The traditional model of stokvels are evolving. A major draw card that comes with starting or joining a stokvel club is the group buying power that comes from the cooperative model. Yes, this can be used to secure significant discounts from wholesalers in many instances when making bulk purchases and sharing these savings across members. However, as stokvels have evolved over time, we are seeing more and more stokvels looking to use their group buying power to make “smart purchases” that can turn a profit in the long run.
Arguably becoming business club orientated instead of consumer club orientated. This article explores smart tactics stokvels can employ to get the most bang for their buck in 2018 instead of purely being consumption based.
How do you generate income with your group buying power?
Getting a great deal on perishable goods is never a bad thing. However, your stokvel can do a lot more with its buying power to earn revenue for its members. Our foreign brothers and sisters from the rest of Africa who are running spaza shops have unlocked one of the secrets to this. Using their collective buying power to amass perishable items at notably discounted rates to sell at a highly competitive rate, they are able to earn revenue from the cooperative model approach. This principle can apply in any business where bulk buying opportunities exist for “cooperatives”.
For example, minibus taxi owners/associations looking to get better deals can galvanise and approach car manufacturers and those who sell parts for better bulk discounted prices on vehicles or parts. The trick here is to look at purchasing “perishable goods” that as their value or usage gets discounted, you are able to generate revenue out of them higher than the purchasing amount.
How to identify perishable goods that can generate revenue for you or your stokvel?
Based on the taxi and spaza shop examples above, arguably it is easier to identify such goods when you are in a common business with your stokvel members. However, this is an economics exercise i.e. identifying goods which are high in demand that you’re stokvel can supply at a profitable rate. As a stokvel, you should be asking yourselves what are essential perishable goods that are in high demand, that your family, close friends and immediate neighbours need. For example, toilet paper is a perishable good that is and always will be in demand. Would it not make sense to source this perishable item at a bulk for sale to friends and family of the stokvel?
Better yet, if one of the stokvel club members has enough storage space, would it not make sense to purchase the toilet paper making machine as an asset? Your stokvel must get entrepreneurial about the immediate opportunities that exist around them and see how best to take advantage of these gaps. However, if your stokvel does not have a slight of entrepreneurial bone in it not to worry. There are innovative ways for your stokvel to purchase such assets that yield great returns for your stokvel club. One such way to do this is through asset crowdfunding platform, The People’s Fund.
The truth is that your bulk buying power strength depends on how well your cooperative model approach is organised and well run. The stronger your cooperative model approach, the stronger you will likely leverage off other forms of revenue generators better than perishable goods such as asset rental discounting products.
At the end it comes down to not only how much you have managed to save but also how well you can generate additional revenue from your savings. After all, isn’t money suppose to work for you?