📖 How to Sell on Swift
Everything you need to know to set up your store, list products, and get paid.
Apply to Become a Seller
Go to swift.com/become-seller and fill in your store details. You'll need:
- Your full name and NRC (National Registration Card)
- Your store name and what you sell
- Your MTN or Airtel Money number for payouts
- Your city / location
Log In & Access Your Dashboard
Once approved, log in at swift.com/login with the email you registered with. Then click "Seller Dashboard" from your profile or go directly to swift.com/seller.html.
Add Your First Product
Click "Add Product" in the top bar or sidebar. Fill in:
- Product Name — be specific. "Nike Air Max 270 Size 10" sells better than "Shoes"
- Category — choose the most accurate one
- Your Price (ZMW) — buyers will pay this + 8% Swift fee on top. So if you set ZMW 100, they pay ZMW 108.
- Stock Quantity — how many you have available
- Description — describe the item clearly. Include size, colour, condition, and what's included.
- Photos — upload up to 6 photos. Clear, well-lit photos on a plain background get far more sales.
Adding Variants (Sizes, Colours, Storage)
If your product comes in different options (e.g. sizes S/M/L or colours Red/Blue), use the Variants Builder:
- Click "+ Add Variant" and give it a name like "Size" or "Storage"
- Then click "+ Add Color" to add each option with its own stock quantity
- Example: Variant "256GB" → Red ×5, Blue ×3, Black ×8
When You Get an Order
You'll see new orders in your Orders tab and on the Overview page. Here's the process:
- Step 1 — Confirm: Click "✅ Confirm" to acknowledge you have the item and will fulfil the order.
- Step 2 — Dispatch: Once you've sent it, click "🚚 Dispatch" and select how you're delivering it (Skynet, personal delivery, etc.) and add a tracking number if you have one.
- Step 3 — Payment: Once the buyer confirms they received the order, your payment is released to your Swift balance.
Getting Paid
Swift uses an escrow system — this means:
- The buyer's money is held securely when they place an order
- You dispatch the item and mark it as dispatched
- The buyer confirms delivery in their profile
- Your balance is credited on your seller dashboard
- Payouts are sent to your MTN/Airtel Money number
Promotions & Discounts
Go to the Promotions tab in your dashboard. You can:
- Add a percentage off discount (e.g. 20% OFF) to any product
- Add a fixed amount off (e.g. ZMW 50 OFF)
- Set an end date for the promo — a countdown timer shows on the product page
Boosting Your Products
Click "🚀 Boost" on any product to pay for extra visibility:
- Top of Search (ZMW 40/week) — your product appears #1 in searches for its category
- Homepage Carousel (ZMW 125/week) — featured in the main banner at the top of the site
- Hot Deals Section (ZMW 65/week) — listed in the Hot Deals section on the homepage
- Related Products (ZMW 20/week) — shown first in "Similar Products" on other product pages
Seller Subscriptions
Upgrade your plan to list more products and pay less commission:
- Starter (Free) — up to 10 products, 10% commission
- Growth (ZMW 250/mo) — up to 50 products, 7% commission, 1 free boost/week
- Pro (ZMW 500/mo) — unlimited products, 5% commission, 2 boosts/week
- Elite (ZMW 1000/mo) — unlimited, 3% commission, unlimited boosts, homepage carousel included
Tips for More Sales
- ✅ Use all 6 image slots — more photos = more trust
- ✅ Write detailed descriptions including size, weight, condition, what's in the box
- ✅ Respond to buyers on WhatsApp within 1 hour
- ✅ Dispatch orders within 24 hours of confirmation
- ✅ Ask happy buyers to leave a review — reviews increase sales dramatically
- ✅ Keep your stock count updated — running out mid-order damages your rating
- ❌ Never ask buyers to pay outside Swift
- ❌ Don't list items you don't have in stock
- ❌ Don't use misleading photos or descriptions