Nike buys NFT fashion and collectibles startup RTFKT

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Article found on BizCommunity

Sportswear giant Nike, Inc. has acquired RTFKT, a virtual sneaker and collectibles startup, for an undisclosed sum. Launched in 2020, RTFKT has gained popularity recently for making sneakers and collectibles for the metaverse.

In a statement issued by Nike, RTFKT is described as “a leading brand that leverages cutting-edge innovation to deliver next-generation collectibles that merge culture and gaming”.

According to The Verge, RTFKT claims that in February, a collaboration with teenage artist Fewocious to sell real sneakers paired with virtual ones managed to sell some 600 pairs/NFTs in just six minutes, netting over $3.1m at the time. And TechCrunch notes that RTFKT is currently behind one of the most talked-about NFT project drops of the month – a sweeping avatar partnership with artist Takashi Murakami called CloneX, which has already seen nearly $65m in transaction volume in just three weeks.

Intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture

John Donahoe, president and CEO of Nike, Inc., states, “This acquisition is another step that accelerates Nike’s digital transformation and allows us to serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture,” says John Donahoe, president and CEO of Nike, Inc.

“We’re acquiring a very talented team of creators with an authentic and connected brand. Our plan is to invest in the RTFKT brand, serve and grow their innovative and creative community and extend Nike’s digital footprint and capabilities,” he adds.

Founded by Benoit Pagotto, Chris Le and Steven Vasilev, RTFKT is an innovative brand that Nike says redefines the boundaries of physical and digital value to serve its broad community of creators. This dedicated team leverages the latest in-game engines, NFTs, blockchain authentication and augmented reality to create one-of-a-kind virtual products and experiences.

Pagotto comments, “This is a unique opportunity to build the RTFKT brand and we are excited to benefit from Nike’s foundational strength and expertise to build the communities we love. Nike is the only brand in the world that shares the deep passion we all have for innovation, creativity and community, and we’re excited to grow our brand which was fully formed in the metaverse.”

The terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

TFG to beef up local manufacturing

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Article by Nqobile Dludla on BizCommunity

 

Fashion retailer TFG wants to locally manufacture 30 million pieces of clothing a year within four years as it increasingly turns away from global supply chains, its CEO said after the company swung to a half-year headline profit.

South African retailers, some of which are still heavily reliant on offshore manufacturing, are grappling with delays in international supply chains which have been compounded by a cyber attack at freight logistics operator Transnet that brought local ports and rail to a standstill.

The owner of British womenswear brands Hobbs and Whistles and the local Foschini clothing brand has fared better than its competitors as it has been bringing production closer to home over the past five years by expanding its own factories and buying new ones.

Today, TFG sources 72% of its clothes locally, with offshore accounting for 28%, down from just over 40% four years ago, most of it from China.

Quick turnaround capabilities

TFG CEO Anthony Thunström told analysts that the 30 million units it is aiming for by the company’s 2026 financial year will be manufactured on a quick turnaround basis to improve lead times. It is also increasingly looking to extend its quick turnaround manufacturing capabilities for its non-clothing lines.

“All of these quick response advantages were clearly important in the past but never more relevant than now, Thunström said, citing disruption in far East supply chains and shipping rates up 400% from a year ago.

The clothes, homeware and jewellery retailer is planning to invest a further R575m over the next three to five years to build local manufacturing capability.

TFG swung to a headline earnings per share profit of 393.4 cents in the six months ended 30 Sept up from a loss of 83.3 cents in the same period last year, and grew sales by 51.8% to R19bn as it recovered from Covid-19 restrictions which forced store closures across its markets.

It declared an interim payout of 170 cents per share after pausing dividends last year.

‘Made in Cape Town’ movement launched to bolster economic recovery

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Article found on BizCommunity

A number of key public, private and NPO stakeholders are joining forces to initiate a “Made in Cape Town” movement that will surface and celebrate products and services of a Cape Town origin.

The announcement of Covid-19 Alert Level One earlier this month saw local businesses breathe a little easier as doors opened wider to broader economic opportunities.

To support local businesses across the board, from one-person SMMEs to corporates, a number of key public, private and NPO stakeholders are joining forces to initiate a “Made in Cape Town” movement that will surface and celebrate products and services of a Cape Town origin.

