The verdict in three sentences
A tailor or dressmaker in Thiès who already sells on WhatsApp has done the hardest part: loyal customers and designs people want. A well-run online store adds a catalog open 24 hours a day, Wave or Orange Money payment without endless back-and-forth, and orders that come in even when the workshop is closed. The Kolonell course at 75,000 FCFA teaches you to build it, stock it and keep it running, with a realistic target of 10 to 20 orders per month after 3 months.
WhatsApp only or an online store: what changes for a Thiès workshop
On WhatsApp, each sale takes 15 to 30 messages on average: photo, price, size, fabric, lead time, address, proof of payment. With 15 orders a month, that is several hours lost away from the sewing machine. An online store groups wax and bazin designs by collection, shows sizes and tailoring lead times, and takes payment directly.
| Criterion | WhatsApp only | Online store + WhatsApp |
|---|---|---|
| Showing designs | Photos sent one by one | Catalog by collection (wax, bazin, ready-to-wear) |
| Taking measurements | Message exchanges, frequent mistakes | Measurement form or size guide |
| Payment | Wave screenshot to check | Built-in Wave or Orange Money link |
| Orders after hours | Lost or pending | Recorded automatically |
| Diaspora customers | Hard to convince | Clear product pages, visible prices |
| Time per order | 20-40 minutes | 5-10 minutes |
The right model for a Thiès workshop is mixed: the store is the showcase and the till, WhatsApp remains the channel for advice and follow-up. The course starts from exactly that reality.
What an online store costs a tailoring workshop in 2026
The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude for a workshop starting with 20 to 60 designs.
| Item | 2026 range | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Kolonell Online Store course (level 3) | 75,000 FCFA (about 110 EUR) | One-off payment, verifiable certificate |
| Hosted store (platform subscription) | 10,000-25,000 FCFA/month | Depends on platform and product count |
| Domain name | 8,000-15,000 FCFA/year | Optional in year one |
| Product photos (phone + plain backdrop) | 0-20,000 FCFA | A white sheet and daylight are enough |
| Wave transaction fees | About 1% | Depends on the merchant plan |
| Thiès-Dakar delivery | 2,000-3,500 FCFA per parcel | Often charged to the customer |
With an average basket of 25,000 to 45,000 FCFA (a wax outfit or an embroidered bazin set), 2 or 3 extra orders a month are enough to cover the store subscription.
What you learn in the course
The course Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running is level 3 of the E-commerce and online selling track. It is taught in French, online, at your own pace, from a phone or a computer.
| Module | What you leave with |
|---|---|
| Choosing your platform and budget | A platform suited to a workshop, a costed monthly budget |
| Building the store | Key pages: home, collections, size guide, contact |
| Filling the catalog | Product pages with variants (size, fabric, color) and clean photos |
| Connecting payment and delivery | Wave, Orange Money, delivery zones Thiès, Dakar, regions |
| Bringing in visitors who buy | Links from WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok and Google |
| Running the store every week | Update routine, order tracking and fabric stock |
If you do not sell online at all yet, start with level 1 instead (selling on WhatsApp, 25,000 FCFA). The full 5-level track costs 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 FCFA.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Fatou, 31, a dressmaker in Thiès (Randoulène neighborhood), sells about 8 outfits a month through WhatsApp, with an average basket of 32,000 FCFA. She takes the course (75,000 FCFA) and opens her store at 15,000 FCFA a month. Cautious assumption: after 3 months she reaches 14 orders a month, 6 more than before.
- Additional revenue: 6 x 32,000 = 192,000 FCFA per month.
- Estimated 40% margin (fabric and supplies deducted): about 76,800 FCFA per month.
- After the 15,000 FCFA subscription: about 61,800 FCFA net monthly gain.
- The course pays for itself in just over 5 weeks.
This calculation is an illustration, not a promise: results depend on photo quality, posting regularity and meeting tailoring lead times.
FAQ
Do I need to code to build my online store?
No. The course uses no-code platforms you can set up in 2 to 3 days of work. Knowing how to use a phone and WhatsApp is enough.
Can I sell made-to-measure, not only ready-to-wear?
Yes. You learn to create product pages with a measurement form or a made-to-measure option showing a tailoring lead time, for example 7 to 10 days.
How many orders should I aim for at first?
A realistic target is 10 to 20 orders a month after 3 months, a 2026 order of magnitude for a workshop that posts regularly. The first month is mostly about filling the catalog with 20 to 40 designs.
How do I take payments?
The course shows how to integrate Wave and Orange Money, the most used methods in Senegal, with fees around 1%. Diaspora customers can pay by card depending on the platform.
How do I pay for the course?
Enrollment costs 75,000 FCFA, payable with Wave or Orange Money. You receive a verifiable certificate at the end.
Take the next step. Enroll in Online store: build it, stock it and keep it running: 20 hours of online lessons in French, 75,000 FCFA, verifiable certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
