Sector: Retail / e-commerce

In portfolio since: 2015

Location: Kenya

Customers visit their local Copia agent, browse through the Copia catalogue and place orders with the agent using the Copia app. The customer pays the agent, who then electronically sends the order to Copia. Copia delivers the goods to the agent in 2 – 4 days. Once the customer is notified that their order has been delivered to the agent, they pick up their order and the agent receives a commission from Copia.

With the launch of online shopping, Copia has further increased access to their customers. Anyone can browse Copia’s website, select goods and their delivery location and pay online. The goods will be delivered to the nearest delivery point in 2 – 4 days.

Develop last mile distribution company capabilities

75% of Africa’s 489 million mass-market consumers live in rural areas. Due to poor quality road infrastructure, the distribution of consumer products to this population is highly inefficient; resulting in reduced choice and higher prices. Copia’s business model enables it to serve this population in a commercially viable way and in doing so, brings greater efficiency to one of the greatest challenges faced by organisations attempting to access this market.  

Empower small business owners 

Copia’s agents are business people operating small retail outlets, hair salons, tailors and kiosk stores in the communities where we work. In the traditional development of retail the small shopkeeper is forced out of the market by the consolidation of retail or supermarket chains. Copia provides its agents with the tools to compete by offering the same product range without inventory, shelf space requirement or upfront financial outlay. Copia also enables small business owners to materially increase their income by increasing footfall at their primary business and via Copia commissions.