The trade fair known as ‘Kasi Trade Exhibitions’ was a three-day event which begun on Wednesday, October 7, and ended on Thursday, October 9.
One of the event organisers, Julie Whitecomb said the trade fair is an opportunity for local Small-and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to showcase and display their latest products, service, while tapping into the latest market trends and opportunities.
It also provides manufacturers with the opportunities to learn from their counterparts and assess market demand.
Whitecomb says that reaching out to customers is one of the most challenging tasks for Reiger Park SMEs, and they decided to organise such a platform for SMEs to get the chance to visibly market their products and services.
It was a first trade fair to be held in the area by Kasi Trade Exhibitions, and organisers plan to have it annually, as it shows that it’s serving its purpose.
“It is one of the tools that we want to use to place the Gauteng townships on the map. It is a platform that the townships can use to show others the viability of doing business in the area, as well as the strengths and potential of the community.”
The exhibition consisted of 25 businesses and attracted hundreds of local potential customers, including school children, according to Whitecomb.
She sang praises to successful hosting of the event, and added that they would like to see more local business people and clients coming to the event next year.
Business people, who showcased at this year’s event, say they are impressed with the exhibition.
“The event was rewarding in terms of the large number of customers who visited our stalls.
“As a small business operator, who is showcasing for the first time, I found this to be a good platform of promoting our businesses, and we are getting a good response from clients, as a lot of individuals were coming to our stand to enquire about our products and services,” says Renata Jeremiah, from one of the SMEs.
Kasi Trade Exhibitions is a concept initiated by Mpogang Trading, a small business operating out of the townships, to explore the hosting of business and trade exhibitions in townships throughout South Africa.
These exhibitions are designed to encourage manufacturing concerns within the townships to exhibit their products and goods, alongside established big businesses and prospective investors within the communities.
Kasi Trade Exhibitions was first launched at Kwathema on March 30, 2010, where the three-day event attracted 3 000 potential customers.
Other exhibitions were in the past held in Vosloorus, Katlehong, Daveyton, Tembisa, Mamelodi and Alexander.
As a result of the exhibitions, according to Whitecomb, hundreds of direct and indirect job opportunities have been created in the townships.
It is envisaged that with the participation of the Gauteng Provincial Government, other municipalities and townships will host similar events.
Target of the organisers is to organise 50 exhibitions and expose products and services from SMME’s to over thousands of people within the townships. – @FanieBoksburg
