Johannesburg, 25 November 2020: Leading access to finance provider, Finfind, recently partnered with Government, big business and other key national stakeholders, to conduct a comprehensive study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMMEs. Following the successful survey, five participants were chosen to win R1000 vouchers from Takealot or Checkers and one participant won R10 000 in cash.
The SA SMME COVID Impact Report collected data on the effects of lockdown from a sample of SMME business owners from every province and across all industry sectors, with support from several key national partners including the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD); SEDA; Services SETA; Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA); The Banking Association of South Africa (BASA); The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and others.
Owner of Majoro’s Bed & Breakfast, Maria Maile, won the R 10 000 cash prize. Majoro’s was the first bed breakfast in the Cape’s Khayelitsha township. “I set the business up in 1998 as something new to host internationals and share local experiences with them,” says Maria. She continues, “I didn’t want it to be an upmarket guesthouse. The attraction is to share our African experiences and the diversity of our culture and cuisine.
“I participated in the survey because COVID made me more involved with my community. Awareness and sharing knowledge in these times is very important”.
R 1000 voucher winner and owner of Chesrae’s RRT IT Savvy Solutions (PTY) LTD, Chesrae Petersen, says, “The Finfind survey was a chance to tell my story and provide learnings based on my business experiences. COVID negatively affected my business and I have had to adapt to our new circumstances”.
Ndumiso Picture Mthethwa, voucher winner and founder of 1st World Developments (Pty) Ltd, says, “I participated in the survey because I believe in the power of market research and its results. I feel that the more information is collected about how COVID has impacted the business sphere, the better the new generation will be equipped to overcome such occurrences in future”.
Voucher winner, Sachar Davids from events company, EnVii (PTY) Ltd, says, “Part of my responsibility at EnVii is to find opportunities to help grow the business. This was how I came across Finfind and the survey. I never expected to win anything for my participation, but when I received the news, I was very grateful. We have learned during this time that it is important to support local causes, be more involved in the community and provide a helping hand where we can”.
The SA SMME COVID Impact Report provides in-depth analysis of the impact that lockdown has had on micro, small and medium businesses since April. It also focuses on unpacking various tactics used by entrepreneurs to manage lockdown-related business challenges. Final survey results will be released in December 2020.
To find out more about Finfind, visit www.finfind.co.za.
