28th Durban Business Fair: Empowering and uplifting KZN Businesses

By: Dylan Naidoo

If there is one thing that I notice about KZN, it is definitely how much we care in empowering and uplifting our KZN based businesses, and the 28th Durban Business Fair (DBF) is no exception to this. Held by the prestigious Durban Exhibition Centre, KZN Top Business journalists attended the business fair that showcased these amazing businesses. From retail to banking, education to culture, the event not only highlighted KZN business, but celebrated them to a whole new degree.

Upon arrival, we were given quite the dancing performance before we would be at the forefront of when the ribbon was cut, opening the event to the public. With loud applause, foggy smoke and launched confetti, the event was officially opened, and we were welcomed with a complimentary handshake and recyclable carry bag, as our journey inside the event began.

I was quite surprised to see the high turn-out of businesses attending the event. There was a slew of stalls scattered around filled with enthusiastic business leaders, radio presenters, and representatives for larger businesses. My initial impression of the fair was that it felt like a more high-profile version of the flea markets I used to visit as a kid and still regularly do, and that's a good thing. That initial impression with a potential customer, engaging in conversation, and really trying to get an idea of the customer’s needs is essential for a business, whether it be small or large, and the Durban Business Fair (DBF) is a clear showcase of this. Additionally, business entrepreneurs gave us insight on their products. I also enjoyed the way that the food products were presented. Minnies, a brand focused on sauces and condiments, had chips with some of the sauces in small bowls, allowing for people to freely try out their sauces before purchasing them, which I found quite interesting.

As previously mentioned, there was also a row of well-recognised radio stations. From KZN fan favourites East Coast Radio and Gagasi FM, to other well-known stations like Highway FM, who performed coverage of the business fair. One thing that stood out to us media representatives was our recognition in the event. In true fashion, business owners were quite excited to showcase their products to us journalists, excitedly explaining what their products do or what services they offer. It is a surreal feeling that is hard to describe, but meeting such enthusiastic entrepreneurs really uplifts the spirits of the event.

The enthusiasm reminds me of an article written in one of the Business Sense publications, by marketing expert Terry Flack, that discusses that no matter what business it is, you will always have to be in the marketing sector. To me, this was clearly shown at the DBF, as whether it was an entrepreneur or a sales representative, they had to market their product to us, and they had to be careful with what they say to us. To read more on Terry’s article, I’ll link it below.

So, the 28^th Durban Business Fair, a platform that allowed small, medium and large scale KZN businesses and companies to be on display, highlighted the significance of not only the businesses, but also KZN as a hotspot for both tourism and business operations.

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams | Minister of Small Business Development of South Africa joined by Thembo Ntuli | Chairperson of the Economic Development and Planning Committee

Image Source: Gagasi FM | https://www.instagram.com/p/DXwO8dstpYK/?__d=1%3Futm_source%3Dig_embedzakkayaelement