BEGGING FOR A BALE OUT
Sale of second-hand clothes takes first-hand beating
Buying bales of second-hand clothes for resale has long been a decent little earner for many.
However, Covid-19 has proved a pandemic on the industry’s profit margins, reducing the once roaring enterprise to a shadow of its former glory. With stock, traditionally sourced from Zambia, South Africa and even as far away as China and the UK, now increasingly hard to come by, and the public’s spending power greatly reduced, these are dark times indeed for the trade.
The Voice’s CHRISTINAH MOTLHABANE talked to four Francistown-based entrepreneurs who earn their living by selling secondhand clothes, to find out just how bad the situation is...
CHEBANANA JUDGE (46)
I have been in this industry since 2012 and it was doing pretty well. I used to make more than enough to cover the bills, with a little pocket money left over. However, I experienced difficulties in my business when we went for lockdown last year and I have not recovered. People do not have money like they used to.
I buy my stock from Zambia and now it is costly for me to get there. I have to pay for self-quarantine in Kasane and also for Covid tests, which is expensive. BURS is also killing us with their charges.
BUGALO AMOS (40)
Although it is not like staying home doing nothing, things have changed. Now I can go the whole day without selling a single pair of jeans or top. If I recall how I used to make money from these clothes, I get stressed. It is very hard to sell nowadays, Covid really killed my business.
I started selling clothes in 2012 and I sell jeans, chino trousers and shirts. A pair of jeans and a shirt go for P50 while chino trousers cost P100.
DIKELEDI MASILO (49)
As you can see, I don’t have stock. This rack used to be full of clothes but now I am left with just a single jacket, imagine! I wonder how I will get more stock. For one to acquire bales they need a lot of money. I buy my clothes in Zambia and South Africa but it has become difficult to go there because of Covid-19.
In 2014, when I started this business, things were different; it was much easier and worth my while. Now I have to sell stock sweets and Simba chips to supplement my income.
CATHERINE MATSAPA (63)
I have been selling secondhand clothes, specialising in men’s wear and bags, for 16 years now. I get my stock in
Durban, which is very far, thus making it difficult for me to go there in this Covid era. Now, when I go to South Africa, I am only given three days on my passport. I cannot do anything in this time because Durban is too far. I have to get everything in Joburg, but the time is still too little and I’m always in a rush. Also, in Jozi, they don’t have the kind of clothes I want. At least Immigration should increase the days to five.