Soweto Open Market Day boosts local entrepreneurs
Small business owners showcased a variety of products and services while benefiting from increased exposure and networking opportunities at the monthly market.
The Soweto Open Market Day saw local entrepreneurs showcase and sell a variety of products on June 6 at the Phiri grounds.
The market day created a vibrant space for business networking, community engagement, and economic empowerment, while also providing local entrepreneurs with an opportunity to showcase their products and grow their customer base.
The event featured a wide variety of products and services, including food, fashion, skincare, cleaning products, handmade items, accessories, and wellness products, as well as entertainment and a kids’ area, creating a family-friendly environment.
Soweto Open Market organiser, Thato Ntisa, told Urban News that they are running the market day as a community development initiative to support small businesses, create opportunities, and build a platform for Soweto entrepreneurs to grow.
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She said the market day is held on the first Saturday of every month, and anyone is welcome to attend, support local businesses, and apply for stalls to showcase their own products.
“This initiative has become very fruitful for many people because, through this market, those who are promoting their brands are now gaining public visibility.
“Resellers are also benefiting, as they now have the confidence to make a living and put food on the table. This platform allows people to showcase their products and reach customers who can see and buy them,” she said.
She stated that businesses are now building their financial capacity through the open market, which is also contributing to the growth of the Soweto economy.
She added that the aim is to keep money circulating within Soweto so that local people can develop and sustain well-established businesses.
Urban News interviewed the youngest entrepreneur at the Soweto Open Market Day, 13-year-old Masego Mphela, the founder of Mase Delicacies, a business that focuses on baking different kinds of cookies.
Mphela said the market day is helping her promote her business and giving her the opportunity to learn from other entrepreneurs who have been in business for a longer time.
“Through the market day, I am able to interact with other entrepreneurs, make my business more visible to the public, and grow it in different areas. The support I am receiving is more than I expected, and I am truly grateful for this initiative,” she said.
Another entrepreneur who had a stall at the market day selling second-hand clothes, Dorothy Seheri, said she usually sells clothes from her home, but often struggles to attract customers.
She said that the market day gives her an opportunity to become known within the community.
“We sell good-quality clothes at very affordable prices. With the help of this market day, we are now able to put food on the table, and we are truly grateful for this opportunity,” said Seheri.
