Mbabane – The Albert Millin is expected to be a hive of activity as it dishes out the 9th edition of the Market Lounge.
The event which gives entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate entities a platform to showcase their products is expected to be held on 28 June where there will be services for the stakeholders that would be present.
The Albert Millin which is located along Gwamile Street, Mbabane, has previously been an enabling environment which is conducive for trade and networking. Independent News reporter, Xolani Mngomezulu, had a chat with Kimberlin Oswin who is the office administrator at the Swazi Lounge, the organizers of the event. This is what she had to say about the event.
Xolani Mngomezulu (XM): Please briefly explain what Market Lounge is and when the next edition is taking place.
Kimberlin Oswin (KO): Market Lounge is a platform for small businesses to showcase their products and services to the stakeholders present at the event, enabling an environment that is conducive for trade and networking. The 9th edition is taking place on the 28th of June at the Albert Millin.
XM: Who should attend the event and what should they expect?
KO: The EXPO is ideal for SMEs of all industries to get the opportunity to showcase their products and test their businesses viability in front of a live customer base. The EXPO should be attended by Corporates with different needs, be it advertising a new product that is servicing small businesses or similar customer bases. The event should be attended by Attendees looking to learn and network with small business owners, or if they have an interest in starting their own businesses. 2 weeks before the event there is a seminar called On The Red Couch, where partners and industry professionals as well as youth serving businesses come together to have a panel discussion, discussing the topic of the particular event, leading up to the Expo, at the EXPO, there is a display of small businesses, and corporates showcasing their products and services. There are also activations, giveaways and music playing in the background as SMEs and attendees interact
XM: How is the entry fee to the event, both for the regular attendees and business owners?
KO: SMEs Booth is E200, MSME Booth is E500 and Corporate Booths go for only E1000. Entry to the general public is free of charge. For enquiries and bookings, you can contact us on (+268 7626 3072 or email reception.swazilounge@gmail.com
XM: What is the feedback from those who have attended and exhibited at the Market Lounge before?
KO: Feedback from past attendees is that the experience was worth sharing with a counterpart, a word of mouth that speaks to their own personal experiences at the event, which is great, though the event and SMEs could benefit from a higher attendance, to ensure more visibility, most express a keen desire to be on the platform and to continue to grow with it.
XM: Please tell us about your partnership with Delta Pay and how that partnership helped you in making smooth transactions between the vendors and customers.
KO: Delta Pay is a digital payment platform, they offer payments using QR Codes, our partnership is aimed at providing seamless payment at the event for SMEs, and further availing the opportunity to SMEs to open up their own businesses accounts on Delta Pay, which may be easier and has lesser hurdles than opening a bank account. SMEs and attendees can use Delta Pay to make payments and to receive payments at the event, and post the event, easy as scan,pay,done.
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