We are about to step into the 4th and final quarter of 2022. It seems like yesterday when we were discussing matters pertaining to the beginning of 2022. Yet here we are; we are roughly 3 full months away from concluding the year 2022. The year’s final quarter is an opportune time for many business ventures. Now is the perfect time to start gearing up for that time. It is a time that culminates in the festive season, a time where lots of money can be made. Let us explore some of the business ideas you can roll out in the 4th quarter.
Crop Production
Various crop production ventures characterise the 4th quarter in Zimbabwe. This is because it is the time when the rainy season usually starts. Maize is definitely one of the main ones here. Other grain crops also fit in here, including small grains in particular. It is important, however, to consider that rainfall is now usually erratic in Zimbabwe. Though you can successfully venture into crop production with sole dependence on natural rainfall, it is somewhat a gamble. If you can arrange to have irrigation as a backup plan, that would be prudent. You can cultivate several other crops in the final quarter, e.g. nuts, pumpkins, watermelons, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes, just to mention a few.
This implies that you can focus on business ideas auxiliary to crop production. Examples can be sourcing and selling farming supplies, e.g. seeds, fertilizers, chemicals, or implements. If you have the relevant equipment, you can hire it for farming processes such as tillage, spraying, etc. If you have specialist knowledge in crop production, you can make money doing consultancy work. These are just a few pointers to inspire your creativity. Otherwise, there are inexhaustible business opportunities.
Livestock Production – Key Focus Being Meat Production
Just like and even bigger than crop production is starting businesses in livestock production. Your approaches will depend on a number of variables. For example, if you are starting from scratch, you would want to settle for livestock with shorter turnarounds. There is also an option not to do the actual livestock production. You can simply source mature livestock ready for the market. In some cases, you can directly source and sell the meat.
The core focus here is supplying meat to butcheries, supermarkets, food outlets, and so on. The apex target is to get to the festive season ready to meet the huge demand for meat. The key areas to choose from here are poultry, piggery, rabbits, fish, cattle, and sheep. In the final quarter, especially in December, there will be great demand for meat. Now is the time to start getting ready to tap into that guaranteed market.
Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)
This segment is always abuzz throughout the year but intensifies more as the final quarter progresses. People will gradually begin to shop for the festive season. Money clubs will also be finalizing their purchases to get ready to share their groceries. Typically people will, for the most part, purchase more than they usually buy. This means there will be stiff competition among retailers to lure customers. Prospects will be looking to get the best deals which is why promotions and specials are common at that time. You can strategically position yourself by identifying FMCGs that you can sell at competitive prices.
Yesterday I was chatting with someone who recently started sourcing and supplying energy drinks from South Africa. It is remarkable that they are getting sold out fast, mostly because vendors purchase them. It is a simple and effortless business idea that is quite lucrative. I mentioned this to paint a picture for you of what you need to do with FMCGs in the final quarter. The open secret is straightforward – identify FMCGs you can source and sell at competitive prices. Get to cash in on the rising demand characteristic of the final 3 months of the year.
Clothing Retail
Clothing retail has proven to be a smart business focus in Zimbabwe. All throughout this year, so many people have entered the space and are doing well. In the 4th quarter, the demand for clothing products will rise. People will be looking to buy cheap, trending, yet good-quality clothing items. Bear in mind that the 4th quarter also tends to have rains and cold weather. Those variables can help you stock up on clothing items relevant to them. I have also noticed that the kids’ segment is profitable in clothing retail. Kids anticipate getting new clothes as we approach the festive season. Position yourself to be the option that prospects consider when looking to buy. Should you settle for brand-new clothes or pre-loved ones? The choice is yours just as long as you know your target market.
Vehicle-Related Businesses
The need for transport services spikes in the final quarter of the year. There will be lots of travelling and transportation of stuff as well. This starts from basic taxi services all the way up to transportation of cargo across borders. You have a wide array of choices to choose from. It tends to get muddy during this time, so car wash services will be needed more. Vehicles can get stuck and need to be towed. Check out the article I did on vehicle-related businesses to you can start. You will get more details therein.
School Supplies Retail
Smart people start getting school supplies for the coming year during this time. The demand obviously surges towards the end of December. Find your place in the school supplies domain by supplying what customers need. Pricing competitively again is the key to driving sales.
Now is the time. If you are interested, take your pick and start preparing. By the time we get into September, you should be somewhere. In just September, October, and December, you can profit big.
