Know where to buy your stock before you drive
SpazaPulse helps spaza owners and stokvel treasurers compare what stock costs at different wholesalers, check their margin, and decide whether a second stop is worth the petrol.
Two calculators you can use today
Take your quotes or receipts from two or three wholesalers and type the prices in. Nothing you enter is sent to us or saved.
What is my margin?
Margin is the share of the shelf price that is profit. A product can look cheap to buy and still earn you very little.
| Item | Cost price (R) | Shelf price (R) | Units a week | Margin | Weekly profit | Remove |
|---|
Green is 20% or more, amber is 10% to 20%, red is under 10%. These bands are a rule of thumb for comparing your items, not an industry standard.
Is splitting my stock run worth it?
Enter your quantities and the price you were quoted at up to three wholesalers. We find the cheapest way to buy, then take away the extra travel cost.
| Item | Quantity | Cheapest at | Remove |
|---|
What the WhatsApp version will do
In the pilot you will message one number in plain words and get an answer. These are planned examples, not live features.
"specials maize"
The cheapest current deals we have for maize meal, each with its source and date.
"basket 5 maize, 3 oil"
Where to buy it, and whether splitting the run beats one stop.
"stokvel pack"
A group basket with the cost per member.
Where the prices will come from
A wrong price costs a shop owner real money, so we will not publish a price we cannot stand behind.
Sources we may use
Price lists and catalogues we are permitted to use, partner feeds from wholesalers, and prices shop owners share.
Every price is dated
You will see where a price came from and when, so you can judge it.
Before we switch on
We check each source's terms of use, and POPIA rules for any phone numbers we hold.
Planned pilot pricing
These are the plans for the pilot and may change after we hear from shop owners.
Free alerts
A weekly list of deals for verified shop owners, supported by wholesalers and brands.
Pro shop
R99 a month or R25 a week for daily updates, margin checks and basket planning.
A note on the Spaza Shop Support Fund
Government's R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund is run by the Department of Small Business Development with the National Empowerment Fund and SEDFA. Support for eligible South African-owned shops can cover stock, equipment and training.
NUKIT is not part of the fund, does not process applications and does not charge for them. The department has warned shop owners about people who ask for payment to help with applications. For the official criteria and to apply, visit spazashopfund.co.za. Amounts and rules can change, so check there.
Join the pilot list
Tell us where you shop and we will message you when the WhatsApp number opens in your area. We use your details only for the pilot, as set out in our privacy notice.