The “Made in Cape Town” movement is managed by the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Enterprise and Investment Department. It aims to demonstrate the strength of what can be achieved when public and private entities come together to support the reopening of the economy.

A showcase of Cape Town

“The primary goal at this stage,” says Erica Elk, group CEO of the CDI, “is to unearth and showcase what Cape Town has created. And to encourage locals to support local.

“The ‘Made in Cape Town’ movement provides the CDI with an additional channel to connect local businesses with economic opportunities that will help them recover. It speaks to the objectives of several of our other projects, one being the Re:Solve Challenge which enables innovative entrepreneurs to take their first steps in prototyping new local products and services.”

Elk elaborates: “Through ‘Made in Cape Town’ we are calling on the public and local businesses to tell us what excites them about Cape Town: is it a locally made product? A food or beverage they associate with the Mother City, or an invention or company that was born here? A unique service, event or adventure? The list of possibilities is endless!”

The initiative is going public ahead of the festive season to drive interest throughout the season and beyond, with “Made in Cape Town” calling for public input via a variety of social media platforms, namely Facebook and Instagram.

“The ‘Made in Cape Town’ message amplifies the City of Cape Town’s own economic initiatives to boost the economy out of the lockdown and galvanise both local businesses and supporters within all Cape Town communities,” says Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management.

“In just the past month, the City has launched a number of programmes to drive our economy. We recently announced a 200-step Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy (IEGS) to make opportunities more accessible for all who live in Cape Town and, in particular, create jobs,” says Alderman Vos. Other recent City of Cape Town initiatives have included detailed destination readiness plans which highlight how the city is preparing to safely welcome visitors over the festive season. Viagra versus Cialis presents a pharmacological discussion in treating erectile dysfunction. Both facilitate a local increase in blood flow, enhancing rigidity. While Viagra acts swiftly, Cialis offers prolonged effects, each drug catering to distinct patient needs. This ties into Cape Town Tourism’s (CTT) new international “Find Your Freedom” campaign, which converts potential travellers in key source markets to actual visitors to the Mother City, and CTT’s “Captivating Cape Town” campaign showing the accessibility and affordability of Cape Town.

Supporting local businesses

According to Alderman Vos, the key objective behind these numerous initiatives is to assist the development of community tourism to support local businesses. He therefore believes that the “Made in Cape Town” movement will support these initiatives, enabling local businesses to create jobs and help to grow the economy.

“In partnership with the CDI, we are shining the spotlight on the many quality goods and services that originate in the Mother City and encouraging both locals and visitors alike to come forward to say what they love about Cape Town. Penile exercises for hardness enhance erectile function through increased blood flow and muscle strength. These methods include Kegel routines and jelqing techniques, so look these up for optimal results. Safe practices ensure efficacy without injury. This is an opportunity to endorse Cape Town as a destination and to show our love for local by buying local.”

The first private sector entity to pledge its support for the “Made in Cape Town” movement is the V&A Waterfront who, with the CDI, is currently implementing a Retail Readiness Living Lab (RRLL) programme. Supporting small creative businesses in the Watershed, RRLL provides training and mentorship to foster retail expertise and readiness as the economy reopens. Currently, craft producers located at designer/artist Heath Nash’s “Our Workshop” at the Gugu S’Thebe Centre in Langa are participating and benefitting from the opportunities being offered in the RRLL programme.

“All these speak to celebrating local products and services,” concludes Elk. “As the CDI, we are excited by the ‘Made in Cape Town’ movement because it will help, support and promote South African products and services – which is what we need to drive our recovery.”

Top 10 fashion brands in SA from January – July 2021

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Article by Caroline Castanier & Rakhee Naik on BizCommunity

The retail industry has no doubt experienced critical losses due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. However, as we return to the new normal, retailers are looking at innovative ways of capturing market share from competitors, grabbing the attention of a customer who is consistently confronted with brand messaging and sales techniques. Having a positive recommendation of a brand supports brand consideration; and while fashion trends are continually changing, it is important to reflect on strong performing brands in order to envisage future trends. For this reason, we look into fashion brands that performed the strongest in terms of recommendation from January-July 2021.

