Make A Change And Support Local

Now more than ever before it is important to support local and keep our economy afloat. When it comes to the creative industry in South Africa, we need to rally together to support our craftsmen and women and keep the industry alive.

When the pandemic first hit, the creative industry was one of the hardest hit. Overnight, people were unable to make a living, some left without any income altogether. Organisations such as the Craft and Design Institute (CDI) saw the need to support the local industry.

At the end of 2020, CDI therefore approved applications for R7.5m in COVID-19 Relief Aid financial support with the businesses on the CDI Growth Fund. In addition, training and business advisory services were made available to the business owners to help them through the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

The CDI Growth Fund is a grant fund specifically for growing South African small businesses.  The Fund supports South African-owned businesses who operate within South Africa, who are at least a year old with turnover or assets above R1m. There are currently 22 businesses supported by the Growth Fund across South Africa that had created 209 new jobs before the impact of COVID-19.

The project aims to create a total of 600 new jobs by 31 March 2022 and the COVID-19 relief funding is supporting the retention of 550 existing jobs currently under pressure within its portfolio of SMEs.

Apart from financial support, local businesses have also required ongoing support in other areas such as marketing and input to encourage growth.

“The non-financial support has included business and marketing support through webinars, mentorship and leadership development through advisors, as well as providing owners with a business recovery, turnaround and growth specialist to aid them with their COVID-19 relief applications, cost reduction and turnaround/growth strategies,” explained Ryan Rode, manager of CDI Capital.

As consumers, we can choose to buy local and support our local artisans – from the ceramistic down the road to the local seamstress, artist, designer making a mark in the industry. We can make a change and support local together.

A number of local businesses have been affected and are working with the CDI. You can read about what some of these businesses had to say about the impact of the pandemic HERE.