Stock is your biggest weapon
At a flea market or township retail stall, your stock determines your income. Run out of popular items on a busy Saturday and you lose money that your competitors pocket.
The bulk-buy advantage
Wholesale suppliers offer steep discounts for large orders — but you need cash upfront. A R2,000 order might cost you R1,400 wholesale if you can buy 10 units instead of 3. That margin difference is your profit.
How to time your stock purchases
- Watch the calendar: Heritage Day, Easter, Women’s Day, December holiday — peak weekends are predictable. Start stocking 2–3 weeks before.
- Track your bestsellers: Note which items sell out first and prioritise those in bulk orders.
- Build supplier relationships: Regular buyers often get first access to clearance stock at steep discounts.
When you need capital fast
Sometimes a supplier calls with a clearance deal and you have 24 hours to decide. Banks won’t help you that quickly. Fido credit can be in your account in minutes — so you can say yes to deals that would otherwise pass you by.
Managing the repayment
Use Fido’s calculator to check your repayment before you apply. If the expected profit from the stock sale covers your repayment with room to spare, the maths works in your favour.
Responsible borrowing means only taking credit when the return justifies it. Market traders who use credit strategically — for time-sensitive bulk deals — grow faster than those who wait.
