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Redshift – Connecting South African small retailers with shoppers during lockdown
Mmabatho Mokiti, Founding Director at Redshift
Have you ever wondered why all technologies seem to launch in the more centralized urban areas particularly in Johannesburg? Why, although the township economy keeps thriving and the technological advancements seem to ignore this economy. These were the questions Mmabatho Mokiti, John McDonald and Douglas Hoseck who founded Redshift had.
“I woke up and found myself in a lockdown, amidst a pandemic with soldiers on the streets and worry about just getting basic groceries. I worried about my neighbors and how they would protect themselves. The entrepreneurs in my neighborhood, who would have to shut down for safety reasons even though they formed part of essential services. It seemed to me, that there was a unique dilemma we faced and this insight was the reason we built the Redshift Store Connector.” Says Mokiti
According to a recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) which measures the size of South Africa’s small business sector, of South Africa’s estimated 5.78 million MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises), only 14% are formalised. Of the 817 000 formal MSMEs, 686 000 are classified as small, very small and micro. In contrast, there exists over 2 million informal MSMEs and 2,89 million survivalist businesses. Most micro and very small businesses exist to create self-employment.
Retail accounts for the majority of MSMEs with most of them operating in domestic trade (wholesale and retail). The current lockdown has seen a boom for large food retailers and established chain stores, which have benefited from panic buying. But presents a serious blow to the prospects of small independent retailers in township environments.
“We decided to do something to help South Africa during her time of need. Given Redshift is an agile, easy to use website builder with phenomenal turnaround times, we built our Local Store Connector in a matter of hours with a solution oriented mentality in mind. Here’s the perfect tool to help connect consumers to small business owners while solving several problems at once. Social distancing, food security, safety and convenience are some of the immediate benefits that a customer will gain from using the Local Store Connector. The benefits for small business owners include getting a free online presence to help make an already under-pressure customer base aware that they are open for trade during lockdown and facilitating customer orders,” says McDonald.
While the lockdown regulations allow food retailers to continue trading, they must formally apply for a license to do so. There is lack of clarity as to whether independent retailers such as spaza shops are allowed to trade from their premises, and social distancing protocols have discouraged shoppers from utilising their services. This has resulted in most shoppers flocking to large chain stores as evidenced by the long lines seen at shopping malls and large outlets.
In support of small businesses in South Africa, Redshift supported by FinMark Trust will focus on using digital means to connect township food retailers to their customer base. The Redshift platform provides small businesses the opportunity to list themselves and accept orders from shoppers. These orders can then be pre-packed and readied for collection by the customer or for home delivery. As part of the on-boarding process, the platform facilitates MSME’s formally registering as essential businesses, which then allows them to continue to trade during the lockdown.
Subsequent phases will include introduction of digital payments and digital generation of management accounts that will assist in securing funding for working capital and expansion.
Redshift’s Online Store Connector functions in two ways:
- It allows retail MSMEs to register their stores in order to access the local marketat no cost; and
- It allows customers to shop from their local stores by simply submitting their grocery list and collecting their them after receiving confirmation, again at no cost. Thus, avoiding long queuesand the risk of getting infected and spreading the virus, while enabling food security for households.
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EFInA Women’s Economic Empowerment report was launched in Abuja, at the third edition of the Gender and Inclusion Summit hosted annually by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG). The report underscored the second plenary by EFInA and FSD Network; tagged – Unpacking Access to Essential Tools and Services for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Collaborating for Sustainable Outcomes.
The EFInA WEE report utilises data from the 2023 Access to Financial Services in Nigeria (A2F 2023) Survey, Nigeria’s primary source of financial inclusion data, to better understand potential linkages between female financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria. The results show that of Nigeria’s estimated female adult population of 56.3 million people, only 22%, or 12.5 women, can be classified as being economically empowered. Education, digital, and financial literacy are the most significant drivers of empowerment, followed by household and group agency, regarding women’s autonomy to join and influence decision-making in social groups and the agency to do productive work and own assets.
In assessing the pathway from financial inclusion to WEE, we find savings stand out with the greatest odds. Women who save –formally or informally – are six times more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. The use of formal credit also doubles the likelihood of economic empowerment, whereas informal credit has a negligible impact. Women who actively use their accounts are more likely to be economically empowered than those who do not. Using Digital Financial Services increases the chances of empowerment and, more so, other formal banking channels, highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in financial inclusion.
Commenting on the report’s findings while speaking at the launch event, EFInA Gender Centre of Excellence Lead, Emezino Afiegbe said: “This report clearly identifies important linkages between financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria, while also identifying the key factors influencing women’s formal financial inclusion. By establishing the importance of financial inclusion in economic empowerment we can focus resources and investments on the enabling factors that will ultimately accelerate empowerment for all Nigerian women.”
Also speaking on the panel Dr. Yetunde Fatogun, Social Development Consultant at the World Bank said: “For women’s economic empowerment, it’s crucial to recognise that this is not a short-term endeavour. Sustainable progress requires the involvement of multiple sectors in implementation. To truly empower women, we must address critical issues, including the significant influence of culture and the pivotal role of institutions—traditional, religious, and family. This report is both timely and essential, as it sheds light on these multifaceted challenges and offers insights into how various sectors can collaborate to drive meaningful and lasting change for women in Nigeria“.
