Hot Days Come Bearing A Cool Penny

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday January 18, 2016 14:44

Many vendors in the country have been making a killing selling ‘Cool Time’ drink, a frozen fruit juice, to residents who want to quench their thirst or cool themselves from the heat.

Vendors are mostly seen in key business areas such as city centres selling the juice. 

In an interview with Monitor Business street vendor, Simanga “Lip” George said that she has been selling Cool Time at the bus rank for over a year.

George said that the soaring heat in recent days significantly increased sales for her business.

The 33-year-old woman said that she normally earns up to P150 per day when the weather normal, but since the high temperatures started  sales have doubled.

One small packet of the juice is normally sold at P3.50, but the price according to George has now upped to P4 because of the high demand. A large packet of Cool Time is sold at P17 consisting of the 10 small ones.

Another street vendor selling Cool Time, Reuben Steven echoed George’s sentiments that the juice has been doing very well in the market in recent days.

“Customers also like the juice because it is the most affordable when compared to other drinks that can be used to mitigate against the soaring heat,” he said.

The 48-year-old also said his earnings have soared to more than P200 a day since the heat reached uncontrollable heights,.

He said: ”Business has been fantastic, especially last week when the heat was excessive”.

Onthusitse Magapa, 19, distributes Cool Time and has also experienced a surge in business lately, as a result of high temperatures.

Magapa operates his distribution centre in a kiosk located at the bus rank.

“I have been selling 120 large packets of Cool Time (each consisting of 10 small packets) in a day, but with normal weather conditions the bags take three to four days on the shelves,” he said.