STREETS BUZZ AT LOCRATE MARKET
Monthly event in Soweto
EVERY first Sunday of the month, the corners of Kudu and Moema streets behind Nambitha’s restaurant in the heart of the Vilakazi tourism precinct come alive with unique crafts and other products.
Vendors sell a range of food, arts and crafts, fashion, and locally crafted beer.
The Locrate market, which is also family friendly with a kiddies’ corner, culminates in December into the biggest market in Soweto, called Abomakhelwana, with twoday festivities.
The founders are brothers Sifiso Dlangamandla and Kgosi Rampa.
QUESTION: How did the whole journey start?
ANSWER: Dlangamandla: We saw a gap in the market. There were no lifestyle events in Soweto and we wanted to prove that black business people did not have to be stereotyped only as spaza owners, but can come up with innovative ideas.
Rampa: It is our wish to not only dispel stereotypes, but to showcase local creatives through our market, hence the name Locrate, which stands for local creatives.
Q: When and how did the business start?
A: Dlangamandla: I used to work for a radio group in the marketing division and when I learnt how we have this dynamic middle class that the group used to service, I saw the need to create a business that would also tap into this market.
Rampa: From a food perspective that involved a lot of our initial exhibitors who we already knew. The market started in February 2014 as a pop-up concept and grew from there.
Q: Why did you choose the area near the Vilakazi Street precinct? Is it not oversaturated?
A: Rampa: We chose it exactly for the reason that it is an area that is exposed to well-travelled consumers. It is an already established tourism node so we felt setting up shop there would make it easier for the market to sell itself, which it does.
Q: How has the journey been so far?
A: Rampa: From starting out with only 16 traders we now have over 40 traders.
Q: How do you manage your relationship as brothers and business partners.
A: Dlangamandla: I am more the creative type and my job is the overall business development and marketing of the market while my brother is more of a systems person who runs the show.
Q: What have been your key challenges?
A: Rampa: Doing business in Soweto can be hard and there are days when you may feel tempted to bus in all the services we need from the north. It is challenging to use all businesses from the township when a lot of them are still being established. When it comes to exhibitors we also have to play a nurturing role to ensure the products they market and their presentation is professional.
Dlangamandla: We do have many instances where we see that your business is not up to par and have to reject your offer to exhibit. Some vendors don’t take themselves and their businesses seriously so we have to be strict that they follow all guidelines, including being punctual on exhibition day.
Q: Who is the exhibitor you are targeting?
A: Rampa: Local entrepreneurs as we do not allow known brands to exhibit.
Q: How much does one need to exhibit?
A: Dlangamandla: We charge R500 for food stalls and R400 for non-food stalls.
Q: How different is the annual December Abomakhelwana market from the monthly Locrate market?
A: For starters, it is more fashion focused as we invite extra fashion and craft exhibitors who design their wares from scratch. It is a two-day affair and culmination of the year where we turn the space into the biggest market Soweto has seen. –