A 12-module accelerator built for informal retailers.
A blended programme combining classroom theory with Work-Integrated Learning inside your own business. Complete the programme to unlock seed funding of up to R50 000.
Building profitable, compliant and resilient informal retailers.
To equip informal retailers with the knowledge, practical skills, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to operate profitable, compliant, customer-focused, and sustainable retail businesses in South Africa.
- • Spaza shop owners
- • Township supermarket owners
- • Street vendors
- • Hawkers
- • Market traders
- • Home-based business owners
- • Informal wholesalers
- • Youth entrepreneurs
- • Women-owned businesses
- • Small family retailers
12 modules, each with a hands-on practical.
Every module combines theoretical grounding with a practical activity applied directly to the student's own business or an approved informal retail enterprise.
Understanding the Informal Retail Economy
- • Introduction to informal retail
- • Types of informal businesses
- • Township retail markets
- • Local economic development
- • Customer demographics
- • Retail trends
Map and analyse the informal retail businesses operating within a 5 km radius of your own business.
Starting and Growing a Retail Business
- • Identifying what to sell
- • Choosing a location to sell
- • Opening a bank account
- • Raising money to get your first stock
Buying and Stock Management
- • Choosing suppliers
- • Negotiating prices
- • Bulk buying
- • Managing stock
- • Fast-moving products
- • Seasonal stock
- • Reducing losses
- • Preventing expired stock
Conduct a stock count and calculate stock turnover for a selected product category.
Pricing for Profit
- • Cost price
- • Selling price
- • Mark-up
- • Gross profit
- • Discounts and promotions
- • Understanding cash flow
- • Avoiding under-pricing
Price 20 products using different pricing strategies and calculate expected profit.
Customer Service Excellence
- • Greeting customers
- • Building trust
- • Repeat customers
- • Managing complaints
- • Selling with respect
- • Serving diverse communities
- • Customer loyalty
Role-play customer interactions and resolve common service complaints.
Practical Selling Skills
- • Understanding customer needs
- • Suggestive selling
- • Cross-selling
- • Upselling
- • Closing sales
- • Selling high-margin products
Sell a basket of products while demonstrating effective sales techniques.
Merchandising for Small Shops
- • Product displays
- • Shelf layout
- • Impulse buying
- • Store cleanliness
- • Product visibility
- • Signage
- • Pricing labels
Redesign the layout of a small retail shop to improve product visibility and customer flow.
Financial Management for Small Retailers
- • Daily cash management
- • Recording sales
- • Budgeting
- • Saving
- • Managing debt
- • Understanding profit
- • Cash flow management
Prepare a monthly cash-flow statement and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
Digital Retail
- • Mobile banking
- • Card payments
- • QR code payments
- • WhatsApp Business
- • Facebook Marketplace
- • Social media marketing
- • Online customer service
Create a WhatsApp Business profile and develop a weekly digital marketing plan.
Point of Sales & Compliance
- • Business registration
- • Municipal by-laws
- • Tax basics
- • Consumer rights
- • Labour obligations
- • Health and safety
- • Food safety (where applicable)
Develop a compliance checklist for your business.
Leadership and People Management
- • Managing family businesses
- • Supervising employees
- • Delegation
- • Communication
- • Conflict management
- • Building trust
- • Time management
Prepare a weekly staff schedule and conduct a mock performance discussion.
Retail Entrepreneurship
- • Innovation
- • Diversification
- • Expanding product ranges
- • Managing competition
- • Risk management
- • Business resilience
- • Growth planning
Develop a three-year growth strategy for your business, including new products or services.
What you'll be able to do.
- • Operate a profitable informal retail business.
- • Source and manage stock effectively.
- • Price products for sustainable profitability.
- • Deliver excellent customer service.
- • Keep accurate financial records.
- • Use digital tools to market and grow their business.
- • Lead employees or family members effectively.
- • Develop strategies to grow and sustain their businesses.
Learn from the formal sector.
Visit a formal retailer such as Dis-Chem, Checkers, Chamberlains or KitKat Cash & Carry. Interview staff on their processes across purchasing, stock management and cash management, then present your findings back to your I-RED cohort.
Join the next intake.
Spaces are limited to 40 entrepreneurs per intake. Register below and our team will confirm your seat and starting date within 5 working days.
- • Free to attend for accepted applicants
- • In-person + WhatsApp support
- • Certificate of completion
- • Access to seed funding at graduation