SimplyBiz, a business support platform powered by Nedbank, is putting over 1 300 small‑business market organisers and makers in good stead by supporting their operational costs so that they too can benefit from the festive season consumer spending frenzy.
This free digital resource, where business owners share advice, inspiration and access mentorship, has partnered with 12 local markets countrywide to enable market access and trade opportunities for small businesses.
With the country’s unemployment rate improving marginally by 0,7 percentage points to 31,7% in the 3rd quarter of the 2023, according to Stats SA, and the repo rate remaining unchanged, it is estimated that South Africans will spend over R200 billion this festive season.
Monique Chinnah, Senior Manager of Segment Design and Development at Nedbank, says:
“The December holiday season presents massive trade opportunities for entrepreneurs. SimplyBiz provides much-needed support to small businesses, like access to practical business information and tools, funding, and networking opportunities with other business owners for collaboration and growth prospects throughout the year. Through this intervention SimplyBiz is narrowing the gap between these small businesses and the market to enable trade and long-term relationship building with customers.”
To make this possible, SimplyBiz gives funding to 12 market organisers to help them cover costs that make the market possible, like venue hire, infrastructure and advertising.
Nedbank’s market sponsorship packages have been curated according the unique needs of each market – and range from maker stall subsidies, tabletop signs, marketing, social media boosting, entertainer subsidies, tents, picnic benches, vendor business development workshops and even shopping vouchers to be spent with participating makers.
The partner markets are the following:
- Nedbank CVM Holiday Market (Sandton, Gauteng).
- Fourways Farmers Market (Fourways, Gauteng).
- Hartelus Market (Parys, Free State).
- Innibos Market (Bloemfontein, Free State).
- Limpopo Market (Meropa Sun, Polokwane).
- Linden Market (Linden, Gauteng).
- Panorama Flea Market (Mulbarton, Gauteng).
- Shongweni Farmers Market (Shongweni, KwaZulu Natal).
- The Gorge Market (Gqeberha, Eastern Cape).
- The Mbombela Farmers Market at the Lowveld Botanical Gardens (Mbombela, Mpumalanga).
- The Pop Up Collective (Stellenbosch, Western Cape).
- Urban Family Market (Mahikeng, North West).
The market-makers range from food and deli, clothing and fashion, craft beverage, and micro farmer businesses to antique and organic products suppliers as well as up-and-coming entertainers and more.
‘We implore South Africans to support the markets and small businesses with their heart, feet and wallets,’ adds Chinnah.
“Through their hearts they can choose to support local, and through their feet they can take time out of the festive season schedules to attend the markets to see the assortment of products sold by small businesses and support them by spending a portion of their festive season budget at any of the stalls,” Chinnah concludes.
Entrepreneurs are encouraged to register on SimplyBiz.co.za to grow their businesses and enjoy real and relevant support, too.