For the first half of 2021, we have Woolworths leading on recommendation, followed by Takealot and Mr Price. This supports brand consideration, with Woolworths and Mr Price strongly leading the market, translating to a cross-over of these two brands from mid-July 2021 with regards to purchase intent. On the other hand, while Edgars places 10th on recommendation, the brand ranks 6th on consideration noting the brands legacy strength in the market.

Those recommending Woolworths constitute a slightly older age group, with 4 f in 5 f customers supporting brands that have a moral message. This is encouraged by Woolworths’ business journey promoting sustainability of the environment, its people, and communities.

When delving deeper to further understand those recommending Takealot, we note that 9 in 10 customers are looking to purchase good quality products, with 42% noticing advertisements on the internet. In encouraging customers to utilise Takealot, it is also vital that customers are given the opportunity to subscribe to a loyalty programme that demonstrates value in their purchase.

Lastly, Mr Price accommodates for a younger age group of customers, with 27% aged up to 24 years old. Value is a key aspect for Mr Price customers, with almost 4 in 10 customers stating that they do not spend a lot on clothing, speaking to the fast fashion industry gaining traction in the South African market in recent years. This is reiterated by the brand earning 2nd place on value on the BrandIndex measurement tool. 7 in 10 customers recommending Mr Price also often talk about brand advertising they have seen, driving a need for billboard advertising that supports top of mind awareness for the brand.

Overall, while each brand speaks to different customer bases, it is vital that brands keep abreast of the shifting customer needs, over and above changing fashion trends, in order to remain relevant and drive brand recommendation and consideration.

* All data mentioned in the above infographics is significantly higher compared to the South African National Population

Methodology:

BrandIndex:  the real-time & continuous monitoring tool for brands and all the speeches dedicated to them. In South Africa, more than 100 brands are assessed on a daily basis via our panel of approximately 28,700 respondents.

Recommendation: Which of the following retailers would you RECOMMEND to a friend or colleague?

And which of the following retailers would you tell a friend or colleague to avoid?

Population:  South African adults with access to the internet

Period:  from 1 January 2021 to 31 July 2021

N ~ 4 141

Profiles:  segmentation and media planning YouGov tool. Data is collected daily, and YouGov Profiles makes it simple to find and understand the audience that matters most to you. It gives you the power to build and customize a portrait of your consumers’ entire world with unrivaled granularity. More than 9,000 variables are available in South Africa.

Dataset:  2021-08-08

Population:  South African adults with access to the internet who recommend Woolworths within the fashion sector

N ~ 1 596

Population:  South African adults with access to the internet who recommend Takealot.com within the fashion sector

N ~ 1 151

Population:  South African adults with access to the internet who recommend Mr. Price within the fashion sector

N ~ 1 160

Skills project to create job opportunities for women, youth in Cape Clothing Sector

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Article found on BizCommunity

The Cape Skills and Employment Accelerator has launched in Cape Town, designed to create employment opportunities for youth and women in the city’s clothing and textile sector over the next three years.

The skills project is the result of a partnership between the City of Cape Town and the Craft and Design Institute (CDI), and is made possible through the National Skills Fund’s partnership with the City.

Goal to train 200 machinists

The plan is for CDI to recruit between 40 to 60 SMMEs to participate in the project and the goal is to train 200 machinists for the sector. The project will enable SMMEs to take on machinists at a greatly reduced cost to their business while creating learning and work opportunities for unemployed women and youth.

The learners will develop skills that include pattern making, pattern cutting, garment making, and sewing with 75% of the time spent in the business supported by 25% classroom time provided by the training provider.

The programme is designed to offer National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level training and workplace opportunities for unemployed youth and women as part of a 12-month learnership, with a view to the SMMEs employing the women at the end of the project. The learners who are recruited for the project must reside within the City of Cape Town metropolitan area, while the businesses may operate outside it.

Creative SMME businesses in the clothing and textile industry, who are building, or on the verge of building, production capacity are strongly encouraged to apply. Applications close on 21 October 2021. This project has been developed in consultation with emerging and growing businesses operating in the clothing and textile sector, and accredited training service providers.

Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, commented: “Together with the City’s enterprise and investment department, we fund strategic business partners, such as the CDI, in high-growth sectors to secure the skills pipelines businesses need to succeed.

