This small but dynamic business believes that collaboration is the key to success, especially for small businesses. Their mission is to create a platform that not only showcases exceptional products but also fosters a sense of community and growth among local artisans and entrepreneurs. By providing a space where creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and craftsmanship can thrive, The SOOQ aims to boost small businesses and empower individuals to pursue their passions.
The new store in Fourways, Sandton, will serve as a haven for those seeking locally made, quality items from suppliers across South Africa. The selection has been carefully curated to include a wide range of products, from fashion and accessories to home decor and art, all created with love and attention to detail. Customers can expect to discover one-of-a-kind pieces that truly reflect their individuality and support local talent.
"As we open our physical doors in Fourways, Sandton, we are excited to connect with the vibrant community and offer them a shopping experience like no other," says co-owner and COO Gareth De Jager, one of the visionaries behind The SOOQ. "Our goal is to create a space where customers can not only find beautiful and distinctive products but also learn the stories behind each brand, this can change the way customers view their purchase, recognizing that at the end of that transaction there is a human, just doing their best to provide for their families. By supporting small businesses, we can make a positive impact on the local economy and celebrate the power of collaboration."
One aspect that sets The SOOQ apart is their commitment to sustainability. They prioritize local-friendly practices and promote ethical production methods. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, The SOOQ aims to provide a quality shopping experience, a range of local products and services you will love all packaged in great customer experience and service.
"At The SOOQ, we believe that sustainability is not just a trend, but a responsibility we owe to our community and the environment," states Chereese King, entrepreneur, co-owner and store manager of The SOOQ store. "What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to local-friendly practices. We prioritize working with small businesses that share our values, ensuring that we keep the end customer in mind at all times."
To celebrate the grand opening, The SOOQ in Fourways, Sandton, will be hosting a series of special events and collaborations with local artists and designers. These events will give customers the opportunity to meet the faces behind the brands and gain insight into their creative journeys.
For more information about The SOOQ and its new store in Fourways, Sandton, customers can visit their website at www.thesooq.co.za. They can also follow The SOOQ on social media to stay updated on the latest news, events, and product releases.
About The SOOQ
We are inspired by the "hustle" of small business owners and have a vision that together we can achieve so much more. We are also a proudly small SA business and have created a platform that allows businesses who create, source or resell to showcase their products and collectively lean on each other to boost their sales nationally and optimise their reach. We market businesses who list with us and stock them in our physical spaces (our number of physical stores is growing!) which act as a small window into a bigger range of products found our website www.thesooq.co.za. These physical stores also offer customers an opportunity to see, touch and engage with the products listed on the website.
Not only do we provide this platform for individual sales but we also promote the various gifting options to corporates & businesses who are looking for something different for their gifting solutions for staff and customers. Corporates or businesses can also order custom, promotional and branding items from us
To become a supplier or if you are looking for promotional or custom goods for your business please chat to us or email info@thesooq.co.za
To find out more about the SOOQ visit www.thesooq.co.za or contact Whatsapp: 063 621 2184 General Enquiries: info@thesooq.co.za Operations: operations@thesooq.co.za
]]>
#CastorOilBenefits #NaturalBeauty #SkinCareSecrets #HairGrowth #HealthySkin
1. Improved Skin Health:
One of the primary benefits of collagen is its ability to promote healthier and more youthful-looking skin. As we age, our body's natural collagen production decreases, leading to the formation of wrinkles, sagging skin, and a loss of elasticity. By supplementing with collagen, you can replenish the levels of this essential protein, resulting in firmer, smoother, and more hydrated skin. Collagen also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a radiant and youthful glow.
2. Stronger Hair and Nails:
Collagen is not only beneficial for your skin but also for your hair and nails. It provides the necessary building blocks for hair growth, making your locks stronger, thicker, and less prone to breakage. Similarly, collagen strengthens your nails, preventing them from becoming brittle and fragile. With regular collagen supplementation, you can achieve luscious, shiny hair and strong, healthy nails that are sure to turn heads.
