Store setup

Login to your Sellers portal and Head to “settings” on the left menu bar of the Sellers dashboard, click on the store icon then fill all the required fields and save.

NB: You do not need to complete the banner profile for now. This banner section can be disregarded at this time. 

Always save your changes / updates by clicking “Save settings”

Shipping setup

Click on the shipping icon and set up your shipping policies e.g. “This store processes orders within 3 to 5 business days.”

NB: It is important to take note that Zani has a 3-7 days shipping policy. Kindly always notify your customers should there be any changes under the announcement section of the order.

Always save your changes / updates by clicking “Save settings”

Social profile setup

Click on the social profile icon, Insert all the respective social platforms you own.

NB: Always save your changes / updates by clicking “Save settings”

Store SEO setup

To maximise your visibility and sales on our platform, it’s crucial to set up SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) for your product listings. SEO helps improve your products’ ranking on search engines like Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you when they search for specific items. This means more organic traffic and a higher chance of sales.

Why SEO is Important:

1. Increased Visibility
2. Targeted Traffic
3. Improved User Experience

Examples of SEO Keywords and Meta Descriptions:

• Product Keywords: Think about what your customers might search for in order to find your store / product.

  • For handmade jewelry: “handcrafted silver earrings,”  or “boho necklace,” or “unique gemstone rings.”
  • For artisanal soaps: “organic lavender soap,”  or “handmade skincare,” or “natural bath products.”

• Meta Descriptions: These are brief descriptions that appear in search results, summarising your product. For example:

  • “Discover our handcrafted silver earrings, perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any outfit. Made with love and precision, these unique pieces are a must-have for jewellery lovers.”
  • “Indulge in our organic lavender soap, made with natural ingredients for a soothing and refreshing bathing experience. Perfect for all skin types.”

How do I setup my store SEO?

Click on “store SEO” and fill in all the required fields, place your mouse cursor on the small question mark icons to get more information or direction on what to provide. 

NB: Always save your changes / updates by clicking “Save settings”

Product Shot Requirements

To ensure your products are showcased effectively on Zani Africa, please adhere to the following guidelines for product images:

• Size: 1080×1080 pixels. This size ensures high-quality visuals that are optimised for all marketing platforms.

• Resolution: HD-Crystal clear images. High resolution is crucial for showcasing the fine details and craftsmanship of your products.

• Content: No copy or text on the image. We require only the product itself, without any additional background scenery or text overlays.

• Background: Preferably a white background. A clean, white backdrop highlights your product and maintains a professional appearance.

By following these guidelines, you help us present your products in the best possible light, enhancing their appeal and maximixing their impact on potential buyers.

1. Navigate to “Product” on the left menu bar of the vendors dashboard
2. click “add new product” 

3. Start by uploading your product cover image, by clicking on “upload a product cover image” found inside the product cover image box. 

Steps:
Click, upload a product cover image > upload files > select your desired image and upload > click set featured image 

4. Fill in all respective informations regarding your uploaded product. 

5. Select your “Product type” and fill in all other respective informations. 

What is a product type? 
A “product type” categorises items based on their characteristics and how they’re sold. It helps organise the inventory and streamline the shopping experience.

Product types can include:

• Simple Product: A basic, standalone product with no variations. 
  – Example: A single handcrafted lamp with one design and price.
• Variable Product: A product that comes with variations, such as different sizes, colours, or styles. 
  – Example: A handcrafted lamp available in different colors or materials.
• Grouped Product: A collection of related products sold together as a group, but also available individually. 
  – Example: A set of matching lamps and lampshades that can be purchased as a bundle or separately.
• Affiliate Product: Products that are listed on your marketplace but are sold and fulfilled by an external vendor. You earn a commission on sales made through your referral. 
  – Example: A lamp listed on your site that, when clicked, redirects the customer to another website to complete the purchase.

6. Inventory: This option allows you to manage inventory for this product whilst you sell online. 

• To manage your inventory click on > Enable product stock management > fill in relevant fields
• If you can manage back orders, we recommend selecting “Allow back orders” > “Allow but notify customers.” This option informs customers that the product is out of stock but will be supplied later.
• If you’re able to handle back orders, we suggest choosing “Allow back orders” > “Allow but notify customers.” This lets customers know that the product is currently out of stock but will be supplied soon.

Variable Product: A product that comes with variations, such as different sizes, colours, or styles. 

 To get started, upload your product and complete all the relevant fields with detailed information.

