#27: Takealot - How the South African online retailer became one of the largest e-commerce platforms in Africa

Overview: Today, we’re going to talk about Takealot - the largest ecommerce platform in South Africa & one of the largest across Africa. We'll start by giving some context of e-commerce in South Africa, discuss Takealot's early history, Naspers' 2018 acquisition of Takealot, analyze Takealot business strategy & end with our overall outlook. This episode was recorded on April 18, 2021.

Companies discussed: Takealot, Take2, Naspers, Tiger Global, Jumia, Kalahari.net, BidorBuy, Kilimall, Amazon, Konga, Alibaba, Everyshop (JD Group), Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Massmart, Spar & MIH Africa

Business concepts discussed: Developing markets e-commerce, Pan-African expansion strategy & ecommerce marketplaces

Conversation highlights:

• (01:20) - E-commerce and Takealot intro
• (04:50) - South Africa Retail & e-commerce context
• (15:30) - Takealot founding story: Take2, Tiger Global & Kim Reid
• (21:30) - Acquisition of Superbalist, Mr Delivery; Tiger Global investment
• (28:25) - Naspers takeover of Takealot from Tiger Global
• (33:46) - Takealot today: Product and monetization, business units, key metrics
• (45:10) - Competion: local, international & non-traditional
• (54:55) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook
• (1:04:07) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook
• (1:14:40) - Recommendation and small wins

Olumide’s recommendations & small wins:

• Recommendation: Super forecasting (by Phil Tetlock): Article & Book
• Recommendation: Profit first (Mike Michalowicz)
• Small win: Dinner with friends in Old Havana in Miami. Fun conversations
• Other content: Notts County jersey vs Juventus jersey (story)

Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:

• Recommendations: Leaving The Tarmac & Bring Back our Girls
• Small win: Vaxxed, booked and busy!
• Other content: Fantasy M&A: Takealot should get its head in the game  & The New Futuristic Takealot Pick-up Point - YouTube

All episodes at Afrobility.com