Soweto Festival exposes small business to world

Soweto beads dealer Eva Nako said Sunday, 27 September 2009, that small businesses such as hers were now able to sell their products locally and internationally.

The festival started on Thursday, 24 September, and ended Sunday with more than 250 exhibitors displaying their products at the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg.

“I have learnt more business skills and I have managed to build business relationships with my customers from all over. Last year, I got my first clients from Australia,” Nako said.

Toby Chance, director of ALP Marketing, said the main aim of the festival was to create networking opportunities and expose small and medium businesses to the world.

He said the festival had potential to become a world-class event. “We see the Soweto Festival as Jo'burg's calling card to the world.”

Soweto has an irrepressible spirit, unique heritage and iconic status not just in SA but all over the world, and the festival aimed to capture that, Chance said. It is estimated that more than 40% of Johannesburg's population lives in Soweto.

Mangi Mbitshana, co-owner of Thesis, a local T-shirt branding company, said that his company database grew every year.

“The festival helps us to promote our products locally and internationally and exposes our talents and skills to the world,” he said.

Chance said the partnership that included the City of Johannesburg, the Soweto Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Soweto Business Forum, enabled small and medium enterprises to stake their rightful claim by learning from bigger companies.

Source: Business Day

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