“Providing market access for small firms that operate from premises hidden away in the townships of the capital city is high on our agenda,” says Danny Meyer, director of local consultancy firm SMEs Compete, which provides support to Namibia’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector. SMEs Compete facilitated participation by 10 SMEs in a fashion and beauty exposition taking place at the Wernhil Centre Shopping Centre. The exposition provides local small firms with an opportunity to showcase a representative range of their quality products right in the heart of the capital city.

Local is lekker, says this model.

“In order to gain maximum support for SMEs we feel it is important that market access events of this nature are staged at a highly visible and easily accessible location,” says Meyer, adding, “The promotional area at the Wernhil Park Shopping Centre is of course a perfect venue”.
The event, dubbed Fashion & Beauty Expo, is taking place in a promotional area on the upper level of Wernhil Park Shopping Centre. It spans a five-day period starting on Wednesday and closing on Sunday 09 March.
SMEs Compete is full of praise for Broll Namibia, the firm that manages the recently renovated prestigious shopping centre and also for the owner of the shopping centre, Ohlthaver & List Group.
“These two corporate firms clearly acknowledge the important role of Namibia’s SME sector as a driver of economic growth and employment creation,” says Meyer, adding, “For this reason they have made available the facility at a nominal charge to demonstrate that support in a practical manner”.
According to SMEs Compete many small firms have developed production skills to the extent that they now make quality beauty products, and traditional and modern African fashionable garments. But still they find it challenging to reach higher income earning customers. This prompted SMEs Compete to organize an exposition to promote Namibian fashion and beauty products as a focus business cluster.
Fashion items on show at the exposition include a mixture of traditional and modern African styles for females and males. Merchandise on sale includes leather jackets, dresses, jerseys, hand bags, hats, footwear and accessories. Other items are cosmetics, make-up and hair care products.