AS MALLS bulldoze their way into townships, some micro retailers in the north and west of Gauteng have had to re-strategise to stay afloat.
In an industry where only the toughest survive, most of the micro entrepreneurs in a Tshwane township have turned their spaza shops into beerhalls andbusinesses.
In Kagiso on the West Rand, they have responded to the competition from the malls by giving their clients micro loans and selling their goods on credit to win customer loyalty.
David Mashishi, the owner of a spaza shop-turned-tavern in Mamelodi, Pretoria, opened his All 4 One Tavern in 1999.
Mashishi's retail outlet used to be a tuck shop, selling groceries such as milk, bread, chips, canned fish and more.
"However, since the opening of the mall, I reviewed my business model and decided to turn the enterprise into a tavern. I could see that the dynamics were changing and it was either I adapted or closed down," says Mashishi, who now only sells cold beverages and fast food.
His business is situated on a strip road that mall customers use when going home.
"When the consumers come from the mall in the sweltering heat, they usually pass through my shop to cool off," he says.
But another entrepreneur, Amos Kekana, has not been so lucky.
The owner of KK Tavern says he had to close down his spaza shop after the mall was erected.
"I am now forced to sell bottles and beer cans.
"And business is slow because a lot of consumers prefer to buy liquor at the mall as they sell 24-packs, which are cheaper," he says.
Kekana says though there are days when business is good, he will close it down if he can get a job.
Businesswoman Sarah Mthembu, who runs Gumbus, says besides selling liquor, she also sells groceries like maize meal, baked beans and soap.
In the West Rand, Kagiso Mall, which started operating in 2010 and has seven empty stores, has not really given micro entrepreneurs sleepless nights.
Dibaba Shuping, owner of KD and K Tuckshop, says the bunnychows are her main attraction.
"Even the staff at the mall prefer to buy their lunch here because the food sold at the mall is too expensive for them," Shuping says.
She also sells small grocery items and provides credit and micro loans to stranded consumers when they need taxi fare.
"I do this because the grocery stores at the mall do not provide that service," she says.
- sibanyonim@sowetan.co.za
Malls force small traders to regroup
AS MALLS bulldoze their way into townships, some micro retailers in the north and west of Gauteng have had to re-strategise to stay afloat.
In an industry where only the toughest survive, most of the micro entrepreneurs in a Tshwane township have turned their spaza shops into beerhalls andbusinesses.
In Kagiso on the West Rand, they have responded to the competition from the malls by giving their clients micro loans and selling their goods on credit to win customer loyalty.
David Mashishi, the owner of a spaza shop-turned-tavern in Mamelodi, Pretoria, opened his All 4 One Tavern in 1999.
Mashishi's retail outlet used to be a tuck shop, selling groceries such as milk, bread, chips, canned fish and more.
"However, since the opening of the mall, I reviewed my business model and decided to turn the enterprise into a tavern. I could see that the dynamics were changing and it was either I adapted or closed down," says Mashishi, who now only sells cold beverages and fast food.
His business is situated on a strip road that mall customers use when going home.
"When the consumers come from the mall in the sweltering heat, they usually pass through my shop to cool off," he says.
But another entrepreneur, Amos Kekana, has not been so lucky.
The owner of KK Tavern says he had to close down his spaza shop after the mall was erected.
"I am now forced to sell bottles and beer cans.
"And business is slow because a lot of consumers prefer to buy liquor at the mall as they sell 24-packs, which are cheaper," he says.
Kekana says though there are days when business is good, he will close it down if he can get a job.
Businesswoman Sarah Mthembu, who runs Gumbus, says besides selling liquor, she also sells groceries like maize meal, baked beans and soap.
In the West Rand, Kagiso Mall, which started operating in 2010 and has seven empty stores, has not really given micro entrepreneurs sleepless nights.
Dibaba Shuping, owner of KD and K Tuckshop, says the bunnychows are her main attraction.
"Even the staff at the mall prefer to buy their lunch here because the food sold at the mall is too expensive for them," Shuping says.
She also sells small grocery items and provides credit and micro loans to stranded consumers when they need taxi fare.
"I do this because the grocery stores at the mall do not provide that service," she says.
- sibanyonim@sowetan.co.za
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