A challenge for Africans in the diaspora is sourcing authentic African products such as fabrics, clothing, spices, and art. Common options like overpriced local stores, marked-up prices on global platforms, or relying on travelers from the continent can make it difficult. A newly launched e-commerce platform called GiriToday aims to address this by connecting international buyers directly with African artisans and entrepreneurs.
Founded in 2024, GiriToday allows sellers to list and ship products globally, accepting payments through various systems. The platform eliminates intermediaries, reduces shipping times, and lowers product costs. Merchants can manage inventory, orders, and customer messages from a single dashboard, similar to Shopify, with Flutterwave facilitating payments and CourierPlus handling logistics.
To ensure product authenticity, GiriToday verifies goods before listing them on the platform. The company operates an authentication center in Lagos, inspecting products from Nigeria. GiriToday plans to establish more centers across Africa. The platform focuses on merchant acquisition through offline strategies, aiming to build trust with customers.
GiriToday differentiates itself from competitors like Etsy and Anka by offering direct shipping, local payment integration, and quality control measures. It promises a five-day delivery window, faster than Etsy and Anka. The platform’s revenue model includes transaction fees, in-app advertisements, and trade financing to support sellers and enhance the buyers’ experience.
In terms of future plans, GiriToday is raising funds to expand its operations, improve logistics, and introduce more financial tools. The platform aims to scale across Nigeria and other African markets, becoming a pivotal player in facilitating African exports globally.