Not everyone is happy that Mr Price is targeting the township market.
It recently erected a container store in Illovo, KwaZulu Natal. The shop is a miniature version of bigger Mr Price stores, and the retailer says that if it takes off, it will benefit townships because employees are likely to be sourced from local communities.
Vutivi News spoke to a couple of township entrepreneurs who focus on the clothing businesses.
Philemon Mokhethi from Thembisa in Ekurhuleni, who owns Restored Clothing, believes the move is unfair.
“I’m not happy about what they’re doing. Remember that Mr Price is a big business and by doing so, they will take our customers away from us,” he said.
Mokhethi also warned that small businesses would suffer.
“We feed our families and take care of ourselves with our business, so M. Price will be preventing us from being able to do this,” he said.
But Tibi Potsane from Sebokeng in Emfuleni, who owns a clothing brand called Thixo, supports the move.
“Aside from the fact that I buy from Mr Price personally, I also stock T-shirts for my business at Mr Price. I like their quality and I like the type of fabric they use on their T-shirts.”
Potsane said that the presence of the retailer in townships was not competition for him, but instead would motivate him to up his game.
“Mr Price sells one type of T-shirts and I sell another,” he said.
“My style is kasi inspired and I draw my inspiration from the township culture. I believe that Mr Price opening a shop in my township is good for my business because it will challenge me to come up with better designs, and will push me to improve my brand,” he told Vutivi News.
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