Mascom Phikwe marathon, a cash cow for the SMMEs

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Friday July 2, 2010 00:00

Speaking during a meeting with the small business owners on Tuesday this week, Selebi-Phikwe Town Council Public Relations Officer, Ogomoditse Gaokgethelwe who is also a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said small businesses are expected to make a 'killing' during the event. She explained that SMMEs will have an opportunity to market and sell their products to the people who will grace the marathon, which is the only big sporting event that brings a large number of spectators and participants to Selebi-Phikwe.

Gaokgethelwe said it is the first time the LOC has organised a flea market during the marathon, as a way of extending the benefits of the events to small businesses. She explained that the council has bought stalls for them at the flea market.

For his part, LOC member, Sean Chitsiga said the idea of a flea market was started after benchmarking from other international events such as the Comrades marathon. He said they realised that communities in the town and the entire region must benefit from the race and even from the legacy that will be left by the marathon. He advised business owners to come prepared to market their businesses on the day.

'You must bring business cards, flyers and banners. The idea is not just to make money on the day because it does not mean everybody who will be attending the day will be having money but if they are interested in your product, you must be able to give them your contacts,' he said.

Chitsiga said business owners must adopt the mindset of networking instead of just staying in their stalls and expecting people to come to them. He noted that close to 5 000 people are expected to invade the sleeping mining town on the day and it is not possible for the business owners to be left empty-handed at the end of the event. He informed them that the LOC will assist them if they have difficulties on the day.

Chitsiga also warned the business people to avoid selling or exhibiting products that are competing with Mascom.'Mascom is the sole sponsor of the marathon and they are the only communication company that will be allowed to brand as they like. If you operate against that you will be chased out of the flea market and we do not want to see that happening. Avoid ambush marketing at all costs because we will be having strict people monitoring your stalls,' said Chitsiga.

He called for the business people to assist the LOC to find volunteers who will assist to direct the athletes during the race. He stated that the number of volunteers who have registered at the moment is not enough.

The marathon marketing and sponsorship officer, Tiro Kganela said he was disappointed by the number of people who have registered in Selebi-Phikwe to take part in the marathon. He mentioned that they expected a high number of people to be from this town but it was unfortunate that most of them are from other towns.  The marathon will also be attended by athletes from South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe has five participants while Kenya, Lesotho and Namibia have one each. The closing date for registration of the marathon was June 30.