07 Jul 2015

Small business operators have been urged to take advantage of platforms such as the Fairgrounds flea market and auction to grow their businesses.

Speaking in an interview, the organiser of the event Mr Tshephang Olivens said the idea is to hold the flea market and auction every last Saturday monthly.

“This is the second event and we should have held it last week Saturday (June 27) but we could not because there was another event here at Fairgrounds,” he said.

He indicated that the sole objective of the event is to encourage Batswana who are running their businesses from their cars, homes and briefcases a platform to grow their businesses.

“For one to even come and have a stall at the Fairground flea market and auction, all you need is to come see us and you pay P80 to have your stall, then bring your goods, a table and gazebo,” he said, adding that the initiative is a collaboration between his business Jescoblo and Fairground Holdings

Mr Olivens said the initiative is not profit driven on their side, but rather to help small businesses.

“We will review the project in two years to see what needs to be done and then maybe we can start thinking about making profit,” he said.

He indicated that the turnout on the first event was encouraging since they had about ninety people paying for stalls but only around sixty-five turned up.

“But this time around I am a bit disappointed because we had close to seventy-five people paying for their stalls but only around fifteen people have shown up,” said Mr Olivens, adding that it is disappointing that people do not take it seriously even though it has the potential to help their businesses.

He said it is not right that people book for stalls and then do not come.

“People need to understand that you have to start somewhere for you to go somewhere,” he said, adding that mostly foreigners were taking advantage of the Fairground flea market and auction.

Speaking on whether he has approached other stakeholders that could help with the initiative, Mr Olivens said he met with stakeholders that he felt could be of assistance, but unfortunately they are slow to respond.

BOPA also spoke to one Ms Susan Warui who trades in delight solar lamps.

“The company I work for started trading in Botswana this year and it is called Adopt A Light and we are situated at Main Mall,” she said.

She indicated that the idea came up from realising that Botswana is a sparsely populated country and you have people living at cattle posts and ploughing fields and have no access to electricity.

Ms Warui said the whole idea of the business is to give affordable lighting to people who cannot afford electricity or have no access to it.

She indicated that even though they are based in Gaborone they often travel out of town to sell their products.

“We were at the just ended Desert Race and next week we are going for the Gantsi Meat Fest,” she said.

She said her products are good taking into consideration that the power situation in the country is sometimes interrupted.

“These lamps and phone charges only require the sun and in these times of load shedding they are very important,” she said.

The next flea market and auction will take place on July 25. ENDS