KEETMANSHOOP – At the recently-concluded Keetmanshoop Agricultural and Industrial Trade Expo (KAITE), exhibitors had mixed feelings about their expectations. 

New Era visited some of these informal traders to establish how they experienced the five-day business exposition.

Local exhibitor Brian Titus said he started his business out of desperation after not finding employment as a construction worker. 

“The idea of manufacturing all these objects, like flowers from recycled plated steel, was one that now supports my livelihood,’’ Titus explained. 

He optimistically observed that he made a “nice profit” from sales, adding that many customers placed orders with him, describing his products as unique artwork. 

Titus was crowned as the First National Bank’s most outstanding small-and-medium enterprise exhibitor at the expo.

Another local vendor, who hails from Lϋderitz Nelson Nakale, said he could sell only 2% of his products, which barely enabled him to sustain himself. 

“On the positive side I had the opportunity to network with different customers, who placed orders and also got a lot of information from the corporates present who can assist me on the way forward for my business,” said Nakale. 

He added that compared to this year’s Nama Festival, where entrance was free, he almost sold out all his products. 

However, this was not the case at the Keetmanshoop expo – and as a result, he advised event  organisers to consider free entrance and extending the time frame for KAITE next year. 

“In addition, they should also market themselves better by selling shirts and hats portraying the event so that people outside become more aware of it,” Nakale suggested. 

Nakale also said it was during the time of the coronavirus that he realised one should always find new ways of generating income should such a disaster strike again; hence, he and his partners established their business, selling leather products, including shoes, belts and handbags.

Meanwhile, Josias Ndhlovu and his partners from the South African-based HSP Marketing Group bemoaned the fact that they participated in the Keetmanshoop expo at a loss. 

“We came here with big expectations, selling vegetable shredders, health massage machines and cleaning materials but we are going back home now empty-handed,” he remarked.  

Ndhlovu suggested the time frame of hosting the expo was not well thought through. 

“The organisers should have rather held the event from 25 to 31 October, as people normally do not have money left after payday. This has resulted in us making a loss,” said the disappointed exhibitor. 

The trader added that exhibitors have to pay for living expenses for five days, apart from supporting local markets through buying basic needs. 

However, he said, they only made a mere N$700 profit daily from sales, which could not even cover their necessities.  

“I would highly recommend the people in charge should in future market and advertise their expo more aggressively – not only locally, but also beyond the borders,” said Ndhlovu.

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