By Andre van Rheede, Regional Sales Manager, Altron FinTech

Growing your kasi business doesn't require a big budget; you need just the right approach, strong community ties, and smart tools that work as hard as you do.

Starting and growing a business in South Africa's Kasi economy comes with unique challenges. Access to affordable marketing resources is one of them. But Kasipreneurs, the resilient entrepreneurs driving informal economies, are proving every day that creativity, community, and consistency can outperform expensive advertising campaigns.

You don't need a corporate marketing team to build a thriving business. You need practical strategies that fit your reality, honour your community, and position your business for long-term growth.

Understanding the Kasipreneur reality

Kasipreneurs face distinct marketing challenges, such as limited cash flow, limited marketing funds to reach new audiences, high competition in concentrated areas, and often unreliable access to digital infrastructure, leading to a lack of access to digital training and affordable connectivity, with difficulty in differentiating their products in saturated local markets. Yet these same environments offer something money can't buy: tight-knit communities where trust, reputation, and relationships drive purchasing decisions.

Word-of-mouth remains the most powerful marketing tool in informal economies because trust is currency. When a neighbour recommends your spaza shop, hair salon, or mechanics service, that endorsement carries more weight than any billboard ever could. Your reputation travels faster than any paid advert.

Andre van Rheede, Regional Sales Manager for Altron FinTech, believes that through shared value creation, Kasipreneurs can partner with local suppliers, youth or community groups to co-promote and distribute products, reducing costs while expanding reach. Likewise, adopting circular economic practices, such as reusing packaging, upscaling materials, or sharing logistics, helps cut waste and improve brand reputation at low cost. This trust allows communities to thrive as shared prosperity mirrors shared value marketing. When someone buys from a local business, everyone benefits when businesses grow sustainably and reinvest in the same community that supports them. In this ecosystem, reputation and relationships matter more than paid advertising.

This approach is not just about collaboration, but co-creation.

Low-cost marketing foundations

You don't need expensive software or agencies to start marketing your business effectively. Free and affordable digital tools can help you reach customers, build visibility, and grow your brand:

• WhatsApp for Business: Create a business profile, set up automated greetings, and use status updates to showcase products and promotions for direct engagement, order management and updates.
• Facebook and Instagram: Share photos of your products, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes content. Share stories and showcase community involvement.
• Google My Business: Get found when customers search for services in your area, completely free, improving discoverability and credibility.
• Canva: Design professional-looking posters, flyers, and social media graphics at no cost to reflect authentic, local identity.
• TikTok and Reels: For relatable, creative, and viral marketing

But digital tools are only part of the story. Your strongest marketing asset is your community network. Partner with local taxi associations, church groups, schools, and sports clubs. Sponsor a local soccer team's kit. Offer discounts to stokvels. Show up at community events;  not just to sell, but to listen, support, and build relationships.

Creative marketing tactics that work

Kasipreneurs excel at turning everyday moments into marketing opportunities:

• Leverage local events: Set up a stall at community gatherings, sports days, or church bazaars. Offer samples, run competitions, or simply show your face and build familiarity
• Customer loyalty strategies: Implement simple punch cards (buy 10, get 1 free), referral discounts, or weekly specials that reward repeat customers, encouraging customers to ‘buy local.’
• Collaborate, don't compete: Partner with complementary businesses. A hair salon can team up with a beauty supply shop; a spaza can collaborate with a local baker

"Marketing in the informal economy isn't about shouting the loudest, it's about showing up consistently and serving your community well. Shared value creation is about sharing marketing costs across multiple vendors at events, or taxi ranks, where growth for one becomes growth for all, reinforcing the local economy’s resilience,” comments Andre.

Ubuntu marketing: Community trust and reputation

"Ubuntu marketing" the philosophy of community-first, relationship-based business, isn't just effective in rural areas; it's essential. When you treat customers like family, serve them with respect, and solve their problems reliably, you create something no advert can replicate genuine loyalty.

Excellent customer service becomes your best marketing strategy when:

• You remember customers' names and preferences
• You're flexible with payment arrangements during tough times
• You deliver on promises, every time
• You contribute to community causes beyond your business

This approach doesn't just attract customers, it turns them into advocates and brand ambassadors

Turning customers into brand ambassadors

The best marketing doesn't come from you, it comes from satisfied customers telling their friends, family, and neighbours about your business. Encourage organic word-of-mouth by:

• Asking for referrals: "If you're happy with our service, please tell your friends.”
• Creating shareable moments: Package products beautifully, offer exceptional service, or surprise customers with small extras. Reward referrals through shared benefits, e.g. both referrer and new customer get a discount.
• Making it easy to recommend you: Have business cards available, stay active on WhatsApp, and maintain consistent operating hours.

“Celebrate customer stories on social media, making them part of your brand narrative. This creates a virtuous circle of marketing. Customers help grow the brand, and the brand reinvests in customer satisfaction, a perfect example of the circular economy in relationships”, comments Andre

"Your happiest customers are your unpaid sales force. Treat them well and let them be your promotional army."

Measuring what works (without expensive tools)

You don't need fancy analytics to understand what's working. Simple, practical methods help you track performance and refine your approach:

• Ask new customers: "How did you hear about us?"
• Keep a tally of daily foot traffic and note which promotions drove the most activity
• Monitor which WhatsApp messages or social posts get the most responses and drive engagement
• Create a suggestion box or regularly ask customers for feedback
• Collaborate with neighbouring businesses to share insights, building collective intelligence that lifts the entire ecosystem.

Customer feedback mechanisms don't need to be complicated. A quick "How are we doing?" conversation or a simple feedback form can reveal valuable insights.

Altron FinTech as a marketing differentiator

In today's economy, how you accept payment is part of your marketing strategy. Offering modern, flexible payment options sets you apart from competitors and shows customers you're serious about serving them well.

Card payment options are no longer just a convenience,  they're a competitive advantage. When you can accept card payments through reliable solutions like those from Altron FinTech, you:

• Attract customers who don't carry cash
• Increase transaction sizes (customers spend more when paying by card)
• Build trust by offering professional, secure payment experiences
• Reduce cash-handling risks and improve cash flow management

Flexible payment methods like DebiCheck help you retain customers by making it easier for them to pay in ways that suit their financial reality. Predictable debit order collections mean you can plan better, serve customers more consistently, and reduce the stress of chasing payments.

"The businesses that win aren't just those with the best products, they're the ones that make it easiest for customers to transact with confidence."

Marketing is about showing up

You don't need a massive budget to market your business successfully. You need creativity, consistency, and a deep commitment to serving your community well. Leverage free tools, build genuine relationships, and use smart payment solutions that position your business as modern, reliable, and customer-driven.

Because you matter. And so does every customer who walks through your door.