24 Feb 2015

Marketing is vital for small business success as it communicates the value of a product, service or brand to the people.

Officiating at a five day workshop for Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiaries in Gumare recently, the business development manager for Sand Sledge Business Services, Mr Kealeboga Ncube said marketing techniques include choosing target markets through market analysis and market segmentation as well as understanding consumer behaviour and advertising a product’s value to the customers.

Mr Ncube explained that from a societal point of view, marketing is the link between a society’s material requirement and its economic patterns of response. He said marketing satisfies these needs and wants through exchange process and building long term relationships

He said there are activities in marketing process that bridge the gaps between production and consumption like transport which is needed to deliver the product to the consumers in the quickest and safest way. 

He talked about sourcing and supplying information which the seller needs on whom and where the buyers are.

Mr Ncube encouraged local entrepreneurs should read more business news magazines, listen to radio and television to become knowledgeable and experienced on how to run successful businesses. 

He said a wide array of business information that they could use to support their businesses’ sales and returns is available .

He said they could find different means to distribute their products locally and even to penetrate international markets.

Mr Ncube also encouraged them to utilise advertising through business cards, flyers, brochures and online advertising as they bear information that will make it easier for customers to reach them.

He noted that these days they can make website for their businesses adding that a lot of people use Facebook, therefore they should open pages to promote their organisations.

Mr Ncube applauded the government for taking a bold step to improve the livelihoods of citizens by enrolling them into business programmes like poverty eradication and YDF as a way of encouraging them to venture into business.

For her part, the Youth Programme Officer, Ms One Kebuang said all the beneficiaries should look out for opportunities to execute sound based businesses to uplift their livelihoods.

She also encouraged them to work hard and pay part of the grant as a way of giving others a chance to benefit from the programme.  ENDS