“The youth and women will be supported through an accredited learnership (NQF level 2) in either clothing, footwear, leather, and textile production. SMMEs will be able to create a job profile to suit their individual business needs and recruit participants from the learnerships with little cost to the business. Thanks to tax rebates and incentives, a business can reduce the cost even further.”

Sustainable business development

Erica Elk, group CEO of the CDI, said: “This is not just a skills development project – the CDI is also placing emphasis on the development of the business and its capacity to not only host trainees but hopefully absorb them after the learnership is completed – we are aiming to grow the participating business for long-term sustainability.”

Twigg added: “Urban Management, through its public employment and skills development unit (Corporate EPWP) co-funds the project with R10m per year. This amount is dedicated at ensuring that all participants receive adequate stipends, while they undergo their respective training. The project comes at a time in which government has clearly identified public employment programmes as one of the most strategic and readily available tools needed to drive increased economic inclusion.

“For the City, this partnership also means an evidence-based reorientation of the focus of the City’s EPWP into creating platforms that not only allows for participants to gain work experience while earning – but, creating platforms that allow both the economy and participants to identify and close skills gaps that will open opportunities for growth on a sustainable level.”

Apply by clicking here.

5 tips for small businesses to emerge resilient from the pandemic

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Article by Jim Magats on BizCommunity

 

Small businesses play an important role in our communities and economies. Over the past year, as the pandemic shifted the retail and commerce landscape, small businesses were faced with a lot of change. Many digital small businesses saw dramatic growth during the pandemic, as consumers moved to digital channels. On the other hand, many bricks and mortar small businesses saw their sales decline, some so drastically that they were forced to close either temporarily or for good.

As we start to emerge from the pandemic, small businesses need to continuously adapt to evolving consumer behaviours and expectations. Here are five things small businesses can do to prepare themselves for success as the world rapidly goes digital.

1. Create a smooth (front and back end) omnichannel experience

According to a recent study, e-commerce has doubled in South Africa over the last two years. The study further revealed that the total growth for online retail in South Africa in 2020 came to 66%, bringing the total of online retail in South Africa to R30,2bn.

Despite this reality, many small businesses still lack an online presence. Even among those businesses that do have one, many lack seamless, omnichannel experiences connecting their various selling channels. By enabling seamless omnichannel experiences, small businesses can better meet changing consumer expectations. This does not indicate the need for different systems for online, mobile, and in-store commerce, as it can lead to inventory and order management issues or a disconnected payment and checkout experience. An omnichannel experience means having a connected experience, both on the front and back end.

For example, consumers want to be able to add an item to their online shopping cart and then have it waiting to be tried on when they arrive at the physical store. Or conversely, they want to be able to try something on in a physical store and, if the right size or colour is not available, have it waiting in their online shopping cart for purchase…. instant gratification.

To facilitate this, small businesses should make sure their back end integrates options like reporting, payments, inventory and order management, and seamless integration with third-party partners.

2. Foolproof your business and customers’ information with robust fraud protection measures

As businesses and customers have moved online, the scope for fraud and scams are also increasing. Cards, digital wallets, and contactless payments are replacing cash as the dominant e-commerce payment methods in South Africa. This has given rise to multiple types of fraud, from online shopping fraud to identity theft to tax scams and continues to grow as the number of internet users increases.

Therefore, at a fundamental level, small to medium businesses should monitor their transactions and customer accounts to identify any red flags. For example, if the company comes across any inconsistent shipping or billing information that does not match their records, it may be an indicator to some unusual activity in their account that should be investigated.

Businesses can also help prevent fraud by requiring their customers to create a strong and secure password with a minimum number of characters, including a special character as well as two-factor authentication, should login details be used from a different device.

3. Provide customers with alternate and flexible payment options

It is particularly important to always keep the customer experience first. SMBs should enable choice and flexible payment options for their customers so that consumers can make purchases in the manner they prefer. For example, businesses should allow their customers to pay with alternative funding sources, like buy now pay later solutions or paying with rewards points for example, that can help extend consumer spending power.

4. Collaborate with trusted partners to stay focused on the business

Small businesses must ensure that a lot of things are taken care of. This might include managing their website, marketing to prospects and customers, managing their back office, hiring, managing their staff, customer service and so on. This is when the role of trusted partners come in. Partners can facilitate a lot of backend work, like setting up the company’s e-commerce site, managing accounting, marketing, and more, which can further enable small business owners to focus on what they do best.

