EAST LONDONERS are finally joining two international trends – one, to consume and trade in local goods and services and two, to do it online.
Seasoned world traveller and businesswoman Meg Devan, 37, was explaining why she launched her one-woman trade company, The Local Yokel Project, last month.
Interviewed after attending her local Business Network International meeting at Footprints Cafe at Nahoon Reef where local businesses agree to do business with each other, she said it was surprising how many Eastern Cape businesses did not market themselves, on the basis of being local, to their own communities.
On March1 she launched her business portal www.localyokel.co.za
A month later the first 20 local businesses had listed on the site for a nominal annual fee of R750.
She said consumers could trust the big effort was to keep business offerings local. The site offers a business mix encompassing printing, garden services, solar power installations, stationery, remote-controlled gates, thumbprint security systems, pay TV connections, flowers, gifts, web design, engineering, metalwork, plumbing, leadership training, financial services, sound systems, decking, interior design, a locksmith, catering, braais, advertising and marketing.
Les Holbrook, director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the project, saying East London often “shoots itself in the foot” by failing to look hard enough for local solutions.
“The chamber always encourages any new enterprise,” he added.
“Megan is correct – we seldom look for local suppliers before casting our eyes south or north.
“East London business often shoots itself in the foot because of shoddy service or workmanship. This is not always the case, but it is common. So expecting loyalty does not come automatically.”
Turning to the chamber’s own Buy Eastern Cape project, he said: “This does not clash with our project as we focus primarily on government tendering and procurement. However, the focus is also to try keep the ‘business’ in the region.”
Devan grew up in Dawn, East London, and was schooled at Cambridge High. That’s when she met her Selborne College husband-to-be, Rowan, and together they “travelled and saw the world”.
After training in hospitality, the pair lived in Dublin for five years and then spent a year in South Florida in the US.
She said cities there were proud of their “support local” campaigns and, internationally, buying local was “at an advanced stage. It’s huge in the US. Every town and state seems to have a ‘buy local’ campaign.”
Describing herself as an “everyday East London girl”, she said: “We should have a vested interest in making sure we support each other.”
She said: “Locals should support their own businesses so money flows back into the community, rather than paying for that national company CEO’s next holiday.”
She said: “I am a very passionate East Londoner and I now know the grass is not greener on the other side.
“It’s tough being part of a global family.
“I want my son to stay here.”
She said: “We have some great local products, tons of them, which all have an emotional aspect, such as Shamrock Pies.
“My friends come home and want a Shamrock pie, a Friesland milkshake and a Windmill double bacon and cheese.”
“Let’s keep the money here. Let’s build local business. Let’s take pride in our own work.”
She was astounded to discover one of the city’s most iconic fabrics, Shweshwe, manufactured by Da Gama under their Three Cats brand, was competing with another Shweshwe product using polycotton imported from China.
“There is a lot of secrecy in business. Hopefully, The Local Yokel Project will help people think about where their goods come from, and the project will have a positive impact on our area.”
Her site also promotes community services and non-profit organisations such as the Workbench Centre, which offers employment for the disabled, and the Selborne Legacy Project. –– mikel@dispatch.co.za
No business like home business
Seasoned world traveller and businesswoman Meg Devan, 37, was explaining why she launched her one-woman trade company, The Local Yokel Project, last month.
Interviewed after attending her local Business Network International meeting at Footprints Cafe at Nahoon Reef where local businesses agree to do business with each other, she said it was surprising how many Eastern Cape businesses did not market themselves, on the basis of being local, to their own communities.
On March1 she launched her business portal www.localyokel.co.za
A month later the first 20 local businesses had listed on the site for a nominal annual fee of R750.
She said consumers could trust the big effort was to keep business offerings local. The site offers a business mix encompassing printing, garden services, solar power installations, stationery, remote-controlled gates, thumbprint security systems, pay TV connections, flowers, gifts, web design, engineering, metalwork, plumbing, leadership training, financial services, sound systems, decking, interior design, a locksmith, catering, braais, advertising and marketing.
Les Holbrook, director of the Border-Kei Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the project, saying East London often “shoots itself in the foot” by failing to look hard enough for local solutions.
“The chamber always encourages any new enterprise,” he added.
“Megan is correct – we seldom look for local suppliers before casting our eyes south or north.
“East London business often shoots itself in the foot because of shoddy service or workmanship. This is not always the case, but it is common. So expecting loyalty does not come automatically.”
Turning to the chamber’s own Buy Eastern Cape project, he said: “This does not clash with our project as we focus primarily on government tendering and procurement. However, the focus is also to try keep the ‘business’ in the region.”
Devan grew up in Dawn, East London, and was schooled at Cambridge High. That’s when she met her Selborne College husband-to-be, Rowan, and together they “travelled and saw the world”.
After training in hospitality, the pair lived in Dublin for five years and then spent a year in South Florida in the US.
She said cities there were proud of their “support local” campaigns and, internationally, buying local was “at an advanced stage. It’s huge in the US. Every town and state seems to have a ‘buy local’ campaign.”
Describing herself as an “everyday East London girl”, she said: “We should have a vested interest in making sure we support each other.”
She said: “Locals should support their own businesses so money flows back into the community, rather than paying for that national company CEO’s next holiday.”
She said: “I am a very passionate East Londoner and I now know the grass is not greener on the other side.
“It’s tough being part of a global family.
“I want my son to stay here.”
She said: “We have some great local products, tons of them, which all have an emotional aspect, such as Shamrock Pies.
“My friends come home and want a Shamrock pie, a Friesland milkshake and a Windmill double bacon and cheese.”
“Let’s keep the money here. Let’s build local business. Let’s take pride in our own work.”
She was astounded to discover one of the city’s most iconic fabrics, Shweshwe, manufactured by Da Gama under their Three Cats brand, was competing with another Shweshwe product using polycotton imported from China.
“There is a lot of secrecy in business. Hopefully, The Local Yokel Project will help people think about where their goods come from, and the project will have a positive impact on our area.”
Her site also promotes community services and non-profit organisations such as the Workbench Centre, which offers employment for the disabled, and the Selborne Legacy Project. –– mikel@dispatch.co.za
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