From Humble Beginnings to E-Commerce Excellence: The Rise of Romtech Online
What started as a modest venture funded by a final paycheck and pawn shop loans has transformed into a rapidly growing e-commerce technology enterprise, now celebrated for its outstanding marketplace achievements.
Romtech Online: A South African Leader in Electronics and Computing
Romtech Online, based in South Africa, focuses on delivering high-quality computing devices and electronics. The company’s foundation rests on offering competitive prices, exceptional customer support, and streamlined order fulfillment.
Remarkable Growth Through Digital Marketplaces
Leveraging platforms like Amazon, Romtech Online has experienced explosive growth, with a staggering 6,878% increase in units sold and a 4,872% surge in revenue within the past year alone. This impressive performance earned the company the prestigious Golden Smile Award at the Amazon South Africa Seller Summit, recognizing both top-tier sales and superior customer satisfaction.
Founder’s Journey: Turning Financial Struggles into Business Success
Jacques Keth, the visionary behind Romtech Online, launched the company in 2017 amid significant financial constraints. Initially, he relied on his last paycheck and pawn shop assistance to get started. Throughout the early stages, Keth reinvested his personal income and assets to sustain operations in a challenging funding environment.
Despite the risks involved, this hands-on approach enabled Romtech Online to gain momentum and begin scaling effectively.
Bad reviews can feel like a death sentence, especially when you’re starting out and trying to build your brand. And very seldomly do customers actually go and change that initial review once the issue has been ironed out and everything has been mended
– Jacques Keth, Romtech Online founder
Customer Service: The Cornerstone of Romtech’s Strategy
Keth leveraged his background in distribution and retail to prioritize customer service as the business’s core value. He believes that in a market where small enterprises are often overlooked, exceptional customer care is a vital competitive edge, especially in the consumer electronics sector where profit margins are tight and product differentiation is minimal.
The compact Romtech team actively manages customer interactions and feedback across multiple digital platforms, including Amazon and Google. Keth emphasizes the critical nature of online reviews, noting that negative feedback can disproportionately impact a fledgling brand.
“Negative reviews can feel devastating when you’re just starting and trying to establish your reputation,” Keth explained. “Rarely do customers revisit and amend their initial negative feedback even after issues are resolved.”
This reality underscores the importance of delivering flawless service from the outset, as first impressions can have lasting consequences on brand perception and customer loyalty.
Small Team, Big Impact: The Power of Versatility
Romtech operates with a lean team of about three individuals who share responsibilities across sales, inventory management, and customer support. In the company’s infancy, Keth personally handled every aspect of the business, from procurement to accounting.
“Starting a business means wearing many hats,” he said. “You have to juggle all roles simultaneously, which is a demanding but necessary challenge.”
Capitalizing on Amazon’s South African Launch
Romtech Online was quick to seize the opportunity presented by Amazon’s entry into the South African market in 2024. Early registration allowed the company to establish a strong foothold as the platform gained traction.
Growth was steady throughout 2024 and accelerated markedly in 2025, with sales doubling in the final quarter of 2025 compared to the previous three months, signaling robust momentum.
Funding Challenges and Entrepreneurial Resilience
Access to affordable capital remains a significant hurdle for Romtech. Traditional financial institutions often hesitate to support startups, while alternative lenders impose higher costs and rigid repayment conditions, complicating efforts to scale with limited initial funds.
Keth advises fellow entrepreneurs to maintain balance through the inevitable ups and downs of business: “Don’t let success make you complacent, and don’t let setbacks make you quit.”
Looking Ahead: Expansion and Market Penetration
Over the next five years, Romtech Online aims to broaden its product offerings and deepen its presence on Amazon. The platform provides a cost-efficient channel to reach a broader audience compared to independent operations, enabling the company to diversify its catalog and enhance customer access to a wider range of electronics.