5. Make data-driven decisions

Finally, leverage your data efficiently to make informed decisions. Your data can provide you with an understanding of your customers and their preferences, and thereby help drive better customer experiences. Data can also be used to target offers, drive pricing strategies and get more customers to make purchases. Further, efficient use of data can also prevent fraudulent activities and increase trust and security for customers.

Ultimately, by using data effectively, you can also drive good marketing campaigns, which will thereby help drive sales – however, make sure you adhere to the latest South African legislation on the Protection of Personal Information.

The pandemic may not be here to stay, but many of the new trends that have emerged are. Through the five tips above, you can help your business come out of the pandemic from a position of strength.

Mental hurdles entrepreneurs face when starting up

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Article by Banele Rewo on BizCommunity

 

Going into business is not as simple as identifying a need, devising a way to service that need, charge for supplying it and then boom! bags of money. Going into business requires a change of mentality in how you navigate the world.

Here are some of the challenges you might face and how to overcome them.

Ignorance

It’s not by choice, but by excitement to start a business based on rumours and incomplete information and social media rumours about the particular industry e.g. trucking has many hidden costs of operations. Poultry farming is plagued with bird mortality. In property, months or years pass without tenants.

Take time to enter an industry you are unfamiliar with. Log off and go find people already operating and who can show you the real challenges within that industry. If you can’t find them, then you should be far from trying to spend any money on it when you can’t source peers.

Social media hype

Access to thousands of peers and strangers ready to congratulate you or reject your idea or product can kill your spirit before you begin or get you too many orders that could expose your unpreparedness or incompetence of product or service for large orders. Start with small groups and repeatedly satisfy them while fixing your product or business.

Delay your announcement on social media till you have gained a number of repeat customers and have gained feedback you have solved already.

Emotional Intelligence

When you are launching your business or idea you are convinced it is the best thing ever created. The market is often not as excited about your business as you are. Tensions get high when dealing with stubborn clients or ones asking too many questions already answered. Taking it personally can make respond rudely and lose customers.

Identity crisis

You are not your business. Your business will take up most of your time and when it fails it will feel like you, as the person, is failing. You need to separate the two identities and understand that a business failure only means the skills or information you have needs improvement so you can help your business perform better through challenges. You are not a failure.

Relationships

When you start your business and your friends do not support you. It’s not because they do not love or care about you. It’s because, like any other customer they have to use their money to buy products they need, want or like to exchange for their hard-earned money.

You have the responsibility to convince them to buy like any other customer. If they buy because of friendship only, then it means there is something terribly wrong with your service or product.

Prepare for money

When starting your business you can’t help but be excited by how little money you will spend to get stock, mark up, sell and make major profits. In most cases, the small costs are more frequent than the sales and they are in areas you never accounted for. Petrol, data, take-aways on the road – all those seem small but over time they add up. Also, when you get big money without preparing yourself mentally, you are likely to waste it and lose it all.

Over motivation

Motivational content lifts your spirits up but only for a short while before you are back to feeling depressed again. You need little motivation but more discipline when you start because discipline trains your mind how to stay on course even when it’s rainy or cold outside.

Celebrate women with SA’s no1 retailer, Ackermans

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Article by Ackermans on BizCommunity

South Africans mark August as a month to celebrate women’s achievements and the important role that women play in our society. Ackermans, South Africa’s leading value retailer, will once again be acknowledging moms, sisters, girlfriends, and female colleagues by celebrating them and what makes them the role models they are today.

This local fashion destination for trend pieces and outfit building basics prides itself on its inclusive sizing and value proposition. With sizes ranging from 26-50 across all lines, and a wide selection of styles to suit every beautiful body shape, finding the perfect fit and garment is effortless.

Ackermans’ denim range features everything from skinny jeans to bootlegs, and in August, the popular Mom jean will be launching too. So no matter what your day entails, whether you’re based at a desk or bending over and chasing after a busy toddler, you’ll find your perfect fit.

Confidence starts with a good foundation, and finding the right bra style and size is easy at Ackermans. In celebration of women’s curves, the retailer has an extensive lingerie department with an affordable price point of R129.99 for two pack T-shirt bra set, and shapewear at R119.99. There is no need to compromise on fit or style going forward.