3. Joint Health and Pain Relief:
Collagen is a crucial component of our joints, tendons, and ligaments, providing them with strength and flexibility. As we age, the wear and tear on our joints can lead to discomfort, stiffness, and inflammation. By incorporating collagen into your routine, you can support joint health and alleviate joint pain. Collagen helps to rebuild and repair cartilage, reducing inflammation and promoting better mobility. Whether you're an athlete or simply looking to maintain an active lifestyle, collagen can be a game-changer for your joint health.
4. Muscle Recovery and Athletic Performance:
Collagen is rich in amino acids, including glycine and proline, which are vital for muscle growth and repair. These amino acids support the synthesis of creatine, a substance that fuels muscle contractions and enhances endurance. By supplementing with collagen, athletes can experience faster muscle recovery, improved performance, and reduced risk of injury. Additionally, collagen aids in the repair of connective tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, ensuring optimal strength and flexibility during physical activity.
5. Gut Health and Digestion:
Collagen plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut lining. It helps to seal and protect the intestinal barrier, preventing the leakage of toxins and harmful substances into the bloodstream. By improving gut health, collagen can aid in digestion, reduce bloating, and alleviate symptoms of conditions like leaky gut syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A healthy gut is not only essential for digestion but also for overall immune function and well-being.
In summary, Collagen is undoubtedly a powerhouse protein that offers a myriad of benefits for your body. From transforming your skin and hair to supporting joint health and muscle recovery, collagen supplementation can positively impact your overall well-being. Whether you choose to incorporate collagen-rich foods into your diet or opt for convenient collagen supplements, it's never too late to start reaping the incredible rewards of this youth-enhancing protein. Embrace the power of collagen and unlock a healthier, more vibrant you!
Click on the image below to order your Collagen today... this product is tasteless so you can add it into your coffee, tea or breakfast smoothie ;)
]]>Here’s our line-up of top 12 load shedding hacks to make your life easier:
About The SOOQ
The SOOQ is an online e-commerce store which provides a platform for small businesses in South Africa, offering products from fashion, accessories, shoes, baby items, food and more into one easily accessible store. The name The SOOQ is from the Arabic name for “marketplace” and is inspired by the amazing marketplaces of the world and the excitement, mystery and surprises that marketplaces naturally encompass.
]]>One of the biggest benefits of the growing consumer interest in e-commerce is the opportunity it provides for even relatively small brands to find a marketplace. Brand owners with the right product, priced correctly and who are prepared to adopt an agile approach can take advantage of opportunities via online marketplaces that larger retailers often miss because of their slower turnaround times.
]]>One of the biggest benefits of the growing consumer interest in e-commerce is the opportunity it provides for even relatively small brands to find a marketplace. Brand owners with the right product, priced correctly and who are prepared to adopt an agile approach can take advantage of opportunities via online marketplaces that larger retailers often miss because of their slower turnaround times.
Online marketplace, The SOOQ, was established in 2020 for this very reason and is an online e-commerce store that provides a platform for small businesses in South Africa, offering proudly local products including fashion, accessories, shoes, baby items, food and more in one easily accessible store. The name The SOOQ is from the Arabic name for “marketplace” and is inspired by the amazing marketplaces of the world and the excitement, mystery and surprises that marketplaces naturally encompass, explains Kayla de Jager, Chief of Sales of The SOOQ.
“In an economy that is struggling to grow amidst a myriad of challenges including persistently high levels of load shedding, The SOOQ was established to help small, medium, and micro businesses access markets without incurring huge start-ups costs. When the platform was established a mere 3 years ago, we offered just 3 of brands. Today, The SOOQ lists over 20 brands on their online platform, and in the process help these small businesses broaden their reach to access new customers nationally, as well as including them in opportunities with various corporate companies who are partners of the small marketplace for promotional or custom gifting.”
Load shedding is one of the biggest challenges currently facing both businesses and households and all indications are that it is here to stay for the foreseeable future. The energy crisis has seen growing interest from consumers in load shedding solutions such as surge protectors to protect appliances, back-up batteries or solar power to keep security up and running, power banks to keep mobile phones charged and rechargeable lights as well as practical and cost-effective household solutions like a non-electric slow cooker. The SOOQ is following suit by providing customers with locally made “energy friendly” solutions one of these is the award winning slow cooking miracle Wonderbag listed on the The SOOQ is a great investment to keep stews, casseroles and soups simmering even once the power has gone off.
