A variety of small businesses have signed up to exhibit their offerings at the Connection Hub Small Business Expo in Brakpan on July 3.

These businesses are excited to showcase their products and services to larger corporations and encourage other small businesses to follow their lead.

The first exhibitor, who didn’t wait a second to book her stall, is Phyllis Treurnigh, owner of The Coffee Lady.

“I believe strongly in supporting initiatives that create opportunities for small businesses to connect, grow, and collaborate,” she said.

“The expo is a great platform to showcase what we do, meet new clients, and build relationships with other business owners in the community.

“For me, it was an easy decision to get involved early and support something that I believe will benefit many entrepreneurs.”

She explained that expos give small businesses visibility that is often difficult to achieve through normal marketing.

“It allows you to meet potential clients face-to-face, explain your products or services personally, and build trust,” said Treurnigh.

“It’s also a great opportunity to network with other business owners and form partnerships that can lead to future business opportunities.”

The Coffee Lady will be showcasing their range of bean-to-cup coffee machines, as well as their freshly roasted coffee beans and hot beverage products.

“Visitors will be able to see how easy it is to enjoy barista-style coffee at the office or workplace, and of course, they will be able to taste some great coffee as well,” said Treurnich.

She added that she has exhibited at smaller events before and that these platforms have always been valuable because they allow people to experience their products first-hand.

“Many of our long-term clients started as conversations at events like these, so I know the value that an expo can bring to a growing business,” she said.

Another exhibitor who jumped at the opportunity to exhibit at the expo is Sam Vermaak, the name and designer behind Sameul J Couture.

He recently started his own business as a fashion designer again.

“Due to the pandemic, I had to close my business in 2020. Now I am ready again to build my brand, and I was looking for marketing opportunities,” he said.

“When Mientjie Kleinhans, co-founder of Connection Hub, told me about the expo, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity to reintroduce myself as a designer in the East Rand.

“I believe the expo is a great platform to showcase our businesses, not only what we have to offer, but also who we as business owners are.

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“Clients want to know who they do business with, and they can interact with us on a personal level. I will have some of my latest designs on show.

“The range consists of evening dresses and wedding gowns.”

Other companies that have booked their spaces at the expo include electricians, plumbers, stationers, printers, marketers, upliftment centres, real estate agents, storage rentals, welding equipment, protective clothing and equipment suppliers, and many others.

To attract decision makers, procurement officers, and managers to the expo, a variety of activities are planned for the day.

Visitors can expect to see a fashion parade, the launch of a new magazine, and the highlight of the day will be the Caxton’s Roots seminar.

This seminar helps businesses understand why it is important to know their market.

Norman Dawe, sales manager at Caxton Media JHB East, explains that understanding local community demographics and behaviours is essential for both small and large businesses to make confident, strategic decisions rather than relying on guesswork.

“In South Africa’s diverse market, utilising research tools like Caxton Media’s Roots helps pinpoint local customer habits to gain a competitive edge,” said Dawe.

“Local Insight includes tailoring strategies to specific store catchments, which drives success, and data-driven replaces guesswork with research, which improves decision-making.”

Small business owners who would like to book their space at the expo of the year are encouraged to do so promptly, as space is running out.

There is currently an Easter special where exhibitors can book three stalls and only pay for two. As there is a limited number of these stalls available, bookings will take place on a first-come, first-served basis.

The expo will take place at the Brakpan Rugby Club, with Caxton Media as media partners and Liebenberg Malan Mofolo as legal partners.

Business owners who would like to know more about the expo can send an email to Kleinhans at expo@connectionhub.co.za