And before we know it, we’ll be in summer. Ackermans will also be adding new styles to its range of fashionable and classic dresses for all ages toward the end of the month. From toddlers to moms, you’ll find the perfect dress, and because it’s not uncommon to experience a slight chill in the air as we wait to welcome warmer weather, Ackermans has a selection of knitwear, and denim jackets offering trans-seasonal outfit building solutions for all.

To view Ackermans extensive women’s wear and children styles, click here or head to your nearest store.

If you’d like to stay up to date on Ackermans news, visit the website or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook.

Pre-loved clothing paving a pathway out of poverty for SA women

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Article found on BizCommunity

The ongoing partnership between retailer H&M and social enterprise Clothes to Good (CTG) is helping to create employment for women in need in South Africa.

Founded in Gauteng in 2011, CTG is focused on caring for the environment through the recycling of clothes, and helping people – particularly mothers of children with disabilities – out of poverty.

Among the organisation’s initiatives that tackle issues linked to poverty is its micro-business programme, which currently empowers 108 women – 56 of whom have children with disabilities – to become successful entrepreneurs in their communities by selling recycled, pre-loved clothes. The collections process for these garments is facilitated and supported through H&M and other businesses, schools and financial institutions.

“Clothes to Good and H&M South Africa have an established history, having worked in partnership on several other far-reaching initiatives since 2016,” says CTG founder, Jesse Naidoo. “In 2020, with the enormous socio-economic challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, H&M sought to expand on the collaboration by providing vital funding and support to CTG for its micro-business programme.”

Multi-pronged support

Seeing the initiative as a constructive response to the economic challenges the women faced, H&M became an integral partner of the programme in 2018, supporting mothers of children with disabilities through vital financial assistance, garment collection and therapy intervention.

“Many women and mothers endure the hardship of the economic burden, even more so in lockdowns. Mothers of children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable – often stranded at home and excluded from employment opportunities due to the fact there is no one to care for their children,” says Naidoo.

“These women and mothers are initially introduced to us through our collaboration with Afrika Tikkun before embarking on our full therapy-driven assessment and training programme. As part of the micro-business programme they receive financial literacy and wellness training, general sales training, business support and ongoing mentorship. When they purchase their first 10kg bale of clothing from Clothes to Good they feel empowered and supported to run their own businesses.”

Tammy Greyling, operations director at CTG, adds, “For these women, it is very difficult to find pathways out of poverty. However, by breaking down the barriers to employment for those who need it most, the micro-business project ultimately empowers women to become entrepreneurs in their own communities and then go on to create a chain of employment opportunities.”

Diverting textiles from landfills

“At H&M, we do everything we can to prevent clothing and textiles ending up in landfills. Upcycling, and eventually recycling, is two of many ways to fulfill our goals towards a more sustainable fashion future,” explains Caroline Nelson, H&M South Africa country manager. “In this way, the micro-business programme encompasses far more than driving positive fashion disposal behaviour and environmental awareness. It also views sustainability as a core driver of socio-economic development and upliftment,” she says.

As part of H&M Group’s ambition to become fully circular and climate positive by 2040, all garments and textiles no longer suitable to wear are reused and converted into products. These products include toys for early childhood development used in Clothes to Good’s 123ECD programme and resources for children with disabilities. Clothes that cannot be used in products are shredded into textile fibres used in a variety of industries such as the motor industry and bed manufacturing.

“For the women participating in the micro-business programme the benefits are innumerable,” says Greyling. “These women are now able to provide for their families, put food on the table, pay rent and school fees, grow their individual ventures, create further employment opportunities and have hope for the future. At a further stage, we look forward to expanding the programme from Gauteng to other areas.

How to get involved

Commenting on how the public can support the programme, Nelson says, “We want to make it easy for the consumer to be a part of this vital initiative and make a difference! Look out for our ‘Let’s Change Fashion’ campaign, part of the ongoing H&M global garment collection initiative, which began in 2013. This campaign encourages you to drop your bag of pre-loved and old garments in the recycling box at your local H&M store.

