By: Peneyambeko Jonas
Upcoming entrepreneurs who post their businesses online without prices and asking potentile clients to direct message them for prices are found to be not serious about trading.
“If you are interested in our products, DM for the price.”
For many Namibian entrepreneurs, this approach has become a common way of selling products online, but business speakers say it may discourage potential customers and limit sales.
The issue was raised during the Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship Engagement hosted by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) at the Oshakati Guest House in the Oshana Region.
Speakers urged entrepreneurs to use digital platforms not only to promote their businesses but also to improve how they attract, serve and retain customers.
Businessman David Sheehama of Kambwa Trading CC said entrepreneurs should make it easier for customers to access basic information, including prices, product descriptions and availability.
He compared businesses that require customers to send direct messages for prices to walking into a supermarket where products have no price tags.
“If you mean business, then let your business have a catalogue with prices and clear descriptions,” Sheehama said.
He said customers may not have the time to send messages simply to find out how much a product costs.
According to Sheehama, making information readily available can reduce barriers between businesses and consumers and improve the chances of completing a sale.
Sheehama also linked customer service to business sustainability, urging entrepreneurs to build their operations around honesty and reliability.
“You should do what you say,” he said, warning businesses against promising products or services they cannot deliver.
He said entrepreneurs should communicate with customers when they face problems such as stock shortages or transport delays instead of giving false information.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Dino Ballotti, said Namibian businesses could be limiting their revenue potential by focusing mainly on customers within their immediate communities.
With Namibia’s population of about three million, Ballotti encouraged entrepreneurs to use digital marketing to reach consumers beyond the domestic market.
He identified Botswana, Angola, Zambia and South Africa as potential regional markets for Namibian businesses.
He said digital platforms can help businesses identify customers, communicate with them and market products across borders without relying solely on physical expansion.
Gerold Dreyer, a consultant for MSME Market Access and Export Promotion at the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), cautioned entrepreneurs against treating digital transformation as simply having a social media account.
Dreyer said businesses should select digital tools according to their individual strategies and operational needs because not every platform is suitable for every business. He also warned that digital adoption comes with risks that businesses need to manage to avoid disruptions.
Taimi Shivute, founder of Tuno Foods, provided an example of how digital marketing can translate into market expansion. She said social media helped the spice producer tell its story, showcase its products, and communicate how its herbs are sourced.
The company gained online attention after a high-quality photograph of its products went viral.
“You do not need a big office to operate your business. A very good quality picture of your product will open economic doors for your business,” Shivute said.
Tuno Foods’ products are now sold in more than 80 stores in Namibia and have entered the South African market.
Digital tools should form part of a broader business strategy, from transparent pricing and customer communication to market expansion and regional trade.
For small businesses operating in a limited domestic market, effective digital use could provide a route to customers beyond their immediate communities.
penny@eaglefm.com.na