The idea for the product was borne during power outages that gripped South Africa in the winter of 2008 and the need for a cooking solution that is less reliant on electricity. How it works is that food that has been heated via conventional means is placed in a Wonderbag which allows it to continue to cook for up to eight hours without the need for further electricity using heat retention technology. Collins reveals that Wonderbag users reduce their fuel and electricity usage by up to 70%.
Wonderbag was one of 10 finalists in the Curt Bergfors Food Planet Award, the world’s largest environmental food award. It was also the only South African product to make the finalist list.
“The SOOQ will continue to support small and micro business owners manufacturing uniquely South African products so that they can grow and expand their businesses, we have many more exciting products coming to the store and look forward to welcoming more brands who get in touch with us” concludes De Jager.
]]>Research indicates that the socio-emotional skills learnt in early childhood has a greater impact on later-life outcomes than cognitive skills. However, despite the proven advantages of early childhood education, South Africa has been struggling in this area. In 2021, an Early Childhood Centre Census found that there were more than 42 000 early learning centres or programmes in the country
The census further revealed some worrying statistics about the types of learning materials and toys on offer, 34% don’t have an outdoor play area with suitable equipment; 44% don’t have access to age-appropriate books; 59% don’t have theme tables; 50% don’t have materials for counting; 48% don’t have play dough; and 37% don’t have instruments for children to learn rhythm.
In a 2022 Focused Impact Report, carried out by Makosi’s 10,000Kids Project, it was found that the early years of human development establishes the basic architecture and function of the brain. And while the study found education to be important, the quality of it was deemed just as crucial, if not more. This is because it found that an estimated 250 million children were not learning basic reading and math skills, despite half of them spending at least four years in school.
Pre-primary learning is therefore vital for young minds, and it all begins with reading. This helps them develop a love for learning and it’s a monumental stepping-stone. For children, reading is not just a skill, it’s a journey of exploration and discovery. It opens their imagination and allows creativity to flourish and come to life.
Through books, they make sense of the world, while understanding compassion and empathy. Their cognitive abilities begin to take shape and their language skills begin to develop. This will impact the rest of their lives.
“This is why The SOOQ has a dedicated area for this stage of the learning journey for kids. As an online e-commerce store, we have various activities, toys, and books available, all locally supplied. Our online reading corner also includes a dedicated category for this stage of learning and stocks books supplied by a local book store called Story Café, located in Johannesburg.” said Kayla de Jager, Chief of Sales at The SOOQ,
”The reading corner is a part of the store that we are particularly proud of because of our growing selection of local authors in this category. Our collaboration with The Storybook Café allows us to assist in providing access to reading resources needed by so many in South Africa.”
Tamara Gordon, registered drama therapist and educator, as well as the founder of The Story Café said embracing reading for meaning in early childhood development is more than decoding words on a page.
“We believe children need to understand and interpret the information they read in order to make sense of it all and connect with the world in a meaningful way,” said Gordon.
“Exposing children to diverse book characters allows them to see the world through different perspectives. Stories from their own South African context helps them understand their communities better and appreciate different experiences and cultures.”
De Jager said it was important to support local authors and entrepreneurs.
“It is essential for us to create a vibrant and diverse literacy ecosystem and by promoting and celebrating local talent, we are helping inspire a new generation of leaders, whilst providing young readers with stories they can relate to,” she explained.
The Sooq and The Storybook Café aim to help parents and their kids on the learning journey by providing them with the resources they need on one accessible local online marketplace. They will also be launching live reading sessions soon via social media channels featuring local authors.
“As a parent, you have the power to inspire your children and help them create a successful future. And it all begins with reading books. Be present in these early moments of life, and the rewards for your children will be priceless and life-long,” concludes De Jager.
ENDS
About The SOOQ
The SOOQ is an online e-commerce store which provides a platform for small businesses in South Africa, offering products from fashion, accessories, shoes, baby items, food and more into one easily accessible store. The name The SOOQ is from the Arabic name for “marketplace” and is inspired by the amazing marketplaces of the world and the excitement, mystery and surprises that marketplaces naturally encompass.
