If there is one thing we care about at Over Saturated it is empowering South Africans. For us it is through allowing storytellers to tell their stories. There are however, multiple ways to empower South Africans trying to do what they can to either improve their lives or the lives of others. We have developed a relationship with TinyTrader, a website that is empowering South African micro businesses.
In an emerging economy like the South African one something that is necessary is entrepreneurship. Most business starts in a phase where the business owner is hustling from their kitchen, garden, garage or home to make the business happen. These could be what one would call a micro business or home-based business. Through what we are doing at Over Saturated we have been in contact with a creator that is looking to provide a space that helps micro businesses and their growth by simplifying the process of finding these businesses. Taahir Isaacs is an indie digital creator and has made a website called TinyTrader.
I have been speaking to Taahir about what he is trying to achieve and do through TinyTrader and he had the following to say about his idea behind the website:
“Tinytrader is an online marketplace for South African micro/home-based businesses and allows just about anyone to create a storefront for their (tiny) business. Potential customers get to find businesses near them and connect directly with the business via WhatsApp.
The aim here was to bridge the gap between how South African micro/home based businesses are currently doing business and elevating that by using an online platform for discovery. “
Using TinyTrader on a Cellphone.
“I had this idea to utilize “WhatsApp-as-a-database” as a way for home business to promote/market their products/services easily.
For now, this makes the business owner my ultimate marketing tool/champion, as their potential customers via WhatsApp could become potential users of TinyTrader.
I’m still focusing my efforts on the few users that are currently using TinyTrader and making the product work well for them before venturing out into marketing to a wider audience.
I’m still focusing my efforts on the few users that are currently using TinyTrader and making the product work well for them before venturing out into marketing to a wider audience.”
Give TinyTrader a look if you are wanting to start a micro business or if you want to support micro South African businesses. Taahir also recently wrote a blog answering the question of what a micro business is.