Business / Local
Business boom for city flea markets
28 Dec 2010 at 23:28hrs | Views
Flea markets operators in Bulawayo said they cashed in on the festive season as their business experienced a boom.
Fort Eleven company secretary Mr Ndumiso Dube said the business at most flea markets had improved since the start of the festive season.
"Before this week, business was down and many flea market operators thought that things were going to be worse this year. Starting from Monday (last week), most flea markets have been experiencing a boom," he said.
Mr Dube said the sudden change of fortunes in flea market business was because of the festive season.
"I can attribute this sudden improvement to the festive season.
People are now buying clothes for Christmas. We are happy that our products are now being bought after we had secured business loans from local banks," he said.
Mr Dube said they were getting customers from outside town who wanted to buy clothes for their families.
"We are also getting customers from rural areas, something that shows things have improved. In November when civil servants got their bonuses, business was ironically very low and we thought things were going to be worse in December," he said.
The chairman of Nkulumane Sekusile Flea Market, Mr Mark Ndlovu, said business had remarkably improved since the beginning of the festive week.
"At least we are starting to see customers buying our products.
Business had drastically dropped during the month of November and at the beginning of December. We are now selling more than in the past weeks," he said.
Mr Ndlovu said the business had improved because of the festive season.
"We are now cashing in on Christmas and we hope it will continue like this," he said.
Mrs Silibaziso Mpofu, who runs a flea market at 3rd Avenue, said from the day she started to sell her wares in town, she had not sold as many clothes as she did on Thursday.
"Since I decided to change base from Emganwini to town, I have never experienced brisk business like this week. I have managed to raise some of the fees for my daughter who is at college," she said.
Flea markets have always been the choice for many shoppers as their prices are not only affordable but there is room for negotiation.
Fort Eleven company secretary Mr Ndumiso Dube said the business at most flea markets had improved since the start of the festive season.
"Before this week, business was down and many flea market operators thought that things were going to be worse this year. Starting from Monday (last week), most flea markets have been experiencing a boom," he said.
Mr Dube said the sudden change of fortunes in flea market business was because of the festive season.
"I can attribute this sudden improvement to the festive season.
People are now buying clothes for Christmas. We are happy that our products are now being bought after we had secured business loans from local banks," he said.
Mr Dube said they were getting customers from outside town who wanted to buy clothes for their families.
The chairman of Nkulumane Sekusile Flea Market, Mr Mark Ndlovu, said business had remarkably improved since the beginning of the festive week.
"At least we are starting to see customers buying our products.
Business had drastically dropped during the month of November and at the beginning of December. We are now selling more than in the past weeks," he said.
Mr Ndlovu said the business had improved because of the festive season.
"We are now cashing in on Christmas and we hope it will continue like this," he said.
Mrs Silibaziso Mpofu, who runs a flea market at 3rd Avenue, said from the day she started to sell her wares in town, she had not sold as many clothes as she did on Thursday.
"Since I decided to change base from Emganwini to town, I have never experienced brisk business like this week. I have managed to raise some of the fees for my daughter who is at college," she said.
Flea markets have always been the choice for many shoppers as their prices are not only affordable but there is room for negotiation.
Source - Byo24