As the August winds subside and September ushers in Spring time, it’s a great time to Refresh, Rejuvenate & Revive! The SOOQ has some sensational items, all supplied by local small businesses and available on one easy to navigate store for this season. We’ve categorised them to make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for.
So basically you’re spoilt for choice, and it’s all locally supplied so you are also supporting small business and helping to reboot the economy – how is that for picture perfect? Now go ahead and choose to spoil yourself!
About The SOOQ
The SOOQ is a play on the Arabic word Souk, which means “marketplace” and is inspired by the amazing marketplaces of the world. The vision of this ecommerce store is to act as an online marketplace for small businesses across South Africa, incorporating products from fashion, accessories, shoes, baby items, food and so much more into one easily-accessible spot. The SOOQ has grown substantially in just 6 months of trading with the support from both small businesses and customers alike. Get your local brands from proudly South African businesses on The SOOQ: Milk Maiden, My ClosetZA, INdelicate, Chilli Chick SA, Bellibutton, Sweetpeas, Honeypot, Jewellery by Noli and more. We deliver nationally and internationally.
Visit our website www.theSOOQ.co.za
Follow us on Instagram/ Twitter: @The_SOOQZA / Facebook: The SOOQ ZA
]]>In 2016, husband and wife team, Marco and Joanna, officially launched Indelicate Apparel to the South African market, with innovative, unusual, fun and different leggings designs that move away from the traditional bland styles, to designs that are far more fun and unique.
Their leggings are great for multiple uses – as gym leggings or gym tights, yoga leggings or yoga pants, for Pilates, running, acrobatics, aerial training, and many other forms of fitness training.
We touched based with Joanna this Women's month to get to know her better and asked her a few questions - here's what she had to say:
Taking time to do things that make me happy and keep me motivated means that I always have the drive to improve and develop myself. Those things are mainly training aerial and pole fitness.
I’m not naturally a big risk taker so I think I always fear missing out on an opportunity or something amazing because Im scared to take a risk.
Contact Info
Mobile: 063 621 2184
Email: info@thesooq.co.za
Shop INdelicate on our Website: https://www.thesooq.co.za/collections/indelicate
]]>
Fability, owned by Bernadette Rigney, an award-winning Entrepreneur who loves to share her passion for business, marketing and entrepreneurship. She founded Fability in 2014 and has pioneered initiatives which gained international exposure, worked on global projects to share disability awareness through Media platforms and achieved remarkable results in breaking barriers.
We caught up with Bernadette to find out more about her & asked her a few questions, this is what she had to say:
I love working with people and building brands, helping with sourcing tenders or putting networks in touch with each other. Seeing everyone succeed and financially free is the ultimate goal. I get to collaborate with incredible individuals on a daily basis. Each year just gets better and better.
Contact Info
Whatsapp: 063 621 2184
Email: info@thesooq.co.za
Shop Fability products on our website: https://www.thesooq.co.za/collections/fability
]]>
Terri Lynne Stone knew that she had found her calling in life, when she stepped into a jewellery workshop for the first time. She thought to herself: “Self, I can’t wait to make pretty things.” Three years later, she had completed her diploma in jewellery design and manufacture at Durban University of Technology.
Maiden Stone was officially launched in 2015 during Terri's second year of her diploma. After graduating, she took a break from all things jewellery and decided to gallivant through Southeast Asia. Returning to Durban in 2019, she picked up where she left off, with a head full of ideas and hands itching to get back into what she loved.
The Maiden Stone brand hopes to capture the diversity, cultures and beauty of South Africa. They believe diversity is something to be celebrated, respected and encouraged. That is why they create unique pieces of jewellery, to remind you that different, can be beautiful too!
We asked Terri a few questions to get to know this inspiring woman a little more, here's what she had to say:
I have never been tired of learning and surrounding myself with people who are wiser, more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. I have never been ashamed of starting from the ground. I refused to give up and I strongly believe that if you want something badly enough, and are willing to work for it, then nothing is impossible.
