Durban — Small and medium-sized businesses in KwaZulu-Natal gathered under one roof in an effort to enhance, support and equip local businesses, and to introduce them to the industry where they get to compete with other big players.
The small and medium-sized businesses conference was organised by the “Wear Your Brand and Braai” events company and fully sponsored by Absa, which enabled at least 200 businesses to attend the massive event on Friday at the new Radisson Blu Hotel in uMhlanga.
Among the corporations there were Hollywoodbets, FNB, Samsung and eThekwini Business Support.
Vodacom and Gagasi FM, Brand South Africa, Momentum and Metropolitan were also part of the sponsors that provided marketing materials for all the businesses.
The president and co-founder of Wear Your Brand and Braai, Sbusiso Selby Gumede, said he was overwhelmed by the support they had received.
“I feel great that we were able to create a platform where everyone connects from the street, small, medium and large businesses. We wanted to create a networking platform for all the emerging businesses and ensure that they are not left behind as we rebuild businesses after the devastating impact of Covid-19.
“We realised that we needed to support each other and help one another as Covid-19 almost wiped us out.”
Vodacom business representative Wendy Gumede said: “We are here to show them our product offerings and help show them how they can grow their businesses,“ she said.
CEO of Horizon Education, Nomfundo Sibiya, said: “We have learned a lot from other companies that are here and we are so excited to have been part of this amazing conference. We are ready to take on the world and make Africa a powerhouse.”
Wear Your Brand and Braai has been hosting events in the city, bringing together private and government entities to exchange ideas on growing the local economy, developing informal businesses, and empowering communities.
The co-founders of Wear Your Brand and Braai, Langa Yengwa, Phumlani Dlamini and Gumede, said that their dream was to make KZN a new economic hub as it had beautiful weather and the skills necessary to grow the economy.
“This is the first phase of a national campaign that will spread into other parts of the country in the coming months.
“We have been hard at work and have approached other stakeholders to join hands and work with us as we tap into the township economy and formalise it. We encourage every business owner not to be left behind,” said Yengwa.
The team said they would set up the first of many “Wear Your Brand Township Business Lounges” that would accommodate and partner with entities’ card-holding members.
These business lounges would consist of office staff, lounge areas for casual meetings, multipurpose spaces, and conferencing facilities.
Yengwa said the next event would take place at the end of October, either in Richards Bay or Durban.
Daily News