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ShonaDirect

Distribution as a service

Your Product.Our Network.Direct to Market.

One integration into ShonaDirect gives a brand access to an entire local distribution infrastructure.

ShonaDirect is a B2B distribution platform that allows brands to sell and distribute their products through the Shona retail network.

Instead of building a local sales team, warehousing, retail relationships and a distribution network, a brand uses the infrastructure that already exists.

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Applications are reviewed by the Shona team before an account is opened.

Consignment record
  1. SUBProduct submitted
  2. REVReviewed by Shona
  3. ALCStock allocated
  4. TRNIn transit
  5. WHSReceived at warehouse
  6. STRLive in store
  7. SLDSold
Every stage above is recorded against the product, and the brand sees it.

The route a product takes

  1. 01International brand
  2. 02ShonaDirect
  3. 03Import and local distribution
  4. 04Shona stores
  5. 05Customer
  6. 06Sales data
  7. 07Settlement to brand

How it works

The platform runs one loop. A brand submits a product, Shona reviews it, stock is allocated to stores, stores sell it, sales are recorded, and the brand sees performance and receives settlement.

  1. 01Brand uploads a product

    Name, SKU, images, description, specifications, wholesale price, recommended retail price, minimum order quantity, packaging, warranty terms, country of origin, certifications and shipping information.

  2. 02Shona reviews it

    The review considers local demand, expected retail price, product quality, logistics costs, import duties, warranty and regulatory requirements. Shona can approve the product, decline it, or come back on the commercial terms.

  3. 03Stock is allocated

    The brand and Shona agree an initial quantity and where it sits, across the central warehouse and the selected cities. Shipment milestones and landed cost are recorded as the units travel.

  4. 04Stores sell the product

    Goods are received and verified at the Shona warehouse, transferred to stores, and go live with their retail price, inventory and warranty attached.

  5. 05Sales are recorded

    Every purchase is captured through the Shona point of sale and inventory decrements against it, by store, by city and by SKU.

  6. 06You see performance and are settled

    The dashboard shows units sold, revenue, stock remaining and where it is. Each period produces a settlement statement showing gross sales, fees, returns and the net amount due, followed by payment.

The loop

Sell.Measure.Replenish.

Inventory is monitored as it sells, and a replenishment is recommended before a location runs out.

What you get

Five capabilities a brand would otherwise have to build in the market itself.

Market entry
Select the countries and cities you want to sell in, and the Shona stores that carry your product. No local entity, no local sales team.
Distribution
Shipment milestones from order confirmed through to delivered at the Shona warehouse, with customs clearance, duties, freight and clearing costs recorded against the consignment.
Retail execution
Goods received and verified on arrival, transferred to stores, confirmed on receipt, and live on the shelf with price, inventory and warranty attached.
Data
Sales by store, city, country and SKU, over the day, week and month. Inventory on hand, sell-through, average selling price and days of cover.
Settlement
A statement for each period showing units sold, gross sales, fees, returns and the net amount due, then payment against a settlement reference.

The network you plug into

V1 distributes through Shona retail stores. The platform is built so that the same product record can reach further channels as they are opened.

Available in V1

Shona retail stores

Your product is received into the Shona warehouse, transferred to the stores you have selected, and sold through the Shona point of sale.

On the roadmap

ShonaDirect can expand beyond Shona retail stores to include further distribution channels.

  • Shona agents

    Field agents selling into their own customer base.

  • ZPoint merchants

    Merchants on the ZPoint point of sale network.

  • ShoFi locations

    Connectivity locations operated under ShoFi.

  • Third party retailers

    Retailers outside the Shona estate.

Roadmap items are not available yet and no date is committed. They are listed so a brand can see where the same catalogue record is intended to reach.

Available in

The countries ShonaDirect covers. If the market you need is not on the list, say so when you apply and the Shona team will come back to you.

  • Kenya
  • Zimbabwe
  • Mozambique
  • Zambia
  • Botswana
  • Rwanda
  • Uganda
  • Lesotho
  • Tanzania
  • Angola
  • Ghana
  • Nigeria
  • Senegal
  • Ivory Coast
  • DRC

Apply to distribute through ShonaDirect

Send your company details, contacts and supporting documents. The Shona team reviews the application and comes back to you by email.

Start an applicationAlready approved? Sign in