Taking the Trade Fair back to its roots
Four decades later and the organisers of this year’s Zululand Trade Fair want to take the popular fair back to its successful roots.
WHEN the Zululand Trade Fair was launched in the late 1970s by the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it was an ideal opportunity to give local business a ‘shop window’.
The simple concept was widely accepted and local businesses flocked to the first show at the Empangeni Airfield, which was turned into an exhibition for local suppliers.
Four decades later and the organisers of this year’s Zululand Trade Fair – Dean Smith and Jeanette Small – want to take the popular fair back to its successful roots.
With ‘Showcasing Zululand’ as the theme, the aim is to encourage consumers to be proudly ‘Zululand’ and to buy local.
With an influx of cheap products into the region knocking over fledgling entrepreneurs and start-ups, the promotion of local business could not have come at a better time.
The intervention of both the uThungulu and uMhlathuze municipalities to assist SMME exhibitors at the fair offers the ideal platform to showcase products and services to a broad cross-section of visitors.
The response from the business fraternity has been overwhelming and stalls are sold out.
What is now needed is the buy-in from the public and the conscious decision to remain loyal to local business.
Apart from the event’s undisputed business value, local NPOs have also been roped in and given stalls to display their services.
The new and inclusive vision is being viewed as a positive step towards promoting local business, tourism and social cohesion.
The uMhlathuze Community Tourism Organisation has further come on board to support the initiative with the aim of unifying different ethnic and cultural groups and welcoming visitors to the city.
The social cohesion emphasis is linked to the entertainment line-up, which features top South African artists of all genres and ethnic groups catering for all age groups and cultures.
Taking place at the ZCBF Showgrounds this Friday and Saturday, organisers have successfully managed to intricately blend an entertainment, tourism and business package unique only to Zululand.
It is hoped Zululanders will see the value for money and come out in their number to support the traditional trade show.
