New flea market launched for community upliftment

A community worker initiated the process to launch their own community flea market with the goals to introduce her community in Lourensia Park, Somerset West, to the possibilities and benefits of entrepreneurship by creating a space where vendors can gather to sell their goods and create a source of income.

After Wendy Koopman had the brainwave to establish a community flea market, she facilitated and underwent an 8-month process with the City of Cape Town’s Informal Trading department, after which the Lourensia Park Flea Market on an approved site, was officially opened for trade on Saturday November 16.

An achievement Ms Koopman is elated about, particularly because of the financial relief it can bring for the residents of Lourensia Park, who are now able to set up stalls to sell their goods.

The motivation for the market, says Ms Koopman came about when she was in search of solutions for unemployed people in her community to earn an income for them to be a bit self-reliant regardless of how small it may seem in comparison to making unnecessary debt or relying on handouts.

“One must do something for yourself. When someone does something themselves to generate their own money, they immediately gain self-respect because it’s money they earned through hard work,” Ms Koopman says.

“The main goal is to promote entrepreneurship to have people generate their own income. Work is scarce and our older people struggle to find work, many of them have the skills to make handcrafts or other things to sell and this is where the Lourensia Park Market comes in to give people a space to do this.”

Ward Councillor Carl Punt, assisted Ms Koopman with advice and guidance on getting the flea market to fruition. He says: “We need to produce more entrepreneurs in our communities by encouraging the start of small businesses.” He says flea markets like these are starting points that with growth and expansion; can establish and strengthen small businesses in Lourensia Park.

Safety at the market is a priority, says Ms Koopman with members of local safety and security community organisations present, including the Neighborhood Watch and Community in Blue community organisation to ensure vendors and buyers feel safe.

There are 20 vendors operating their stalls. Entry to the community market is free to shoppers. “It’s similar to a car boot sale, where you can find something of everything,” Ms Koopman says.

Goods sold include used household items, clothing, shoes, utensils, gifts, food items, and baked goods.

One of the traders at the stalls is Lourensia Park resident Margaret Swarts, a baker all her life long, but who is now fortunate to sell her baked goods at a stall, a first for her. “It’s my very first time putting up a stall and I am super excited about it! The market is like having a new toy in our community. The atmosphere is great, the people enjoy, it really works well and is something we can only benefit from.”

She laughs at the popularity of her first batch of goods for sale. “On opening day, I set up at 8am and by 10am my stock was sold out, this all within 2 hours, so I wasn’t really prepared for how fast it would sell, it really was beyond my expectations.” She vows to in future be better prepared with more stock and is looking forward to launching her Christmas Cakes at the market, a timely treat for the festive season.

Ms Koopman appeals for any donations of unused items which can be split among vendors to stock up and sell from their stalls. The market will be two-fold in giving vendors an opportunity to make money—money that can buy a bread or a meal— but also give buyers options to affordable goods.

She envisions the flea market contributing to the well-being of the community in boosting local economic development.

“The intention is not for our vendors to become rich, but just to bring an extra bit of money into the household and we trust that it will get better every week,” she says.

The Lourensia Park housing project was built as an affordable housing project for those in need by the City of Cape Town.

The market is operated in Lourensia Park every Saturday from 8am to 2pm.For more information, contact Wendy Koopman at 083 686 9789.