Two months after setting up smartphones manufacturing plant in Rwanda, Mara Phones Rwanda has expanded network with the opening of a second experience store at Kigali Investment Company (KIC) former Union Trade Center (UTC) building.
Mara Phones Rwanda manufactures two models; Mara X and Mara Z.
The local plant is a subsidiary of Mara Corporation, a dynamic, technology-centric, proud African brand with operations in banking, real estate, infrastructure and technology.
The launch of Mara Phones experience store at KIC signifies another commitment that Mara Phones Rwanda is not only producing smartphones locally but also making the necessary steps to bring them closer to customers.
It is the second shop in Kigali following the first one already operational at Kigali Business Center (KBC).
Mara Phones experience stores enable customers to get a look, feel and touch of Mara Phones devices and technology.
Consumers will have the opportunity to interact with the Mara Phone experts, technical specialists to understand the different models and provide technical support.
High quality (original) accessories such as turbochargers, Dolby headphones, screen protectors will all be available at the experience store.
While launching the new store, Eddie Sebera, the Country Director of Mara Phones Rwanda emphasized that the decision to bring the second one at KIC is part of plans to get closer customers within the city of Kigali.
He explained that the shop will be fully-fledged with all accessories made available to customers, offering after-sale services and giving customers firsthand experience about Mara Phones products.
“This is the right place for it is closer to potential customers in terms of getting our smartphones and accessories. They can also to experience them with a virtual reality corner which makes it an experience shop where they can virtually see the potential of the phones, and see them physically in order to acquire them,” he said.
The shop will be able to provide after sales services and repair under Mara Phones international warranty, thereby handling any defects that might arise.
Positive feedback
According to Eddie Sebera, the Country Director of Mara Phones Rwanda, the smartphones have since the establishment of manufacturing plant in Rwanda attracted a large number of local and international customers who have demonstrated appetite with incessant online orders.
“The feedback is really good in a way that we have seen the volume of sales growing steadily in Rwanda which is definitely an indication that they are very good phones of good quality and affordable,” he said.
“The second very positive feedback that also interested us in this journey in the last three months is that when we look at the number of customers who are purchasing via an online platform for various customers around the world, we have so far exported up to 46 countries which is a great in smartphones and it is affordable to many,” stressed Sebera.
Some of the clients from the 46 countries are outside Africa with top on the list being Germany (placing orders on a daily basis), Switzerland, France and the United States of America.
Mara Phones Rwanda is eyeing a dealership with distributors expected to boost expansion and visibility in various parts of the country.
Mara Phones features
Mara Z
The Mara Z was launched as part of Google’s Android One program and it’s preinstalled with the latest Android Operating System: 9.0 Pie. The Mara Phone offers unlimited, free high-quality photo storage, automatically keeps your information secure and ensures that your phone is clean, fast and performing at its best.
The Mara Z phone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-core processor with 5.7” HD+ IPS Incell LCD Display supporting 16m colours, support up to 128GB, 3GB Ram and 32GB storage, Dolby Sound, 13 MP Back and Front Camera with front Flash, Gorilla Corning Glass, Fingerprint Sensor, Facial Recognition and Turbo Charger.
Mara X
The Mara X is with Google’s Android Go operating system featuring “light” versions of popular apps – such as YouTube Go, Gmail Go, Map Go and others – which cater to the African market where consumers are data-saving savvy and internet costs are a major barrier to many users getting online.
The Mara X phone has the Mediatek Quad- Core processor with 5.5” HD+ IPS LCD Display, 1GB Ram and 16GB storage support up to 128GB, Dolby Sound, 13 MP Back Camera and 5MP front Camera, Gorilla Corning Glass, Fingerprint Sensor and Turbo Charger.
Mara Z costs Rwf 175, 750 while Mara X costs Rwf 120,250.
Located at Plot No. 2166 Kigali Special Economic Zone, Ndera, Gasabo District, Kigali, Mara Phones Rwanda Factory, is the first Africa’s high tech smartphone factory.
Mara Phones Rwanda team displaying available packed devices at the launch of Mara experience store at KIC