The Locally Yours Market was established in March 2018, providing local entrepreneurs and artists with a platform to showcase their talents, skills and passion whilst sustaining jobs and contributing to the socio-economic growth of the destination. Each market hosts approximately 60 stalls per event and an estimated 3,000 consumers who converge at each market, will now have access to shop for their favourite local handmade products online on a daily basis.
Speaking at the launch of the Locally Yours Market online store, Nelson Mandela Bay executive mayor Mongameli Bobani shared: “It is an exciting occasion to witness the successful entrepreneurial spirit of Nelson Mandela Bay and how the Locally Yours Market has innovatively worked with citizens to positively impact our community.
“Furthermore, the online developments and marketing channels supplied to vendors will allow them to remain competitive in an age of increased technological advances, counteracting challenges that include seasonality and geographical location, in essence growing the potential of local entrepreneurship to a global e-commerce venture."
“We are so encouraged and grateful by the success of the Locally Yours Market to date as evident through consumer demand – and this motivated the collaboration with vendors for the development of the online store. The capabilities of the online experience will serve to satisfy consumer needs whilst providing increased sales for the marketeer not only from local consumers but international tourists as well,” says market director, Annelize Botha.
Since online shopping is becoming one of the fastest-growing markets in South Africa, this could be perceived as a threat to traditional artisan entrepreneurship. Research indicates that there are currently 18.43 million e-commerce users in South Africa, with an additional 6.36 million users expected to be shopping online by 2021.
Botha advised: “With the fourth industrial revolution upon us and statistics that might be interpreted as a threat towards the traditional way of doing business, as creative entrepreneurs we need not fear but rather upskill ourselves to benefit from the advantages that come with the convergence of traditional business techniques and new technology platforms.”
