Turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality—no inventory, no upfront costs, and no limits.
Africa’s e-commerce market is exploding. By the end of 2025, it’s projected to hit $75 billion, with countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa leading the charge. But here’s the kicker: you don’t need a warehouse or a massive budget to grab a slice of this growth. Dropshipping lets you sell products directly to customers without handling inventory. And with platforms like Selly Africa, you can launch a polished online store in minutes. Ready to dive in? Let’s break it down—step by step.
Step 1: Choose a Profitable Niche
Africa’s diverse markets demand niche-specific strategies. Skip the saturated categories (like generic clothing) and focus on high-demand, low-competition products:
- Beauty & Skincare: Affordable, natural hair care products in Nigeria.
- Phone Accessories: Durable phone cases and chargers in Kenya.
- Fashion: Ankara prints and custom jewelry in Ghana.
- Home Essentials: Solar-powered gadgets in South Africa.
- Baby Products: Organic baby clothes in Egypt.
Pro Tip: Use Google Trends to compare search interest across African countries. For example, “solar lights” spike in Kenya during power outages.
Step 2: Find Reliable Suppliers in 5 African Countries
Partnering with local suppliers slashes shipping costs and builds trust. Here’s where to start:
Nigeria:
- Jumia (Pan-African marketplace with Nigerian suppliers).
- DHgate (Chinese platform with fast shipping to Lagos).
Kenya:
- ShopZetu (Curates Kenyan-made fashion and home goods).
- AliExpress (Use filters for “ships from Kenya”).
South Africa:
- Takealot (Local giants with electronics and appliances).
- Bulk African Crafts (Authentic handmade decor).
Egypt:
Souq.com (Now Amazon Egypt—ideal for tech and beauty).
Ghana:
- Tonaton (Ghana’s top classifieds for local suppliers).
Action Step: Contact 3 suppliers per country, negotiate bulk discounts, and ask for samples.
Step 3: Set Up Your Store in Minutes
Forget coding or design skills. With Selly Africa, you can launch a store faster than brewing coffee:
- Create an Account: Visit sellyafrica.com, sign up, and pick a business name.
- Customize Your Store: Use the premade template to edit the store to fit your design and brand (e.g., “ShowMart”).
- Add your Products: Add every product you want to sell on your ecommerce.
Why Selly Africa? It’s 10x cheaper than Shopify for beginners, with dozens of built in features.
Step 4: Market Your Business Like a Pro
Africans spend 3+ hours daily on social media—capitalize on it:
- TikTok Ads: Target 18–34-year-olds in Lagos with trending sounds.
- Influencer Collabs: Partner with micro-influencers (5k–50k followers) in Nairobi.
- SEO: Optimize product descriptions for “best Ankara dresses in Accra.”
Case Study: Nana’s Naturals (Ghana) used Instagram Reels to showcase shea butter routines. Result? 200 orders in 2 weeks.
Legal Tips for African Dropshippers
- Register Your Business: In Nigeria, use the CAC portal (₦10,000 fee).
- Tax Compliance: Kenya requires VAT registration for revenue over KES 5M/year.
- Contracts: Draft supplier agreements to avoid disputes.
Conclusion
Africa’s dropshipping pump is here—but only those who act fast will win. With the right niche, local suppliers, and a lightning-fast store setup (thanks to Selly Africa), you’re already ahead of 90% of beginners.
- Your Next Move:
Create your free Selly Africa account → sellyafrica.com
Add your first 10 products.
Launch your first TikTok ad.
The continent’s next e-commerce success story? That could be you. Let’s get started Today.