Midrand Circles Market has turned into a home for many including Hattingh
GLEN AUSTIN — The market has been Hattingh's primary source of income, and she is relieved to have found a place where she can develop and grow her business.
As a trader and a regular marketgoer, Louisa Hattingh of Louisa’s Gifts and Delicious Cookies always looks forward to the Midrand Circles Market.
As a potential venue for marketing and selling her Khayelitsha Cookies, Hattingh joined Midrand Circles Market in May last year. She sells individually pre-packaged cookies, cheese straws, biscotti, and nutty fudge brownies.
Previously, she traded at other markets but decided to base herself at Midrand Circles Market going forward. “It is really difficult to establish a brand and I have found that larger markets are just too big. Visitors often do not even walk through the whole market,” she said.
She said she received a warm welcome the first time she arrived at the market. “Although it is not a big market, the community really makes me feel at home.
“The visitors and vendors support my business and are always asking for more information about my products to pass on to someone they know. There are also always new visitors to talk to.”
Hattingh is passionate about Khayelitsha Cookies, a Christian-based non-profit organisation. For every 1 000 cookies sold, she creates a job for a day and empowers previously unemployed women in informal settlements.
Each week, she returns to the Midrand Circles Market where she feels part of something bigger as the pool of vendors strives towards becoming the place of choice in Midrand for vendors.
Hattingh lost her job of many years last year due to her ill health and extensive time spent in the hospital. This experience became one of her many life lessons. “Life can be a never-ending struggle, however, if you are surrounded by people who are determined to improve their situation, the positive energy makes you realise that anything is possible if you are committed.”
She added that she is relieved to have found a place where she can develop and grow her business. Since losing her job, the market has been her primary source of income – and has helped her to pay her debts. “It is so empowering to be able to buy my own groceries and chronic medication whereas before I had to rely on my mother to do this for me.”
Her weekly shopping list at the market includes fresh fruit and vegetables from Farm Boyz, bacon from Chris’ Meat Stall, and ice cream from Carla Se Gebak.
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