African Craft Market traders hope for better business
ROSEBANK - The Rosebank African Craft Market is an iconic tourist attraction in the City of Johannesburg, however business has been in a slump since its relocation in December last year.
As an unintended victim of Rosebank Mall’s recent renovations, the craft market has, for the last couple of months, experienced slower foot traffic.
Previously located in it’s own special section in the upper level of the mall with a highly visible entrance, the craft market is now segregated in a lower level of the mall within the same vicinity.
However, it appears the entrance to the market is not noticeable enough, especially for people who don’t know of the market’s existence.
Musa Mwafitina, the chairperson of the African Craft Market, said, “The renovations have blocked people’s access for some time and they forgot that we were here, but business will pick up again.”
He stated there were plans to put improved signage around the area to attract tourists for the festive season.
Chamy Chiyaka, a trader who sells African-styled clothing, says the customers they have now are “serious buyers, people who were looking specifically for these things” and not the browsers and passersby that used to make up the bulk of the visitors to the market.
Sophy Skosana, who sells African-beaded jewellery, has been selling at the craft market for 15 years. She stated that this past year has been particularly slow, and that business was not good.
The average rent for a store is priced between R1 200 to R1 400, depending on the size, while traders make between R4 500 and R7 000 depending on the value of the goods they sell.