I think empathy is the key to innovation. When you understand the core of what people need, then you are able to create a product or service that will best address that specific need/problem. People should be at the centre of what we do and how we do it.
Like how broken tiles and mirrors create amazing works of art, I believe the greatest ideas are sometimes found in the rough. The opportunity for your mind to be stretched creatively is when there are very few resources to work with. It is then when you will truly see what you are capable of.
I always reflect back and remember how far I have come to get where I am. When it gets tough, I start thinking about how I have overcome those challenges. I recite words of affirmations which also help to refuel me on days I feel low.
Contact Info
Whatsapp up on: 063 621 2184
Email: info@thesooq.co.za
Shop Jewellery Maiden Stone:
]]>
Balancing work and my personal life can be very challenging. However, having a plan in place makes it easier to manage and survive the challenging seasons. There is a lot of sacrifice needed and family support.
I have never been tired of learning and surrounding myself with people who are wiser, more knowledgeable and experienced than I am. I have never been ashamed of starting from the ground. I refused to give up and I strongly believe that if you want something badly enough, and are willing to work for it, then nothing is impossible.
I think empathy is the key to innovation. When you understand the core of what people need, then you are able to create a product or service that will best address that specific need/problem. People should be at the centre of what we do and how we do it.
Like how broken tiles and mirrors create amazing works of art, I believe the greatest ideas are sometimes found in the rough. The opportunity for your mind to be stretched creatively is when there are very few resources to work with. It is then when you will truly see what you are capable of.
I want to partner more with female-led brands in order to grow my own brand. My biggest desire is to offer employment and skill development to at least 5 more young women. I want to share the skill that I have with other people.
I always reflect back and remember how far I have come to get where I am. When it gets tough, I start thinking about how I have overcome those challenges. I recite words of affirmations which also help to refuel me on days I feel low.
Contact Info
Mobile: 063 621 2184
Email: info@thesooq.co.za
Shop Jewellery by Noli:https://www.thesooq.co.za/collections/jewellery-by-noli
]]>
The idea of creating and building something I can be proud of whilst having a lot of fun also.
Resilience and ability to not only get up after a fall but to look at the lesson behind the fall and try better.
Moving my brand more securely into the slow-fashion lane. Sourcing fabric to adhere to this being the main focus.
Stay true to your brand.
Listening to feedback of my customers and adjust to service their needs.
Contact Info
Mobile: 063 621 2184
Email: info@thesooq.co.za
Website: www.thesooq.co.za/search?q=milk+maiden
]]>
The modern-day woman wears the Kimono as a coat or as an overdress. In regions with a warmer climate, it is worn as a light-weight, loose-fitting garment. It typically has long sleeves and reaches to the ankles, but these days you can find any length, pattern or fabric.
The flexibility of this garment is what brings the huge appeal. We’ve compiled a collage for you (below) showing how supermodel Gigi Hadid dresses the various lengths up and down with significantly different undergarments. As Kimono's are all about the prints, you’ll probably want to keep the undergarments on the simplistic side.
Dinner date (now that restaurant's are open Yay!), shopping spree with the girls or movies with your Bae, best believe you’ll find yourself looking super stylish every time - and don't forget your matching mask!
Shop a wide range of Kimono's or our range of long cardigans & soft coats for Winter now - we have something for everyone ;)
]]>She's our youngest supplier and definitely one of our most inspiring! Imaan Kala has always had a passion for fashion so she decided to start her own business as a “side hustle” whilst completing her studies. MyClosetZA is an online retail brand that sells an exclusive range of outwear.
She started off selling her pre-loved clothing online then opened up her platform for others to also sell their pre-loved items. This continued for a year until she moved on to creating her own range which included personalised hoodies and sweaters.
My Closet ZA stocks items like t–shirts, sweatpants, hoodies, sweaters and jerseys – mostly limited editions. Their latest winter collection is characterised as urban classy. Each jersey has been designed to ensure that the person who wears it makes a statement.
“Being in partnership with the SOOQ does not only open doors for a wider target market but also allows me to be in partnership with a female owned business because if women support each other we can conquer the struggles which we are faced with in today's society.” – Imaan
Let's find out more about Imaan Kala...
