SMEs face a number of challenges, but one of the toughest hurdles is landing those coveted ‘big customers’. In response, the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing & Textile Cluster (KZNCTC) is rolling out a support programme, “KZNCTC Origin8: From Start-up to Scale-up”, designed to help South African-owned SMEs in the clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) sector understand their customers’ needs and give them a better chance of demonstrating their potential.
“This programme was born from a desire to give every SME in the CTFL sector – from fabric suppliers and garment manufacturers to pattern services and textile recycling companies – a better chance of showcasing the value they can add to new and existing customers. Because if they win, our nation wins. After all, SMEs play a crucial role in addressing unemployment, driving economic growth, and ensuring fair income distribution,” explains Kyle Ballard, Head of Accelerators for the KZNCTC.
To kick off the programme, the KZNCTC is hosting a complimentary workshop that presents SMEs in this sector with the chance to engage face-to-face with major national customers, and also gain first-hand insights into what they are looking for from suppliers, enabling SMEs to align their value proposition accordingly. “With so many SMEs struggling to even get a foot in the door, this truly is an exciting opportunity not to be missed,” Ballard says.
Scheduled for Tuesday, 21 May 2024, from 09h00 to 13h00, at the prestigious Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal, Ballard says that attendees can expect the following:
- Hear directly from industry giants in an interactive Q&A session
- Discover how to align your value proposition with customer needs
- Engage directly with new/potential customers and other industry stakeholders
So, if you are a South African-owned SME currently operating or aspiring to venture into supplying customers in the clothing, textile, footwear, and leather sector, register for this free workshop before 15 May 2024 at .
For further enquiries, please email kznctc@bmanalysts.com. Spaces are limited, and preference will be given to businesses based in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in the eThekwini region.
