amazon.eg" event at Mamsha Ahl Misr, in collaboration with Sherif Madkour, under the “Al Masry Yiksab” theme. Throughout this event, we partnered with our selling partners to showcase Egyptian products from many local brands across several categories.
In essence, Amazon Egypt is not just a marketplace. It is a catalyst for economic empowerment, innovation, and community engagement.
We are excited about the opportunities ahead and remain committed to serving the needs of our customers while driving sustainable growth in the Egyptian online retail landscape.
- Can you tell us more about the value offerings of Amazon.eg provides to its customers during this Eid season?
The Amazon.eg Eid sale kicked off on March 28th exclusively for Prime members and the following day for all Amazon.eg customers, lasting until April 6th.
The sale offers saving benefits on hundreds of thousands of products from local and international brands with up to 50% discounts across a wide range of over 30 categories. Customers can also enjoy shopping from over 200 newly launched brands that have joined Amazon this year.
Amazon.eg customers can enjoy savings of up to 70% on fashion, up to 50% on electronics, up to 40% on toys, up to 30% on beauty and perfumes, up to 25% on kitchen essentials, and up to 15% on home appliances.
Prime members holding a Banque Misr card can enjoy a 25% discount (up to EGP 300), along with fast and free shipping, as well as the convenience of installment plans. Customers with cards from participating banks could also take advantage of flexible installment options. Etisalat Cash users benefited from a 20% discount coupon (up to EGP 100).
At Amazon, we believe in obsessing over our customers, which is why we are so focused on creating a trustworthy shopping experience every day by focusing on what we believe customers care about the most: great prices with convenient payment methods, fast and reliable delivery, and an easy return process.
4-With current and upcoming sale seasons like Eid, can you share any insights on how Amazon Egypt plans to cater to the surge in customer demand?
We understand the significance of special occasions and festive seasons for our customers, and we are committed to continuously delivering added value and convenience all year.
As we gear up for upcoming sale seasons, we have plans in place that cater to the surge in customer demand while ensuring a convenient shopping experience.
To uphold our commitment to customer trust and satisfaction, we invested in enhancing our logistics infrastructure.
In 2021, we inaugurated a logistics facility in the 10th of Ramadan City, the first of its kind on the African continent.
We are currently expanding our warehouse storage capacity with an additional storage of 62,000 cubic meters, which will enable us to meet the escalating demand while maintaining product availability throughout the year.
In addition to a network of 22 delivery stations serving 25 governorates across Egypt, Amazon is poised to deliver value and convenience to our customers during the upcoming sale seasons and beyond.
5-How does Amazon guarantee a trustworthy, flexible, and reliable shopping experience for its customers?
We believe in the importance of providing customers with a shopping experience that meets the needs of our customers by providing a wide range of products at low prices and with fast delivery.
We continue to innovate in all aspects of our online store, as the diversity of our product selection, pricing, and convenience are the basic principles of the shopping experience that delight customers.
Amazon Egypt provides a hassle-free return process to ensure an easy and smooth purchasing experience, and the money is refunded within a few days without additional expenses.
Customers can return their orders, in case they face any issues with their shipment, within 15 days of receipt; terms and conditions apply.
As our product range grows, we are constantly rolling out improvements to our product search experience to make sure customers can easily find what they are looking for.
We ensure a timely and quality shopping experience through a wide network of warehouses and delivery stations throughout the region, ensuring multiple and efficient delivery options that meet the needs of our customers and enhance their confidence in Amazon.eg.
6-What strategies do Amazon Egypt employ to attract new customers?
At Amazon Egypt, customers are always the focus of our attention, so we dedicate our attention to creating a reliable shopping experience every day to maintain the trust of our existing customers and attract new customers.
Our approach to attracting new customers goes beyond competitive pricing. We prioritize understanding and fulfilling the needs of our customers, aiming not just to meet their expectations but to exceed them at every turn.
Firstly, we recognize the importance of providing a convenient and risk-free first-time shopping experience. To this end, we offer free delivery on the first order, where customers get to shop from a wide selection, including their everyday product necessities.
In addition, our longstanding A-to-Z Guarantee provides peace of mind to customers purchasing products from our store. This comprehensive guarantee covers both timely delivery and the quality condition of products received, ensuring that customers are entitled to a full refund or exchange if they encounter any issues with their purchase; terms and conditions apply.
We also offer our customers the Amazon Prime membership program, which is designed to elevate their shopping experience. Prime members in Egypt enjoy a lot of benefits, including exclusive deals, fast and free delivery, early access to deals during sale events, and access to entertainment benefits including Prime Video and Prime Gaming.
Prime members can also enjoy watching the latest Amazon Prime Video releases, including “The Final Round,” starring Ahmed El Sakka and Ashraf Abdel Baqi, in addition to other films and series.
7-Looking towards the future, what are Amazon's long-term goals and vision for its presence and impact in Egypt's e-commerce landscape?
Allow me to share a story that embodies Amazon's long-term goals and vision for its presence and impact in Egypt's e-commerce landscape.
Imagine a busy marketplace where Egyptian entrepreneurs, from artisans crafting handmade goods to innovative startups designing cutting-edge products, unite to showcase their creations to the world. This marketplace is not just a physical space but a vibrant digital store, accessible to millions of customers across Egypt and beyond. This is the vision that drives Amazon's long-term goals in Egypt.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that every entrepreneur, regardless of background or resources, deserves a chance to succeed. We envision Amazon Egypt as not just a marketplace, but a catalyst for economic empowerment and community development.
Through initiatives like "Al Masry Yiksab," we are empowering local businesses to thrive and grow.
Our vision extends beyond facilitating transactions. We are committed to building a sustainable ecosystem that fosters innovation, supports small businesses, and enriches the lives of our customers. This means investing in infrastructure, from warehouses to delivery stations powered by cutting-edge technology.
The e-commerce landscape is dynamic and constantly evolving, presenting us with new opportunities and challenges along the way. Yet, with every challenge comes the opportunity to innovate and adapt, to push the boundaries of what is possible, and to redefine the future of e-commerce in Egypt.
As we look towards the future, our commitment remains unwavering. We will continue to listen to our customers, empower local businesses, and strive to make Amazon Egypt a trusted destination for all their needs.
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