🌍 Zando leaves South Africa, Mytheresa trades equity for YNAP

Table of Contents

• The Rundown

• Across Africa

• Now Hiring

• Elsewhere

The Rundown

Hey ,

It looks like we’re at the end of an era in African e-commerce.

The marketplace model has hit maturity — Jumia is rebounding, Takealot just became profitable, and global players like Amazon and Temu are making inroads in a now primed market.

Since online marketplaces still drive more sales for the bigger brands on their digital shelves than the smaller ones, African small businesses have turned to social media to sell directly to consumers. For fashion, that’s worked well — I’ve lost count of the number of Nigerian brands I know whose storefront is Instagram and point of sale is WhatsApp.

Everyone has settled into their spot and the knock on effects of the shape the market is taking have begun: as competing online gets harder and more expensive, independent sales platforms in the middle risk being squeezed out unless they have a USP that actually competes with a marketplace like Amazon or the network effect of Instagram.

I think fashion specialists who create a great customer experience have a real shot at thriving in whatever market emerges from this. Every online fashion pioneer platform proved that, across price points, people who buy fashion (not just clothes, but the idea of fashion) care that the shopping process is as stylish as the product. Along with all the other market factors and operational calls to juggle, the likes of Ananse, Industrie, Jendaya, ADJOAA and Anka will have to make stylish, inspiring content and style-conscious UX part of the recipe if they want to maintain or grow spending volumes.

Luxury e-commerce in Europe and the US has seen a serious shake up too. The current sales downturn is being compared to 2008, and it’s dented Farfetch, shuttered Matches and is still threatening everyone else. It’s driven by a combination of less spending, higher prices, and a conversation about value for money that isn’t just going to ‘go away’ (see the $57 Dior drama, the Italian sweatshop scandal, the Loro Piana nightmare).

All eyes are on MyTheresa’s YNAP acquisition to basically dictate what happens next, and maybe it should — in its early days, MyTheresa sidestepped the modern funding circus to bet on organic growth, so their playbook has always been ruthlessly focused on profitability. If they can apply that to the Yoox-Net-A-Porter business… who knows.

Job opportunities in today’s round up come from Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa, with a large chunk in e-commerce (there’s a design competition in the mix, too).

By the way, if you want to submit a job or opportunity for future editions, you can! Just reply to any newsletter with details and a link for review. [It’s free, but there’s some criteria to meet.] Also, if you apply for a job below (and if you get it!), please let me know.

🙏 Don’t forget to do the 1 minute survey; it really helps!

On to the news. But first:

Thanks for reading!
Modupe

Across Africa

Zimbabwe Fashion Week tickets are now available; you’ll need to download an app called PC Concierge to buy them. - Zim Fashion Week

Superbalist’s new owner is cutting at least 28% of staff. Cuts include the entire Vertical Design Centre and Trend and Design department. - My Broadband

Jumia Group’s VP for communications and public relations, Abdesslam Benzitouni, explains why they’re exit struggling markets — and shutting down Zando. - Moneyweb

The Foschini Group's Sneaker Factory is getting into the clothing business with new urban clothing label, APX - BizCommunity

Woolworths launches a ‘Denim Drop Off‘ recycling program with Taking Care of Business’ (TCB). TCB’s Remake programme supports seamstresses in setting up their own micro-manufacturing businesses. - TCB

Support The Fashion Operator by forwarding this email to someone in your network of operators. If someone shared this with you, don’t miss out — subscribe below.

Now Hiring

ad: 1440 media

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

Elsewhere

Primark UK is opening its first store in New York - WWD

The MET Museum’s Costume Institute announces ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ — the 2025 exhibit that will visit the sartorial history of the Black Dandy. - Fashionista

Mytheresa is buying YNAP from Richemont in exchange for handing them a 33% stake in Mytheresa instead of €555m in cash — a price that represents a 57% loss for Richemont. - Fashion Network

Prada lent their textile development expertise to Axiom Space, the first commercial space station, for the design of the AxEMU spacesuit. - Axiom Space

That’s all for today — plus one more plea for your opinion in the 1 minute survey!

Thoughts?