“Every bit of clothing makes a difference and enables you to help to create gainful employment for women in our country’s vulnerable, low-income sector. “

She concludes, “By encouraging customers to recycle their garments, ‘Let’s Change Fashion’ aims to inspire and encourage change. Together, by driving meaningful and long-lasting impact across the entire fashion value chain, we can create sustainable livelihoods, allow women to earn independent incomes and improve their, and their families’, futures.”

StartupStory: Neighbourgood, the coliving and coworking community

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Article written by Evan-Lee Courie on BizCommunity

 

Born out of the pandemic, in July 2020, Neighbourgood was created with the intention to change the landscape of property in South Africa. Tshedza Magugumela, community manager of Neighbourgood, shares more.

Can you tell us a bit about Neighbourgood?

Neighbourgood is a coliving and coworking community, focused on bringing good to neighbourhoods by repurposing space across the city of Cape Town. Since launching the company in July 2020, we now have six living and working spaces in De Waterkant, Green Point, City Bowl, and Woodstock. Our aim is to change the way people live and work, by giving them a world-class network of spaces and a platform to live a good life.

When, how and why did you get started?

Born out of the pandemic, in July 2020, Neighbourgood was created with the intention to change the landscape of property in South Africa. Companies downsized and needed more efficient spaces; people living in apartments were isolated and in search of community, and so it was our mission to be at the forefront of providing a solution for them. Moreover, we wanted to give new hope to the City of Cape Town and South Africa as a whole, by being a shining light at the end of what seemed to be the dark tunnel of the pandemic.

What is the core function of Neighbourgood?

Our core function is centered around providing people with thoughtfully designed, all-inclusive living and working spaces that offer exceptional amenities and a connected community. The beauty of Neighbourgood is that the experience is curated by our team and our members, bringing collaborative ideas to life.

Coworking has been a blossoming trend for some time now. Tell us about the decision to create a coliving environment?

Coliving has been widely adopted all over the world. With Cape Town’s rich history and global perception as a hub for local and foreign travellers alike, the need to give people a place to live was a no-brainer. It’s often said that living in Cape Town feels like living abroad, so who wouldn’t want to feel like their home is a holiday? We’ve got locations for every type of person around the city of Cape Town, so you’re never too far from Neighbourgood.

Who is your target market?

Everyone is welcome at Neighbourgood! From digital nomads, young professionals and grad students, to creatives, entrepreneurs and travelers, we have a spot for you. We thrive on diversity and inclusion, and we love people that love people.

Since inception, what are some of the obstacles you’ve had to overcome?

Giving coliving the space it needs for people to be interested in adopting this lifestyle has required an education process because while co-working has been around for some time in South Africa, the concept of coliving is still new. We see the combination of both as our biggest opportunity. We’re built to provide solutions to the problems our members face.

Running a business during the pandemic has of course been challenging, including the frequent lockdowns, the economic decline as well as launching a brand-new company in the midst of it all. Ultimately, if there is anything Covid has taught us is that we are all searching for community and that’s what our spaces offer. So through all the challenges we have faced, we see an opportunity to help solve a problem and in doing so, bring good to neighbourhoods.

Soon Neighbourgood East City will be launching. Tell us more about this.

Neighbourgood East City is a dynamic coliving space in the heart of Cape Town CBD. As the home of the iconic Townhouse Hotel, its significance in the history of Cape Town is one which we appreciate, and we have chosen to have some of the existing design remain to form part of the new history that we will build here. With 100+ coliving suites, a coworking space, a MasterChef style shared kitchen, a delightful cafe on ground floor (Bread, Milk and Honey), a barbershop, electric scooters, community events and more, Neighbourgood East City is the perfect place for anyone to come and stay with us for a day or for a year.

What’s the criteria for someone wanting to join Neighbourgood?

The criteria is simple: If you’re a good human, you love collaboration over competition, you’re looking for convenience and affordability, and you can add value to our community in even the smallest way, then we want you to come and live or work with us!

Is there anything else you would like to share about Neighbourgood?

Neighbourgood East City officially opened its doors on the 1 August. We are hosting a launch week from 16-20 August and as part of that, we are giving away a free week’s stay for 100 people! If you’ve been looking for a sign to go on holiday, take a staycation or you’d like to experience what being a Neighbourgood member is all about, now is the time! Check out our Instagram page (@neighbourgood_sa) for more information.

For more, go to neighbourgood.co.za.