Shoprite launches an eCommerce service for its Cash & Carry stores, providing automated online shopping with free delivery. This move helps small businesses by reducing costs, improving stock access, and increasing efficiency.
Shoprite is venturing into eCommerce with a new service for its Cash & Carry stores. This service allows bulk buyers to browse and purchase a wide range of goods at competitive prices through an automated online system. The service includes free delivery within a 50km radius, streamlining the purchasing process for customers. “The new system streamlines the purchasing and fulfillment process for Cash & Carry’s in-store traders, allowing them to log in, access customer and product information, build and fulfill orders more efficiently,” the company stated in a July 3 news release.
Shoprite is accommodating its customers with various payment options. Online and in-store purchases can be made using credit and debit cards, EFT, store credit, cash upon collection, and Shoprite’s Money Market Account. This flexibility aims to make transactions smoother for small businesses, which often face financial constraints.
Mark Cotton, head of B2B eCommerce at Shoprite, emphasized the new service's role in supporting small businesses. “We are committed to supporting small businesses by providing innovative solutions to the specific problems these enterprises face,” he said. The new digital platform offers reliable stock access and delivery services, helping to eliminate excess inventory and free up cash flow. This service also reduces risks related to theft and overstocking.
In the U.S., small business owners showed increased optimism in May, as reported by PYMNTS. The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose to 90.5, the highest level in 2024 but still below the historical average of 98. The index has been below this average for 29 consecutive months, indicating ongoing challenges despite the recent uptick. This context underscores the importance of supportive measures like Shoprite’s new eCommerce service.
How will Shoprite's new eCommerce service impact small businesses?
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