The Stellenbosch winter market opened its doors on 9 July and ran until 17 July, according to Lorinda Koen, the organiser of the market. The market is located in the Stellenbosch town hall on 26 Andringa Street. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
A new seasonal market was recently launched in Stellenbosch with the aim of providing small local businesses with exposure.
This is according to Lorinda Koen, the organiser and a vendor at the market. The Stellenbosch winter market opened on 9 July and ran until 17 July, said Koen.
The market is located in the Stellenbosch town hall and was open to the public from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and until 16:00 on weekends, added Koen.
Gaining some exposure
“I think this market will be really good for people who make homemade goods and many of them will gain some exposure [through the market],” said Louwna van Zyl, one of the vendors at the market.
The market has 12 local Stellenbosch vendors and each vendor pays rent depending on the size of their stalls, said Koen.
“The last few days saw around 400 customers visiting the market,” said Koen.
The Stellenbosch winter market has a variety of products, according to Lorinda Koen, the market organiser. VIDEO: Andrea de Lilly
Setting down new ‘roots’
Many of the market’s vendors had stalls at Root 44, a popular market located along the R44, and, after its closure and redevelopment, they had no place to sell their goods, said Koen.
“Some of us [vendors] have another job, but what about the people working for you? What are they going to do?” said Koen.
Many of these vendors have been trying to keep afloat after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.
The market was planned to open in 2020 but the pandemic delayed the plans, said Koen.
An opportunity for vendors
After being retrenched from his work six years ago, vendor Hennie Fyver followed his passion of making homemade preserves. His business has been well-received by market-goers, as “the tomato chilli, the apricot and the ripe fig jam sold out like mad”, according to Fyver.
Thea Kritzinger, another vendor who has a small business in Wellington, told MatieMedia about her hope to expand her business to Stellenbosch. She added that the market was an opportunity for her to gain exposure for her business.
After being retrenched, Hennie Fyver followed his passion of making homemade jams and preserves, he stated. PHOTO: Andrea de Lilly
Response from the community
“We started [off] a bit slow [with customers] but then we got all the vendors to [advertise the market] on their social media,” said Koen. Since then, the market has seen an increase in customers and each stall has made money, she stated.
“I am really enjoying the market,” said customer Roné Raats. “Nothing is really expensive.”
Koen hopes to make this market an annual event and to learn from this venture. “[The market] can only grow from here on,” said Koen.