Frequently Asked Questions
Get the latest trends and insights on selling online
Getting Started
Why should I sell on Skymart?
Skymartbw is the leader in e-commerce in the region with maximum online reach and highest credibility. With more than 20,000 registered customers and 300 shipments every month to over 100 cities, towns and villages, we are the strongest partner to take your products to customers all over Southern Africa. Countries include Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Who can sell on Skymart?
Anyone selling new and genuine products is welcome. You can be any of the following: Manufacturer, Wholesaler, Distributor, Retailer.
There are few exceptions to the rule for which you may contact us.
To start selling, you need to have the following:
- Company Certificate of Registration or Business Name Registration
- Form 2/13 or Copy of ID/Passport for Directors/Owners
- Bank account with any Bank in Southern Africa
- Tax Certificate / VAT Number (optional)
- Trade or Manufacture license (optional)
- Company Profile and Product Portfolio
How do I sell on Skymart?
To sell on Skymartbw:
- Register yourself at my-account.
- List your products under specific product categories on the skymart marketplace.
- Customer sees your product and makes a purchase. You will receive an email to ship the product.
- Once an order is received, pack the product and contact us for collection. Our logistics partner will pick up the product and deliver it to the customer.
- Once an order is successfully dispatched, Skymartbw will settle your payment within 1-7 business days.
I don't have a website, can I still sell on Skymart
Can I offer both products and services on Skymart?
Currently, you can sell only products and not services on Skymartbw.
Do I need to courier my products to Skymart?
You have two choices
- Skymartbw will handle shipping of your products using our own shipping rates. All you need to do is pack the product and keep it ready for dispatch. Our logistics partner will pick up the product from you and deliver it to the customer.
- You can use your own preferred logistics partner to courier products to your customers however you would have to set the shipping rates for your products.
What are the documents required to register as a seller on Skymart?
You are required to have the following documents:
- Company Certificate of Registration or Business Name Registration
- Form 2/13 or Copy of ID/Passport for Directors/Owners
- Bank account with any Bank in Southern Africa
- Tax Certificate / VAT Number (optional)
- Trade or Manufacture license (optional)
- Company Profile and Product Portfolio
Who decides the price of the products?
As a seller, you will set the price of your products.
Will I get charged for listing products on Skymart?
No. Listing of products on skymartbw.com is absolutely free. Skymart does not charge anything for listing your catalog online. You only pay a small commission for what you sell.
Who takes care of the delivery of my products?
Using our own rates, our logistics partner will pick up the product from you and deliver it to the customer. All you need to do is keep it packed and ready for dispatch. Alternatively you can arrange your own delivery methods by setting delivery rates for your own products.
When can I start selling?
After all the required documents have been verified and your virtual store is complete, you can start listing your products and start selling.
How many listings are required to start selling?
You can start with even one listing and gradually increase number of listings.
What is the guarantee that I will get business?
Can I sell outside Botswana through Skymart?
Pricing & Payments
Who decides the price of the product?
As a seller, you will set the price of your products.
What are the fees charged?
Once an order is successfully delivered, the following deductions are made from the order item value:
- Selling commission: 8.5 percentage of the item price paid by the customer
What is selling commission and how much commission is charged?
Selling commission is a certain percentage of the selling price of your product. The commission rate is 10% of the total price set by the seller.
Please give an example to show the cost calculation.
Here’s an easy example, which illustrates a sample the above calculation:
| ITEM | AMOUNT (BWP) |
|---|---|
| Selling Price (decided by you) excluding shipping or delivery | 1000 |
| Selling Commission (varies across products) | 85 (8.5%) |
| Total deductions | 85 |
| Settlement Value (Amount credited to you) | 915 |
How and when do I get paid?
All payments are made through EFT transactions (online banking) or Cheque.
With EFT the payment is made directly to your bank account within 1-7 business days of delivering an order.
With Cheque payment we will send out your cheque with our logistics partners to you within 1 – 7 business days of delivering an order.
No cash payouts.
Listing & Cataog
What is listing?
Listing a product refers to filling out all the necessary information and adding images of the product so that a customer can make an informed buying decision.
How many products do I need to list to start selling?
You can even start with one listing and gradually increase your number of listings.
How do I list my products on Skymart?
We give you a step-by-step process of how to list your products on our website. It is important to choose the most suitable category to list your product as it will help customers find your products faster. Based on the category you choose, you’ll be asked to include product details such as size, model, color, etc.
Can I get help for development of catalog (product images, description, etc.)?
Yes, we are happy to help you at every stage while doing business with us. We help you connect with industry experts for the development of your catalogs. With the help of our catalog partners, you can have attractive images and crisp content developed at unbeatable prices. To get you started quickly we will help you add the first ten (10) products for free. There after we charge P50 (USD5) per product, this includes professional photo shoots and content creation.
How does a catalog partner help me?
Our catalog partners develop high-quality photographs of your products and crisp product descriptions for your product catalog. A good catalog gives your customers a better understanding of your products and helps boost your sales.
How do I price my products?
When pricing products on Skynart, please account for the applicable Selling Commission of 8.5% and include a suitable margin to arrive at the Selling Price.
Will I get charged for listing products on Skymart?
No. Listing of products on skymartbw.com is absolutely free. Skymart does not charge anything to you for listing your catalogue online. You only pay a small commission for what you sell.
Can i set stock levels of my products?
Yes you can set the stock levels of your products in your virtual store.
Can i integrate our internal inventory management system with that of skymart?
No, we do not provide systems integration. You have to manually set stock levels on Skymart. and reduce where appropriate.
Can i bulk import my products from my website to my virtual store on skymart?
Yes we can help facilitate bulk imports using the CSV file format on a case by case basis. Please contact us for more information.
Order Management & Shipping
Who takes care of the delivery of my products?
Using our own rates, our logistics partner will pick up the product from you and deliver it to the customer. All you need to do is keep it packed and ready for dispatch. Alternatively you can arrange your own delivery methods by setting delivery rates for your own products.
How do I manage my orders on Skymart?
Through our vendor dashboard, we make it really easy for you to manage your orders. Whenever a customer places an order, we send you an e-mail alert. You need to pack the order and keep it ready for dispatch within the time frame provided by you in your shipping policy. Please alert our team to arrange a pickup of the package by our logistics partners. Be sure to make the driver sign the delivery note before handing the package over to him.
Does Skymart provide packaging material?
We do not provide packaging material. It is your responsibility to ensure that you package each order well with enough insulation to protect the contents of the package during transit. We do provide branding stickers to beautify your packages which are provided to you for free.
Returns & Seller Protection
Who handles customer returns?
What protection does Skymart offer in case of lost/damaged goods and fraudulent customer claims?
Skymart is in the process of setting up a Seller Protection Fund (SPF) to protect our sellers against fraud. You will be able to request for SPF claim through the vendor dashboard. When the buyer or logistics partner is at fault, you will receive due compensation.
Would I get compensation if the customer has returned damaged products?
Yes in the future you can raise a claim through Seller Protection Fund. Depending on the case and category, you will be given a refund provided you have adequate proof that you shipped an authentic/undamaged product. This will help us close the dispute in your favour.
Would I get compensation if the customer has replaced the original product with a different item?
Yes, in the future you can raise a claim through Seller Protection Fund. Depending on the case and category, you will be given a refund provided you have adequate proof that you shipped the right product. This will help us close the dispute in your favour.
Would I get compensation if the goods are damaged or lost in transit?
Yes. When your products are damaged in transit, we will help you raise a claim with our logistic partners.
Selling to Success Starts Here
Get your store online at no costs. Maintain your brand identity while selling to a wider niche market.
