Cape Town - Beads of sweat drip from your brow as people scurry around you. Children are throwing tantrums, while Boney M sings merrily. You’d rather be anywhere else but inside this mall. But you can’t leave until you have an armful of gifts, because for the umpteenth time, you’ve left your Christmas shopping for the last minute.
There is a simple solution. While Christmas is still more than six weeks away, now is the time to start shopping, say the experts.
Michael Bagraim, of the Cape Chamber of Commerce’s human capital portfolio, says the city is now starting to feel the excitement of the start of the festive season. The weather is warmer. The tourists have started arriving. The trimmings are up in the stores and the Christmas markets have started opening.
Bagraim says in the interest of not blowing your bonus on overpriced gifts, and to avoid the stress of last-minute shopping, now is the time to get it out of the way.
There are several sales taking place now. But those who wait until December 24 may find themselves paying three times more for gifts, warns Bagraim.
“Now you’ll find low prices, sales and no pressure,” he says.
Bagraim says shopping at markets is something he does often.
While he frequents Greenmarket Square, the Hout Bay market is one of his favourites. Here he gets freshly baked bread, cakes and gifts for friends, family and associates when he travels abroad.
The best part about many markets, however, is that they are the biggest source of locally made goods, says Bagraim.
“The markets are good as it gets the spending going, which is good for the economy.”
The Edgemead Christmas Gift market runs from December 6 to 23. Organiser Wayne Williams says the market, now in its 10th year, attracts people from across the Western Cape.
This year, 230 exhibitors will take part. Williams says there is a selection process of stallholders in order to avoid duplication of similar products, and to maintain a high standard.
Visitors can expect to be greeted by a particularly festive sight.
“We go out of our way to make the market as festive as possible. We employ one of Cape Town’s top decor companies to ensure the market is something special each year,” he says.
Williams says the upside of doing Christmas shopping at markets is that customers are able to buy unique, out-of-the ordinary gifts.
“The products you find in malls are available all year round, and for this reason lose that special feel. Our focus is to ensure the products at the market are special, that you would not be able to find elsewhere,” says Williams.
Another market not to be missed is the Durbanville Night Market, based at the Rust-en-Vrede heritage site.
The regular market has been running from the site for 30 years, but for two dates in December the market takes on a festive feel.
In an attempt to provide full traceability, only artists responsible for creating their goods are allowed to sell there.
Visitors can expect oak trees filled with Christmas lights, live music, a beer garden and 200 stalls – and, of course, the resident owl who lives on the premises and will be around to keep watch over proceedings.
This first festive market takes place on December 7 from 8.30am to 2pm, while night markets takes place on December 6 and 13 from 5pm. To add to the Christmas experience, the night market will have carol singing.
Organisers say the best part of Christmas markets is that they’re a family affair. And generally that includes the pets.
There are play areas for children, beer gardens and food courts to entertain the adults who wait around as their partners, mothers, friends shop until they drop.
Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Alan Winde says Christmas markets provide an amazing opportunity for crafters and artists.
“This is also ahead of the World Design Capital next year, so there’s added attention on our creative industries,” says Winde.
Winde and Bagraim agree that apart from showcasing the talents of local entrepreneurs, it is a great time to interact.
Bagraim says Cape Town is a social city, and the markets add to that phenomenon. He encourages tourists to take part in these, too, as they are where the real Cape Town meets.
Winde says he finds it an authentic experience of creating new things, tasting different foods and meeting special people.
“I enjoy the markets, it’s about much more than shopping,” he says.
Winde also urges people to consider buying locally manufactured products as gifts this Christmas. However, he warns people not to go overboard.
“Absolutely don’t blow your bonus on Christmas shopping. First think of your savings and the expenses in the new year. Budget carefully before you even start,” says Winde. - Cape Argus
It’s good to buy local – and here’s a guide to how
Those wishing to give gifts made right here in South Africa, instead of at the North Pole, now have a one-stop reference guide to help them.
Ute Kuhlmann, author of Happiness in a Handbasket, started working on her book nearly two years ago. The German native moved to South Africa in 1997 to study law at UCT. She fell in love with the city as well as the man who would become her husband.
“I got stuck here in the best possible way,” she said.
The pair currently live in Woodstock.
Kuhlmann got the idea for the book after giving her goddaughter a rather pricey dress. The self-proclaimed “completely compulsive label reader” justified her purchase because it was made in South Africa. That’s when she realised how much she valued locally made products.
“I realised a lot of people actually feel a bit lost,” she said. “They want to buy local, but don’t know where to begin.”
Her “shelf-help book” aims to give consumers a starting point. The book is self-published, a process Kuhlmann said has definitely been a learning curve.
She hopes the book will inspire people to care about where their money goes and convince them to “buy into buying local”.
The guide is organised into categories: food and drink, kitchen and appliances, clothes, shoes, bags and jewellery, baby and children’s products, beauty and personal care, sleep accessories, office and computer products, pool and beach items, and even a section titled “wheels” which includes information on cars, bicycles and other forms of transportation.
Kuhlmann’s extensive research has produced detailed inserts throughout the book which provide background information about working conditions and environmental impacts of certain products.
There is also a section including information about local markets, which Kuhlmann said are a great place to find local crafts and organic food.
The final chapter has a quick-view colour-coded guide rating companies from green to red based on whether goods are made locally or imported.
The official launch of Kuhlmann’s book was at the Woodstock Exchange, which houses many of the local brands featured in her book, including the Grand Mason shoe company and Honest chocolate.
Buying local can have far-reaching effects and takes little effort on the consumer’s part.
“It’s such an obvious thing to do to start making a difference – to start by doing something we do anyway.”
When people buy local, they support small businesses, help the environment and, of course, go home with a lovely product, she said.
Happiness in a Handbasket is for sale for between R175 and R200 at Blank Books in Woodstock and at the Book Lounge on the corner of Roeland and Buitenkant streets. You can also order a copy through the Ethical Co-op at www.ethical.org.za or through Kuhlmann herself by e-mailing [email protected]. - Melissa Werthmann, Cape Argus