Aisha Hadejia, Partner at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, said: “Information accessibility remains a major hurdle, both in terms of design and delivery. Only 30% of women farmers have internet access, reflecting a significant digital divide. Additionally, mistrust in formal financial institutions is driving many women towards informal financial systems. Addressing these challenges requires data-driven solutions, such as those outlined in the A2F Women Economic Empowerment Report.”
EFInA, through the Gender Center of Excellence, is championing collaborative efforts with partners to drive significant progress in WEE by mainstreaming financial inclusion into sub-national economic policies and increasing financial and digital literacy, particularly for rural women. Our commitment extends to deepening financial inclusion, supporting income generation, and promoting savings behavior, all of which are essential for enhancing financial independence. Additionally, empowering women in decision-making and addressing vulnerabilities through social protection will further strengthen women’s roles in their households and communities. We invite you to contact us for partnership as we work together to drive impactful initiatives that advance financial inclusion and women’s economic empowerment.
The A2F 2023 survey findings can be found at https://www.a2f.ng/ while the specific report on women’s economic empowerment can be found here for partnership on strategic WEE initiatives.
The second edition of the Entertainment, Media, Technology and Arts (EMTA) Conference and Awards 2024 curated by BAO Live, an event division of leading media and brand consulting company, Business Africa Online (BAO) concluded on a high note. EMTA 2024 brought together industry leaders, innovators, and creatives for a day of insightful discussions, networking, and celebration. The pivotal event was held on Friday 30th August at The Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
This year’s EMTA conference and awards themed ‘Redefining Entertainment and Media Business In A World of AI’ kicked off with a welcome address from Joy Harrison Abiola, BAO Board Advisor. The event featured a keynote address from Victoria Abiola Ajayi, Group CEO TVC Communications. Victoria shared her insights on the topic; Unlocking New Growth in Media and Entertainment Business.
Joy Harrison-Abiola (BAO Board Advisor).
Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO, TVC Communications)
The interactive panel sessions featured notable speakers; as Mary Ephraim-Egbas of Homelands Films, Ike Nnaebue of LP House of Creatives, Judith Audu of Judith Audu Productions, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson of Paramount Africa, Ladun Awobokun of FilmOne, Israel Obatunde of Ideas Origin Media and Ebele The Flutist (Nigeria’s Foremost Female Flutist). The panel topics discussed were Beyond the screen: Unraveling the prospects in the film industry and Storytelling: Reimaging media and content production.
L-R: Joy Harrison Abiola, Dr. Bada Akintunde-Johnson, Ayomide Idogun, Ladun Awobokun, Israel Obatunde and Ebele The Flutist.
L-R: Joy Harrison-Abiola, Moses Agochuckwu, Alaba Ayinuola, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, Judith Audu and Ike Nnaebue.
The panel hosts; Moses Agochukwu of Silverbird Film Distribution and Ayomide Idogun of Lightning Sports were excellent moderators. The Showcase experience featured Michael Odiong of Premier Records Limited as he shared his insight on talent development, marketing and the impact of Premier Records in The African music industry. Attendees gained valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations shaping the entertainment and media landscape.
The awards ceremony honored outstanding achievements with six (6) winners announced. Notable winners; Obi Asika (Director General/CEO of National Council for Arts & Culture, Nigeria) and Victoria Abiola Ajayi (Group CEO of TVC Communications) took home the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award and Exemplary Leadership Award (Media) respectively, recognizing their exceptional contributions to the industry. Other winners are; Mary Ephraim-Egbas (Industry Champion Award – Film), LG NIGERIA ELECTRONICS (Smart Tech & Innovation Leadership Award), Ideas Origin Media (Design & Creative Excellence Award) and Premier Records Limited (Recording Legacy Company Award).
“We’re thrilled with the success of this year’s conference and awards. It was a fantastic opportunity for professionals to connect, learn, and celebrate the best in entertainment, media, technology and arts. Preparations are in gear to make EMTA 2025 even much more a bigger success.” said Alaba Ayinuola, Publisher & CEO at BAO.
The event was made possible through the support of sponsors and partners. Ideas Origin Media and LG ELECTRONICS NIGERIA as the Gold sponsors. And TVC Communications, Premier Records Limited, Olokpo App and GAIA Africa as partners. The event compere Segun Akinola (MC SHEGAZY) was exceptional.
For more information, please visit BAO Live. Join the conversation on social media using #EMTA2024 #BAOEMTA2024.
Heirs Insurance Group, Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance Group, has shortlisted its top 15 semi-finalists for the third edition of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship. The top 15 participants emerged from a competitive pool of close to 5,000 entries from Junior Secondary School students across Nigeria.
All entries underwent a rigorous grading process by renowned academics, on originality, depth of analysis, and clarity of thought. Furthermore, Deloitte & Touche, a leading Audit and Quality Assurance Firm, independently reviewed the grading process to ensure objectivity.
Out of the shortlisted participants, three students will proceed to the grand finale for a concluding presentation, on an all-expense paid trip sponsored by Heirs Insurance Group, which will take place at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, in September.
Winners of the Heirs Insurance Essay Championship will receive the combined scholarship of N8million, with the final winner’s school getting an additional N1million donation.
The Heirs Insurance Essay Championship is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of the group geared towards improving the quality of education of the next generation. The Championship also highlights emerging talent, while bringing parents and children closer to insurance through extended workshops on financial security.
This year’s competition witnessed creative entries from 35 states of the country, in response to the task of writing an essay titled “If I could Invent Something new”. In appreciation and acknowledgment of the creative submissions, all participating students will receive a certificate of participation.
