Trader meets success
COME rain or sunshine, street vendor Cindy Parsotham is up at the crack of dawn to make her way to Parthenon Street, in Phoenix, where she sets up her gazebo to sell kiddies clothing and underwear.
The 53-year-old, who does not have children, started the business 12 years ago, by going door to door with the hope of selling her bag of garments.
Her husband, Krish, she said, had worked as a driver and was the sole breadwinner. But due to the high cost of living over the years and her spouse’s ill health, she had no choice but to help support them.
“Krish did not earn much and with the bills piling up, I knew I had to do something to generate an income,” she said.
“I used a portion of our savings to start my business and, for three years, I walked door to door selling clothing and underwear to make some money.”
In the interim, Parsotham applied to the eThekwini Municipality for a spot to trade as a street vendor on Parthenon Street.
“Three years into my business, I obtained feedback from the municipality that I could start trading.
“That was the best news for us, as it meant I did not have to continue going door to door.”
Parsotham, who suffers from epilepsy, said she was doubly grateful as she feared she would suffer a seizure, while out on the street.
Everything was going well for the couple financially, she said, until 2014, when Krish suffered a heart attack, leaving him unable to work.
“The tables had turned and I became the sole bread winner. From having two incomes, we were back having one. Yes, things are difficult. I am lucky if I make R500 profit a month.”
With the little money earned, and the disability grants they received, the couple managed to pay their electricity and water accounts.
“We buy groceries for the house, stock for our stall and pay our monthly fee for trading (R560). There’s very little left over, but we just make it each month.”
Parsotham encouraged others who are unemployed not to sit back and wait for jobs to fall into their laps.
“You have to go out and make things happen for yourself.
“I would never have thought, years ago, that today I would be running my own business. But look at me now.”