If you’ve ever launched a new business—especially online—you’ve probably heard some version of these questions:
“Is this business real?”
“Can I trust them with my money?”
“What if I pay and they disappear?”
As African entrepreneurs, we’re not just fighting to grow our businesses—we’re fighting to be believed. And when customers don’t know your brand or don’t see anyone talking about you, doubt sets in before delivery can even begin.
Why Trust Is a Major Barrier
Trust is a huge factor—especially in this age of online scams, where people are rightfully cautious. And as an ecommerce platform, we at BOBZA know firsthand how hard it is to get people to trust you enough to pay before they receive the product. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about making people feel safe.
This lack of trust isn’t just a problem—it’s a blockage to sales, growth, and community confidence.
Two Powerful Solutions to Build Brand Credibility
Fortunately, you're not alone—and you're not powerless. Two platforms are helping African businesses rise above this credibility crisis:
1. BOBZA: A Marketplace Built on Trust
BOBZA was inspired by a real problem: African products were hard to find, hard to order, and even harder to trust.
There wasn’t a well-represented African marketplace where someone could find a range of African goods, check out once, and avoid paying multiple shipping fees to multiple businesses.
So, we built one.
BOBZA isn’t just a platform—it’s a trust bridge. All businesses listed are vetted, so customers can buy knowing someone has verified the quality and legitimacy of that brand.
By showcasing your products alongside other reputable African brands, we help solve the two major visibility problems:
? Can I trust this brand?
? Where can I find these African-made products in one place?
Now they know where—and they know we’ve done the checks.
2. 22 on Sloane: Local Hustlers Go Global
Our partnership with 22 on Sloane is a game-changer. For those who don’t know: 22 on Sloane helps small kasi-born African businesses evolve from serving only local customers to reaching other provinces—and even international markets.
They do this through world-class incubation and strategic partnerships—like ours with BOBZA—that open up distribution channels.
Being backed by 22 on Sloane elevates your brand beyond your neighborhood. It places you in a network trusted across Africa and globally. So when people ask, “Can I trust them?”
You can confidently say:
“We’re listed on BOBZA and backed by 22 on Sloane.”
And that speaks volumes.
What Can You Do As a Small Business?
I’ll keep it simple. Keep building.
Get your customers to leave reviews and testimonials. Create high-quality products that speak for themselves.
And most importantly—understand that you're not in this alone. In this digital age, visibility is power. And platforms like BOBZA are here to help you be seen and trusted.
Final Thoughts: Together, We Compete Differently
Let’s be real: the playing field is not fair.
We’re up against corporations that have been around for generations. They’ve got massive marketing budgets and own most of the brands you see daily.
There’s an illusion of competition—but take a closer look and you’ll see that those household names in the same aisle are often all owned by one mega-company.
So how do we compete?
We compete differently.
We compete by coming together, listening to what our communities need, and delivering solutions that are more sustainable, healthier, and human.
We don’t need to copy their system—we need to build our own.
Want to dive deeper into how to build trust, grow your brand, and position your business for national and international success? Join us for a powerful Instagram Live session hosted by BOBZA and 22 on Sloane on 1 June 2025 at 7PM. We’ll be unpacking real challenges, real strategies, and real stories from African entrepreneurs who are doing it big. Don’t miss out—follow us and set your reminder. This is your chance to learn, connect, and elevate your business journey.
Rekaofela | Build Africa. Buy Africa. Believe in Africa.
