As the global economy strains consumers’ wallets, most people are turning to side hustles to fill economic gaps. For many, creating a side hustle has been driven by the country’s steadily rising unemployment rate and, most recently, global economic shifts. For others, side hustles were born from recognising the potential to earn a second income through an entrepreneurial venture while still employed.
The reduction in time-wasting daily commutes, growth of remote jobs, hybrid workplaces and work-from-home protocols have made it easier for employed individuals to operate small businesses from home in their spare time.
Digitisation as a Key Side Hustle Enabler
The pace of digitisation across the country, driven by advancing technologies and improving connectivity, has contributed greatly to the growth of side hustles. Technology is enabling people to work and do business anywhere. Young, tech-savvy professionals are leveraging this digitisation to express their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial flair, develop their skills, and grow their side hustles.
This is especially prominent in the e-commerce sector. E-commerce adoption in South Africa is booming, with online retail capturing approximately 10% of total retail sales nationwide and projected to surpass billions in turnover. This is evident in the vast number of e-commerce platforms operating in the country.
A popular e-commerce platform for side hustles is Yaga. In this article, we explore how you can leverage Yaga for your side hustle.
What is Yaga?
Yaga is a popular online marketplace and app where users can buy and sell pre-loved fashion and second-hand goods. It is widely used in South Africa and operates somewhat like a social e-commerce platform.
How Yaga Works
The way Yaga works is quite simple to ensure users can navigate the platform easily. It works in the following ways.
1. Seller lists an item for sale: Users simply download the Yaga app through the Play Store or Apple App Store. Once downloaded, you can add up to six photos, provide a description of the items and set the price.
2. Buyer buys an item: When a buyer finds an item they like, they pick a delivery method and choose the payment method they like to complete the purchase.
3. Yaga payment hold: The money sent by the buyer is transferred to Yaga’s account and safely held until the item reaches the buyer.
4. Shipments: The seller is responsible for shipping the items to the buyer, using the buyer’s chosen delivery method.
5. Buyer receives item: Once the item has reached the buyer, they must click on “item received”.
6. Seller receives payment: The funds held in Yaga’s account are released to the seller’s Yaga wallet so they can payout or purchase other items on the platform.
How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Yaga
There are three fee categories you need to keep in mind before you can start selling on Yaga.
1. Buyer Protection Fee
The buyer protection fee is provided by Yaga on every purchase made through the “Buy” button. The Buyer is automatically charged a Buyer Protection fee at checkout, which is always shown before the order is completed. The fee consists of a percentage of the applicable order value – usually including the item price and any delivery costs – plus a fixed component per transaction. The applicable rate is typically around 5% of the applicable order value plus a fixed amount.
The exact fee may vary depending on factors such as the applicable order value, the item category, the order type (single item or bundle), and the market in which the transaction takes place. The fee applicable to each purchase is always the one displayed at checkout.
If an order is cancelled because the item was not shipped or in accordance with Yaga’s return policy, then the full amount – including the Buyer Protection fee – is refunded to the Buyer.
2. Selling on Yaga
Opening a shop, listing items, and selling on Yaga is free of charge. There are no listing fees, subscription costs, or selling commissions.
3. Delivery fees
Delivery fees are determined by Yaga based on the rates of the integrated and non-integrated carrier providers and are paid by the Buyer at checkout.
For entrepreneurs looking to start selling their second-hand clothing online, Yaga is the ideal platform because it is low-cost.
Listing Items on Yaga
First things first, you need a Yaga shop to start selling. Opening your very own shop is super easy – simply click on the Sign up/ Login button, choose your preferred login method and fill in the details about your account and shop.
Now, when you have created yourself a Yaga shop, the next step is to add items to your shop. This means you need to create a listing which advertises the item on our site to all potential buyers.
Steps to Listing an Item on Yaga
Step 1: Add Items
To add items, click on the ‘add item’ button. This button can be found through the following steps:
- Open the home page and click on the ‘add item’ button located at the bottom middle of the page
- Open the bottom navigation bar called “My Yaga” at the very top of the bar. There is an “Add item” button
- Click on the navigation bar to find the “My Yaga” and “My shop” tabs at the bottom of the page. There is a pink “Add item” sign
Step 2: Add Item Images
You can choose up to 6 photos for each item you list. Keep the following in mind:
- Pictures must show the item and its condition as vividly and truly as possible.
- While taking a picture of your item, focus on good natural lighting to show the item’s true colours and texture and choose a plain and simple background.
- If possible, avoid using pictures found on the Internet or ones enhanced by AI.
Step 3: Add Item Description
You will need to add a description for each item to provide buyers with more information. Keep the following in mind when writing your description:
- Specify the item’s condition and make sure to bring out any defects/ flaws or signs of usage.
- Use relevant keywords and characteristics- when Buyers type in a certain keyword to our search engine, your listings can then be seen and easily found.
Step 4: Choose the Item Category
Depending on what the item is, you will have to list it under a specific category. For example, if you have an item categorised as for “Kids”, buyers will find it under the “Kids” category. For this reason, you will need to add very targeted keywords in your description.
Step 5: Choose the Correct “Brand” Tag (optional field)
Having a brand tag is another way to increase your chances that your item could be found by the right potential Buyer. This is especially useful to users who will be selling designer wear on the platform.
If you can’t find the desired brand option from the brand’s list on Yaga, then simply leave this field empty or choose “Other” and write down the correct brand name in the description of the item.
Step 6: Choose the Quantity
Here you will specify the quantity of the item. If you are selling sneakers: A) 2 sneakers = 1 pair, which means that you want to choose “1” as your quantity because you are selling only one pair of them. B) If you are selling more than one pair of the same sneakers separately, then your quantity should equal the number of pairs you’d like to sell.
Step 7: Choose your Delivery Method
You can enable one or multiple preferred delivery options. Note that when you enable “Bundling”, it means that the buyer can purchase multiple items from your shop but only pay once for the delivery.
If the buyer chooses to bundle items, it will be activated from their second purchase. The buyer will then have one hour from the first purchase to complete additional purchases.
Step 8: Set Your Price
The item you are selling should be considerably lower in price than it was when first purchased, to create value for the buyer. Feel free to take a look around on the platform to get ideas from other sellers selling items similar to yours.
Step 9: List Your Item
Once you have completed all the above steps, you can click on “list item”, and the item will be made available for purchase.
If someone purchases any of your items, you will receive a confirmation via e-mail and a notification in Yaga of your order.
As the global economy strains consumers’ wallets, most people are turning to side hustles to fill economic gaps. For many, creating a side hustle has… Read More
