On October 16, the 20th Maker Salon—the “Takealot South Africa Practical Workshop”—co-hosted by the Shenzhen Maker Association and Qicaiying Group, was held in Shenzhen. Under the theme “A Full-Funnel Practical Guide: From Platform Onboarding to Stable Profits,” the event featured cross-border e-commerce expert Vanessa, cross-border finance and tax compliance expert Xia Xiuxia, and Zhang Chenhao, head of Kemand Logistics. They shared insights on platform operations, financial and tax compliance, and logistics fulfillment, providing practical guidance for companies looking to explore the South African market.

Understand Market Opportunities and Master Store Management

For companies looking to enter the South African market, understanding the platform is just the beginning; what matters most is finding products that fit their supply chain and establishing a sustainable business model.

During the event, Vanessa—a representative of the Shenzhen Makers Association and a cross-border e-commerce expert—delivered a presentation titled “From Launch to Stable Operations: Takealot’s End-to-End Practical Growth Strategy.” She broke down the key stages of a store’s journey, from preparation to operation, covering topics ranging from market opportunities and product category selection to operating costs and inventory management.

When it comes to product selection, she drew on categories such as home and kitchen goods, pet supplies, beauty tools, and sports accessories to share the approach Chinese sellers take: evaluating products based on five factors—demand, competition, profit, logistics, and compliance—and prioritizing small-batch test sales to gather feedback before deciding whether to restock or expand the product lineup.

“There’s often a world of difference between ”looking profitable“ and ”actually making money”—a difference that can be seen in a comprehensive cost breakdown. In addition to procurement costs, pricing must take into account a range of factors, including initial shipping, platform commissions, warehousing and fulfillment, advertising, and after-sales service, to avoid a situation where order volume increases but profits are gradually eroded.

Drawing on examples from her own online store, Vanessa further discussed methods for optimizing product pages, running ads, and managing restocking, as well as the use of ERP systems and local overseas warehouses for inventory tracking and business performance reviews. Her presentation conveyed a clear message: market opportunities must be capitalized on through operational capabilities, and product selection, traffic generation, and order fulfillment must be advanced in tandem.

Prepare for Implementation and Strengthen the Fiscal and Tax Foundation

In addition to store operations, the legal entity, accounts, and tax arrangements also affect a company’s ability to conduct business smoothly.

Xia Xiuxia, a hands-on expert in cross-border finance and taxation at Qicaiying, provided an overview of the key steps involved in South African company registration and financial and tax compliance—from entity formation and opening a bank account to daily reporting. She also outlined the implementation pathways for cross-border and local stores, tailored to different stages of business operations.

For sellers who are still testing the market, as well as businesses that have committed to maintaining inventory and operating long-term, the focus of initial preparations and resource allocation differs. Businesses need to align their business plans with the requirements of the platform and clarify in advance how company information, bank accounts, tax records, and platform data will be integrated to avoid delays in subsequent operational processes after registration is complete.

Addressing frequently asked questions, she focused on matters such as the registered address, tax representative, account opening signatures, and account control, reminding companies to pay attention to their ongoing maintenance responsibilities as early as the preparatory stage.

The tax and finance guidelines further address sellers’ concerns regarding costs and profits: sales revenue does not equal taxable profit, and a low tax rate does not directly equate to a low tax burden. Businesses need to make judgments based on their operational circumstances, cost documentation, and applicable conditions, and retain complete records for procurement, logistics, platform settlements, and other processes to ensure that daily accounting keeps pace with business growth.

Streamlining the Logistics Chain to Ensure Reliable Order Fulfillment

Whether goods arrive as scheduled, whether restocking keeps pace with sales, and whether issues are resolved promptly all directly affect the store’s operational rhythm.

Zhang Chenhao, head of Kemand Logistics, delivered a presentation titled “Partner with Kemand to Explore New Logistics Opportunities in South Africa.” Focusing on the issues of “delivery time” and “controllability”—which are of great concern to sellers—he outlined the logistics chain, from domestic consolidation and international sea and air freight to customs clearance in South Africa, overseas warehousing, and local delivery.

We’ll share our resource network—which combines domestic logistics parks, bonded warehouses in South Africa, and overseas warehouses—and explain how fixed shipping schedules and flight schedules, shipment tracking, pre-shipment inspections, and responses to exceptions support sellers’ inventory planning.

For cross-border sellers, logistics planning must align with sales volume, inventory levels, and cash flow. By understanding shipping lead times in advance and tracking both in-transit and available inventory, sellers can develop more informed restocking plans and minimize the impact of stockouts and excess inventory on their business.

This seminar will examine platform operations, financial and tax management, and logistics fulfillment as part of a single business chain, helping companies understand the preparations required to enter the South African market from multiple perspectives, while also providing a channel for face-to-face communication between companies and professional service providers.

From product selection and test marketing to full-scale implementation, and from cost accounting to warehousing and distribution, expanding into overseas markets involves multiple stages. Companies need to understand the market while also taking into account their own products, teams, and financial resources to gradually validate the business model that works best for them.

Serving as a bridge between businesses and professional resources, the Shenzhen Makers Association helps member companies broaden their horizons and find partners by establishing communication platforms, pooling industry expertise, and facilitating resource matching. This provides businesses with additional information, communication channels, and professional support as they explore new markets.

Going forward, the Shenzhen Makers Association will continue to focus on the practical needs of its member companies and entrepreneurs, collaborating with professional organizations to host industry seminars, facilitate practical exchanges, and connect resources, thereby providing greater support to companies looking to expand into overseas markets.