Organic box shares at Online Network Platform

The Namibia Business Innovation Centre held its first Online Marketing Network platform in Windhoek early this week. The event, which is scheduled to take place monthly, provides an opportunity for various businesses to state their experience with online marketing. It also serves as a platform to inform interested parties of the impact of social media on the corporate world.
The first event was graced by the owner of Organic Box, Ina Cramer, who used the opportunity to speak about her online shop. Organic Box is an online shop specialising in organic food products. Cramer said her digital shop serves up to 500 clients who, on a weekly basis, order organic products through the website. Seven farmers, located in Windhoek and Okahandja districts, provide the total supply for all the food products. “There are very few farmers. The main reason is that organic farming is generally very small scale so most farmers opt for other farming means,” stated Cramer.
She explained to the Economist that most Namibians seem disinterested in whether their food is organic or not. She explained “Most of our clients are either European or have lived in Europe, an area where knowledge about what is contained in the raw food produce is taken seriously.” Cramer voiced her dismay with the way local citizens consume a lot of genetically modified food especially with maize that is imported. She stated that despite a recent study that has shown how genetically modified food can lead to cancer (this study was done on rats) most people seem oblivious to the facts.
Cramer used the event to describe her experience starting the online shop and the various difficulties that she faced. Regarding online trading, she spelled out the advantages the shop has brought in terms of marketing. “The client base generally grows with emails that we sent out. What I have learnt in the whole experience is that one should keep it simple,” explained Cramer.
After the presentation, participants engaged in a discussion of the impact of social media within Namibia. They offered a variety of ways for companies to advertise using facebook, Twitter and Youtube. The facilitator explained that owners should link their websites to the various social channels as such digital interaction improves a company’s online profile. This in turn contributes to  make it a preferred website on major search engines.