Imaan, what inspires you? “Striking at my own ideas and seeing positive results really gets me going; although not all ideas are successful but those that are, inspire me to keep going and keep trying new things.”
What Business advice would you give to young entrepreneurs like yourself? “One of the most important things which I have learnt in this journey is that you have to have ambition to be able to achieve success. You have to keep going and do not give up easily! You will come across times where you won’t reach your goals in your business but that should not stop you. Instead look for alternative ways to achieve your goal. With perseverance and hard work, it will work out and all be worth it in the end. Also make sure to manage your time wisely, remember you will need to put in quite a bit of time into your business in order to grow it and make it a success, this does not happen overnight.
P.S. also remember to have fun while you are building your business.”
What’s the Biggest challenge you have had to overcome? “Finding the right balance with my study time and focusing on my business. Majority of the work is done by me so managing my time between the two and still having a good social life was difficult but overtime I figured out a way to balance everything.”
Who is your Business mentor? ”My business mentor is my mum. She is an ambitious woman who has taught me not to be a follower and to always follow my dreams and do my utmost best to achieve all that I desire. She has inspired me to become a woman like her especially in the business world.”
Finally - what’s your Favourite business inspirational quote? “Everyone has the key, it just a matter of using it.”
We are blown away by young female entrepreneurs like Imaan, aren’t you? Our country and economy definitely need more youth-preneurs like her to drive change & of course impact significant socio-economic factors like unemployment and the GDP ;) If more small business support small business – imagine the change we would see?
Next week we feature Stacy & Che from Sweet Peas! Don’t miss it!
]]>Terri Lynne Stone knew that she had found her calling in life, when she stepped into a jewellery workshop for the first time. She thought to herself: “Self, I can’t wait to make pretty things.” Three years later, she had completed her diploma in jewellery design and manufacture at Durban University of Technology.
Maiden Stone was officially launched in 2015 during Terri's second year of her diploma. After graduating, she took a break from all things jewellery and decided to gallivant through Southeast Asia. Returning to Durban in 2019, she picked up where she left off, with a head full of ideas and hands itching to get back into what she loved.
The brand hopes to capture the diversity, cultures and beauty of our motherland, South Africa. They believe diversity is something to be celebrated, respected and encouraged.
To get to know Terri a bit more we asked a few questions and what inspires her and also what she would like to share with budding entrepreneurs like herself:
Terri, What inspires you? “I am inspired by a number of different things, but if we are talking about where the inspiration for my designs comes from, I love geometric shapes.
Can you give your best business advice for young entrepreneurs wanting to go into business? “Having your own business is really not for the faint hearted. There are fantastic days and then there are seriously bad days. It's very important to surround yourself with people who will support and motivate you (and feed you when you have had a bad month of sales.)”
As a proudly South African brand we are really proud to partner with incredible brands such as Maiden Stone and to bring you the best fashion, accessories, gadgets and all things nice! Next week we feature Imaan Kara from My Closet ZA. Keep an eye out!
Check out the Maiden Stone range on the TravelSOOQ store today!
]]>Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Kendall and Kylie each have a unique fashion sense and while you may not think it, they do sometimes wear non-figure hugging, high-comfort, low-maintenance, low-effort clothing.
Their style has evolved significantly over the years as each of them have come into their own. We’ve selected just some of their casual chic ensembles to inspire your own WFH whilst (B)ack (A)t the (O)ffice style.
Oversized anything for WFH attire and you’ve won me over already. It helps when it’s something cute though, no? Khloe is pictured here in the oversized cropped turtleneck. We may not all have those killer abs, so you may want to layer it up with a vest or long sleeve top underneath. We’ll say it’s to keep warm ;) Shoe suggestion: Sneaker
Accessories and scarves can also "zhoosh" an outfit up - our selection of Maiden Stone & Bellibutton accessories and scarves will certainly tick a few boxes for any outfit for work or home! Also don't forget your most important new addition to any outfit - your mask! Make sure you always carry your co-ordinated protective gear to keep you safe and healthy ;)
]]>
This blog post will give you a brief summary on the Do's and Don't for wearing a mask to protect yourself and those around you. It is important, however, to note that a face mask is not the only preventative measure we should be taking, it should be practiced in parallel with other COVID-19 measures like good hand hygiene and physical or social distancing.
