Buy locally manufactured products

When you buy locally manufactured products, you are not only supporting local businesses and saving jobs, but you are putting food on someone’s table.

The Minister for Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel said the government should not be the only procurer of locally produced products. The private sector and all citizens must also make a habit of buying locally manufactured products.

“I urge you to do more to publicly advocate the great work that South African businesses, small businesses and the workers are doing,” said Minister Patel, during the 11th annual Buy Local Summit and Expo recently.

The summit and expo were hosted by Proudly South African (Proudly SA) at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng.

The summit aims to educate consumers on the impact of buying locally, and its importance in job creation and much-needed economic growth.

It also encourages the private sector to increase its uptake of locally sourced and manufactured goods and services required for their day-to-day operations.

Proudly SA Chief Executive Officer, Eustace Mashimbye said: “Proudly SA plays its part in alleviating poverty and unemployment through its broader buy-local campaign.”

He said the expo was also a great platform that adds value to aspiring entrepreneurs and offers networking opportunities with large corporates in South Africa.

About 200 local companies, most of whom were small businesses and start-ups, were given an opportunity to showcase their products at the summit and expo.

The companies showcased high-quality homegrown goods from toys and kiddies’ educational material, stylish furniture and electronics for home and office use, to tasty food and drink products, as well as utility and luxury vehicles.

 
Love Mina rag dolls

Vuk’uzenzele spoke to the owner of Love Mina, Tilana van Vuuren of Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal. Love Mina exhibited their business during the event.

“We are a toy and children’s product manufacturer.  Our first official product is the Love Mina rag doll. 

“The business was born when I realised that there were no rag dolls that are reflective of South African children.  My daughter is mixed-race and I wanted her to have a doll that she can relate to, with her golden skin and curly hair,” she said.

The Love Mina dolls come in three different skin tones (for now) and custom-made dolls can be designed for each child to even include a disability when the client requires.

The company was established in 2022 and registered with Proudly SA in the same year.

“Being a member of Proudly SA has opened so many doors for collaboration with other South African businesses.  The Buy Local Summit 2023 has so far been the highlight of our journey. We get to participate in celebrating the diversity of South African children and make a positive impact on our local community of women,” said Van Vuuren.

The company celebrates South African diversity by creating beautiful clothing designs for dolls that reflect South African cultures.

“The aim is to show young children that toys can look like them too and that they do not need to aspire to look a particular way,” says Van Vuuren.

At the moment, the company employs nine full-time staff members and two part-time workers. She says the level of unemployment in the country also fuels her to want to contribute more to job creation.

“Every single week we have women knocking at our door asking for jobs. It is heartbreaking that we are not yet able to employ more people since a lot of people are desperate to earn a living,” she said.

She added that citizens should know that every time they buy locally produced goods, they are putting food on someone’s table.

“The more awareness we bring to buying local, the more it will boost sales and the more business owners like ourselves will be able to employ more people,” she said.