New online

SHOP SAVVY Keagan Carlin, founder of fashion and lifestyle online store Jimnojean, tells us what we can look forward to

Jimnojean is an unusual name. Its meaning? My husband and I were brainstorming names with an African heritage that meant something to me. Greg suggested Gymnogene, a beautiful bird found in parts of SA that has been renamed the African Harrier Hawk. I thought the word had a great ring to it and it resonated on a personal level because of my love for the bush. I just reworked the spelling, and here we are.

What makes Jimnojean different from other online décor and design offerings? Jimnojean is unique in that 99% of our products are created and produced in Africa. We are focusing on quality, not quantity, and are spotlighting things that are not found in the mainstream market.

What inspired you to create this platform?

I spent a few months in Dubai and was blown away by the online shopping experiences I had. I was also inspired by the interaction I had with e-commerce retailers. Online shopping in Dubai is all about the holistic consumer experience and that is something I feel the local market is lacking. Jimnojean will aim to deliver an amazing user experience.

How to convince people to shop online? We’re hoping that the Jimnojean experience will convince consumers. Everything from packaging to attention to detail, to delivery time and customer service will set it apart and position us as SA’s most thoughtful and convenient online shopping platform.

How do you select and curate your goods? We consider everything, from the quality of items, market saturation of products, price points and, most importantly, a fresh aesthetic. We are working to curate a unique luxury offering of truly African products.

Jimnojean.com