Pick n Pay (PnP) Namibia – a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group – on Tuesday, 26 February 2019 officially launched its online store.
The Pick n Pay Namibia Online Store commenced its pilot phase in October 2018 to test the site and its compatibility. The store has since then already accrued 600 online customers. Speaking at the official launch, PnP Namibia Managing Director, Norbert Wurm stressed on the fast evolving digital world and that embracing and forming part of the evolution is the only way to avoid being left behind. Wurm: “One very noticeable and rapidly growing aspect of the digital sphere, is online shopping which is slowly but surely also enjoying steady growth in Namibia. Digital transformation has played a significant role in keeping the O&L purpose alive, and stimulating our vision of being the most progressive and inspiring company. While more still needs to be done to embrace this new and exciting era of communication, we are inspired by the group’s communication that has adapted to, and embraced digitalization which is evident in the number of key appointments to drive this movement.”
PnP Namibia Marketing Manager, Victoria Moller emphasized that the online service was met with great excitement during its pilot phase, and has since gone viral. Moller: “We even have customers from overseas that makes use of the Pick n Pay Namibia Online store to purchase groceries and have it delivered to their families here in Windhoek. Online shopping is definitely the future in Namibia. It offers our customers the convenience of shopping from their home or office and basically gives you more time for things more important.”
The founders of the online service providers are four young Namibians that identified the need to take shopping to the next level in Namibia. Sacky Amutenya first created the service in early 2015, which went live in May later that year. In June 2016 he was joined by Iyaloo Nekundi, Richard Chambula, and Naftal Shailemo, and together they created the company, Four Clicks E-Commerce Trading as Buy Online Namibia Amutenya: “The journey of Buy Online Namibia was not easy – we had many challenges that faced us on this path of shaping the service, but we made it. And after knocking on several retailers’ doors to get on board and make use of our service, PnP Namibia was the first retailer that embraced our idea and decided to take us up on the challenge. PnP Namibia’s support and acquiring of our service brings hope to Business Namibia, and especially to local entrepreneurs.”
Wurm stressed on PnP Namibia, and the O&L Group’s commitment to supporting local in contribution to building the Namibian economy. Wurm: “PnP Namibia firmly believes in, and lives the O&L purpose of ‘Creating a future, enhancing life’. Part of how we achieve this is through supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs and to give them access to the markets by either listing their products and services with Pick n Pay or by joining forces to provide Namibians with new and innovative initiatives such as the Pick n Pay Online store.”
Currently the PnP Namibia Online Store service at www.buyonline.com.na is only available in Windhoek. However, according to Moller, plans are to expand it to the coast and the north in due course. Moller: “Currently the online store offers over 1300 products while the rest of the list is being upgraded. What you will notice are that our prices on the site is the same as prices in-store. You only pay a delivery fee that is based on your location in, and around Windhoek.”
