Funding, payments and readiness: What every SME needs ahead of Black Friday

FOR South African SMEs, the final quarter of the year is more than just a busy season, it is a proving ground.

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BLACK Friday, in particular, has become a defining moment in the retail calendar. And if last year's numbers are anything to go by, the stakes are only getting higher.

(LEON LESTRADE Independent Newspapers.)

It is when strategy meets execution, and when the right decisions can unlock real growth.

Black Friday, in particular, has become a defining moment in the retail calendar. And if last year’s numbers are anything to go by, the stakes are only getting higher.

In recent years, we've seen a consistent year-on-year increase in transaction activity during the Black Friday period.

What was once a single day of frenzied shopping has evolved into an extended week of spending, with consumers planning and purchasing over several days rather than just 24 hours.

This steady upward trend is more than a seasonal spike; it’s a clear signal that South Africans are primed to spend, and that SMEs need to be ready to meet this growing, sustained demand.

Funding: the first hurdle

One of the biggest challenges SMES face ahead of peak season is access to working capital.