Surgical N95 Mask |
Surgical or Medical Mask |
Homemade or Sewn Mask |
Face Covering |
Usually worn by professional healthcare providers |
These are usually manufactured and sold by medical supply retailers. |
Made from cloth, machine washable. Usually includes a removable or washable filter. |
Any tightly-woven fabric you can use to cover your nose and mouth; accessories like scarves, ski masks, or cotton t-shirts. |
|
Do’s |
Dont’s |
Wash your hands before handling any mask to eliminate the risk of transferring bacteria. |
Touch the mask itself with your bare hands. |
Pick up your mask by its ear loops and bring them up to your ears, securing them as tightly as possible. |
Re-use surgical masks if you have been exposed to an infected person or if there is visible dirt / damage. |
Make sure that the mask covers both your nose and your mouth. |
Don’t share masks. If you don’t have a mask, rather improvise with a scarf or something similar and make a face-covering. |
Adjust the mask to ensure your chin is also covered. This is a sure-fire way of preventing any particles in the air enters your mouth and nasal area. |
Go in a public place without a mask. If caught by the authorities, you will be fined as you could be putting others at risk. |
Secure the mask on the bridge of your nose too. Some masks have a metal tab where the bridge of your nose sits. If you feel a metal tab on your chin, you'll know your mask is upside down. |
|
For surgical masks, make sure the blue lining is on the outside. |
|
Most importantly, you want to make sure your mask fits your face comfortably and has as few gaps as possible for droplets to filter through, to keep yourself as safe as possible. All our masks on TravelSOOQ are created by expert seamstresses and designers, and all have a minimum of 3 layers. They are fashioned to fit tightly and comfortably across the face with either ties or elastic ribbon which can also be easily adjusted.
Shop our selection of masks and scarves: https://travelsooq.co.za/collections/essentials-masks-sanitisers
]]>
The process is as follows:
When our couriers arrive at your delivery or collection address, they have been instructed to ring the bell/ knock on the door and stand back at a safe distance (2 metres).
If you have any queries or require any further details please contact us on info@travelsooq.co.za
Stay Safe. Stay healthy
TravelSOOQ Operations
xx
Courier partner: https://www.rush.co.za
]]>Just some Context: We were looking for an inexpensive girls trip just to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in Joburg and a change of scenery in general and asked My Trip PA (who is owned by my brother) to assist with investigating some options - the choice was really between Thailand & Bali, a decent hotel (we asked for a 3* but our Trip PA found us a 4* within budget J), a place where we can get some sun, see some sights and maybe party some.
Finally we decided on Bali - 6 nights in Kuta (flights, accommodation and shuttles = R10 800), and we added 2 day tours including a Bali Hai Cruise to the Lembongan island & a "Northern Charm tour" - a day visit to see Lake Bratan, Twin Lakes, Handara Gate & the Twin lake Swing.
Pros of visiting Bali as a South African
We arrived on a Friday with our Taxi shuttle who was also conveniently a tour guide (later we learnt this was a norm in Bali) and straight after checking in at the Mecure hotel in Legian Kuta, and a much needed shower we headed to investigate our surroundings - there are plenty of Western food places (especially Italian for some reason) including the traditional fast food outlets like Burger Kings, McD’s and KFC. The city is vibrant and busy, massage parlours are easy to find and people are friendly, it is not unlike any other eastern destinations with extreme traffic, buzzing scooters and street vendors.
Kuta is the west & central region of Bali and known for its beaches, surfing and night life - it's basically the city with a beach.
After 6 days of trying to squeeze in as much as possible these are a few pieces of advice I can safely pass on...
I loved my first visit to Bali but wished we had more time to explore, Kuta is more affordable then some of the other areas, if you want a more luxury type beach holiday I would visit Nusa / the more North & Western parts of Bali, Gili islands is also a part of Bali I definitely want to explore.
To book a similar trip go to www.mytrippa.com for your personal travel assistant
]]>