7 Best eCommerce Platforms for Selling Furniture Online in South Africa

Last updated on August 9th, 2024 at 12:04 pm

Are you looking to start selling furniture online in South Africa?

With the growth of online shopping, having an ecommerce presence is essential for any furniture business today.

But with so many ecommerce platforms available, how do you find the best one for your needs?

In this post, we’ll review the top 7 ecommerce platforms for selling furniture online in South Africa.

Whether you want to create your own online store from scratch or sell on a marketplace like Amazon, these platforms provide the tools you need to successfully sell products online and grow your furniture ecommerce business.

Table of Contents

1. Shopify

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms globally and a great choice for furniture businesses in South Africa looking to start selling online.

Some key benefits of Shopify South Africa include:

Fully hosted solution, so no need to worry about web hosting, security, or maintenance
Customizable online store designs with professional themes for furniture/home decor
Built-in blogging and SEO features to drive organic traffic
Integrated payment processing with over 100 payment gateways
24/7 support

Pricing starts at $32/month, with a 14-day free trial available.

For furniture businesses needing more advanced features, Shopify Plus offers an enterprise-grade ecommerce platform.

2. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a popular open-source ecommerce platform that integrates with WordPress, the world’s leading content management system.

If you already have a WordPress website, WooCommerce makes it easy to add ecommerce functionality and start selling products online.

Key features include:

Free to use, with additional costs for hosting, domain, and extensions
Highly customizable with access to the underlying code
Huge library of extensions to add features like subscriptions, bookings, memberships, etc.
Integrates with various South African payment gateways like PayFast and Peach Payments
Large community for support and resources

WooCommerce is a good option if you want full control over your online store and don’t mind a steeper learning curve.

Many web hosts also offer managed WooCommerce hosting to simplify the technical aspects.

3. Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento)

Magento is another leading open-source ecommerce platform, known for its flexibility and scalability.

It powers many large online retailers and offers features like:

Multi-store functionality to manage multiple online stores from one dashboard
Advanced SEO and marketing tools
Flexible coupon and discount rules
Supports omnichannel selling with PWA Studio for mobile
Extensive third-party extensions marketplace

However, Magento does have a steeper learning curve and higher costs compared to other platforms.

It’s best suited for larger furniture businesses with in-house development resources or budget to hire an agency.

4. Wix eCommerce

Wix is a popular website builder that also offers ecommerce functionality through Wix eCommerce.

It’s a good option for small furniture businesses in South Africa looking for an easy-to-use platform to quickly start selling online. Benefits include:

Drag-and-drop store builder with furniture-specific templates
No transaction fees on sales
Integrated payment processing with leading providers
Abandoned cart recovery
Multichannel integration with marketplaces like Amazon and eBay

Wix eCommerce plans start at $29/month.

While it lacks some of the advanced features of other platforms, it’s one of the easiest ways to start an online store and sell products with no technical skills required.

5. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust hosted ecommerce platform with features for businesses of all sizes. Some highlights for furniture sellers include:

No transaction fees and competitive credit card processing rates
Responsive themes optimized for furniture/home decor
Single-page checkout and abandoned cart saver
Headless commerce capabilities for greater flexibility
Built-in faceted search for easy product discovery

Pricing starts at $39/month with a 15-day free trial.

BigCommerce also offers 24/7 live agent support and a range of self-help resources.

6. Takealot Marketplace

Takealot is the largest online marketplace in South Africa, with over 2,000 third-party sellers.

Listing your furniture products on Takealot Marketplace allows you to reach a large audience of South African online shoppers without needing your own website. Key features include:

Free to list products, with a commission fee on sales
Fulfillment by Takealot available to handle storage and shipping
Seller portal to manage products, inventory, and orders
Seller support team to assist with queries

However, you’ll have less control over branding and the customer experience compared to your own online store.

Takealot Marketplace can be a good additional sales channel, but ideally in combination with your own ecommerce website.

7. Bobshop (formerly Bidorbuy)

Bidorbuy is another popular online marketplace in South Africa, with categories like furniture, appliances, electronics, fashion, and more.

Selling on Bidorbuy allows you to tap into their existing traffic and reach shoppers across the country.

Benefits include:

Exposure to over 1 million registered users
Tiered membership plans starting at R99/month
Responsive seller tools to manage listings on mobile
Integrated payment and shipping with Bidorbuy’s logistics partners

Like with other marketplaces, you’ll need to factor in membership costs and fees to sell.

But for furniture businesses looking to expand their online reach, Bidorbuy can be a valuable addition to your eCommerce strategy.

Tips for Choosing the Best eCommerce Platform for Your Furniture Business

With so many great eCommerce platforms available in South Africa, how do you choose the right one for your furniture business?

Here are a few factors to consider:

Ease of use: Look for a platform with an intuitive interface that’s easy to set up and manage, especially if you’re new to eCommerce.
Design flexibility: Choose a platform with professional themes and customization options to create a unique online store that reflects your brand.
Payment processing: Make sure the platform integrates with popular payment gateways in South Africa like PayFast, Peach Payments, etc.
Shipping and fulfillment: Consider platforms that offer built-in shipping tools or integrate with local logistics providers.
Marketing and SEO: Look for features like blogging, email marketing, and SEO optimization to help drive traffic and sales.
Scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your business, with features like inventory management, reporting, and omnichannel capabilities.
Support: Ensure the platform offers reliable customer support, whether through live chat, email, phone, or self-help resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best ecommerce platform for small businesses in South Africa?

Shopify and WooCommerce are both great options for small businesses in South Africa looking to start selling online. Shopify offers an all-in-one hosted solution, while WooCommerce is a flexible and affordable option for WordPress users.

How much does it cost to start an online store in South Africa?

The cost to start an online store in South Africa varies depending on factors like the ecommerce platform, hosting, payment processing, and extensions. With Shopify, you can get started for as little as $29/month. WooCommerce is free to use, but you’ll need to factor in hosting costs and any paid extensions.

Can I sell on multiple marketplaces and my own online store?

Yes, many furniture retailers in South Africa use a multi-channel approach to sell products online. You can list your products on marketplaces like Takealot and Bidorbuy to reach a larger audience, while also maintaining your own branded online store. Look for ecommerce platforms that offer omnichannel capabilities to manage sales across multiple channels.

How do I drive traffic to my online furniture store?

To drive traffic to your furniture ecommerce store, focus on:

Search engine optimization (SEO) to rank for relevant keywords
Content marketing like blogging and videos to attract and engage shoppers
Social media to build brand awareness and community
Email marketing to nurture leads and customer loyalty
Paid advertising on Google, Facebook, etc. to reach target audiences

Final Thoughts

Ecommerce presents a huge opportunity for furniture retailers in South Africa to reach new customers and grow their businesses online.

By choosing the right ecommerce platform for your needs, you can create a successful online store that provides an exceptional customer experience and drives sales.

Consider platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and BigCommerce to build your own branded online store, or marketplaces like Takealot and Bobshop to expand your reach.