1. Under product type > select Variable > Select the product category > create a new tag or simply use the existing tag.

2. Scroll down to the “Attribute” section located at the bottom of the page and click on “Add attribute” 

3. Click add attributes > Name your product attribute. Example; your product attribute could be “Colours” or “Sizes” > add values to describe your product variations.

4. Be sure to select > Used for variations > Visible on the product page > Then click on “Save attribute” 

Once you have saved these attributes, a new section will appear called “Add variations”

5. Then click on “Add variation”  > Create variations from all attributes > Go 

A pop-up message will appear requesting your confirmation to link these attributes. Click on “Ok” 

Once you have clicked the “Ok” button a new section will appear showcasing your product variations. In this case the product variations will be the colours shown below.

Notification

1. Once there is an order you will receive an Email notification to your registered email address, alternatively, always check you vendors dashboard for orders.
2. To check your orders, go to the left sidebar menu and click on “Orders.”

Viewing order

Every new order will have a status of “Processing.” To view the details of an order, click on the “View” icon.

Order status 

Once you are ready to ship your order. Click on the Order status “Edit” and change the status of your order.

Ready for shipping 

Following the shipping policy, when your product is ready to be shipped, click “Edit” on the far right menu, change the status from “processing” to “Ready for pickup” 

Thereafter Click “Update” to save the new order status. 

Parcel Collected 

Once our courier partners have collected your parcel, update the order status to “Picked up.” Zani will handle the rest, ensuring your customers receive their parcels with care.

NB: be sure to click on Update in order to save your new order status. If your business runs on a delivery policy between 3 to 5 days, you should account for one pick up day and one ship out day. This could result in your client receiving their parcel 3 days after. 

Delivery 

1. When Zani has received the “Ready for pickup” notification, The product will be collected the following day between 8:30am and 2pm.
2. We will then promptly deliver the product to the respective customer.
3. Once our courier partners have collected the product, kindly change the order status to “Picked up” 
4. Once the customer receives their parcel. The system will auto change the status of your order to “Shipped” thereafter the funds will be attributed to your dashboard. 

• Performance Report: Track the overall performance of your business.
• Sales Reports: View detailed sales data, including top-earning and top-selling products.
• Financial Statements: Access comprehensive financial documents, including income statements and balance sheets.
• Customer Insights: Analyse customer behaviour, demographics, and preferences to better understand your audience.

Access your dashboard and locate the “Reviews” icon to monitor your reviews. Regularly check this section to stay updated on customer feedback. 

Address reviews

Thank customers for their positive feedback and provide solutions or assistance for any negative experiences. Use the insights from reviews to identify common themes or issues. This can help in making improvements to your products, services, or customer support

Share positive reviews on your store or social media to build credibility and attract new customers. If you encounter reviews that are inappropriate or violate guidelines, report them to the platform for review and possible removal.

Access your account by logging into the dashboard. Navigate to the left menu bar and click “Withdraw”  

Click “Request withdraw” on the right side of the dashboard and specify the amount you wish to withdraw. Choose Withdrawal Method: Select your preferred withdrawal method.

NB: As part of the agreement, vendors are required to allow 3 working days following the sale of a product before requesting a withdrawal from Zani Africa. This timeframe is in place to facilitate any necessary adjustments or address potential issues related to the sale. The withdrawal threshold is at R1,000.00

.

Review your withdrawal details to ensure accuracy.
confirm the withdrawal by clicking “confirm” to initiate the withdrawal process. 

NB: Zani processes net sales payments requested by the vendor within
3 working days. This 3-day period commences from the day of the requested
application.

Before initiating a withdrawal payment, kindly ensure that your store maintains a minimum balance of 1000 ZAR to proceed with your withdrawal request.

Access your account by logging into the dashboard. Click on the “Orders”  icon

On the top bar of the dashboard, find and click on “Refunded” to view the products for which customers have requested a refund or exchange. This section provides detailed information on customer returns, helping you manage and process these requests efficiently.

Once a customer has requested for a refund, your order status will change to “refunded” 

NB: The Zani team, takes care of the refund processes.

Access your account by logging into the dashboard and go to the “Announcements” section on the dashboard.

View Announcements

Browse through the list of recent announcements to stay informed about important updates, news, events, updates on company milestones, achievements, important changes and notifications about changes in company policies, terms, or conditions etc. 

Head to the Zani Africa home page and navigate to the bottom section of the page under “My account” and click on “Submit Idea/Report Bug”  

type in the field a detailed description of the feature you would like to request. Include information on how this feature would benefit you and potentially other users. Click “Submit”  to send your feature request.