Selling from your phone: the African commerce revolution
In West Africa, thousands of sellers are making the choice every day to create their store and sell live from their smartphone — without a website, without technical training, without a costly physical store. Thanks to SuguLive, launching your online business takes less than 10 minutes and costs nothing.
What you need to get started
- An Android smartphone (Android 8+) or iPhone (iOS 15+)
- An internet connection — 4G recommended for HD streaming, 3G can be enough
- A phone number or email address to create your account
- Your products — clothing, cosmetics, electronics, food, crafts...
That's it. No bank card required, no contract to sign.
Step 1: Create your SuguLive seller account
- Download SuguLive from the App Store or Google Play (free).
- Tap "Create an account".
- Choose your store name — it will be visible to your buyers.
- Add a profile picture and a description of your activity.
- Enter your Mobile Money number to receive your payments.
Step 2: Add your first products
From the "My Products" tab, add each item with:
- 1 to 5 photos taken directly from your phone
- A short, descriptive title (e.g. "Wax dress 100% cotton — Size M")
- The selling price
- The available stock
- A quick description (material, size, condition...)
No professional photos needed to start — good natural light is enough.
Step 3: Launch your first live
- Tap the red "Start a Live" button.
- Give your live a catchy title (e.g. "Dakar fashion haul — Summer 2026 collection").
- Choose the products you want to present during the live.
- Tap "Go live".
- Present your products, answer chat questions, and pin each item as you introduce it to trigger purchases.
The categories that hit big in African live shopping
- Fashion and thrift — clothing, shoes, bags, wax prints
- Cosmetics and beauty — natural care products, makeup, hair
- Electronics — phones, accessories, gadgets
- Food — artisanal products, spices, preserves
- Crafts and home decor — jewelry, decorative objects, art
Tips for your first 3 lives
- Choose a fixed time slot — evenings between 7pm and 9pm are generally the slot with the most viewers available.
- Announce your live 24 hours in advance on your social media (WhatsApp, Instagram) with the link to your SuguLive store.
- Don't aim for perfection in your first live — be natural, answer questions, show your products from every angle.
- Close each live by announcing the date of your next stream to build audience loyalty.
FAQ: Creating an online store from your phone
Can you sell without initial stock?
SuguLive is designed for physical sellers — you need products to present live. However, nothing stops you from starting with a small stock of 5 to 10 items for your first live.
Do you need lots of followers to start selling?
No. Many sellers make their first sales in their very first live with fewer than 30 viewers. The key is converting each viewer, not having hundreds of them.
Does SuguLive take a commission on my sales?
The basic platform is free. Check our Pricing page for details on the advanced plans available for high-volume sellers.
