Marketplaces bring traffic but take commission and own the customer. Your own shop keeps the margin and the relationship. The smart play is usually both — here's how to think about it.
What marketplaces are good for
- Instant reach — Jumia gets millions of visits; you don't build an audience.
- Trust by association — new buyers trust the platform, not you.
- Logistics — they handle delivery and returns.
What they cost you
- Commission per sale (typically 5–15% depending on category) plus fulfilment fees.
- You're competing on price next to dozens of identical listings.
- The customer belongs to the marketplace — you can't re-market to them.
- Policy risk: account suspensions, payout delays, listing rules.
What your own shop gives you
- No sales commission — connect your own till and keep 100% (a 5% collection fee applies only if you use our platform till).
- Your brand: your colours, your story, your link everywhere.
- Customer data — emails, phones, order history for repeat marketing.
- Direct M-PESA to your till; payouts on your terms, not a platform's schedule.
The winning combo
Use marketplaces for discovery and volume, your own shop for margins and loyalty. Put a card in every marketplace parcel: 'Order direct next time — shops.co.ke/your-shop'. Many Kenyan sellers run this play: marketplace for new customers, own shop for repeat buyers.
