Be Lekker in your Local Memi Charms

The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused worldwide shifts in every aspect of society, and especially the economic sector. While some companies are large enough to absorb the effects of the pandemic, smaller companies are struggling to stay afloat in these trying times. Supporting local has always been lekker, but now so more than ever. If you are a South African china, bru, boet, or babe, you can support local with Memi’s charms.

South Africa:

There is nothing quite like living in South Africa, from having one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world to the South African vibes of the diverse range of people. There are so many things that make living in South Africa unique. You can swim in beautiful seas to cure your babbelas, get lifts in your friend’s bakkie to the braai, and pull in to your auntie’s or gogo’s pozzy for some great food (hopefully some melktert or bobotie!).

South African Slang:

Have you ever found yourself having a conversation with people not from South Africa and they are looking at you wide-eyed and confused? With eleven national languages and roughly another twenty-four languages spoken, there is a bounty of South African slang that forms part of daily living in South Africa. We have compiled a shortlist of South African words that demonstrate how unique the South African culture is:

South African Term:	Definition:	Example:
Aweh	This is a term of excitement or to demonstrate that something or someone is cool.	“My Memi charms are aweh.”
Bokke	This is typically used for the South African rugby team, the Springboks, which is shouted from your couch or on the stands to show support for the green and gold.	“Go Bokke! I am wearing my lucky Memi charms for you!”
Bucks.	Money.	“I am spending my bucks on some new Memi charms.”
Chommie / China / Maat	Friend.	“I am meeting a chommie for coffee later to show off my new Memi charms.”
Chop-chop	Quickly.	“My Memi charms got delivered chop-chop.”
Howzit	Hello.	“Howzit my bru!”
Kiff	Cool, great, or wonderful.	“The variety of Memi charms to choose from is kiff”. The Kiffness is also a South African band which releases South African choons (music).
Mallie	Mother.	“I am getting my mallie some Memi charms for her birthday.”
Now-Now	This can refer to the next couple of minutes or next couple of years, and therefore will need to be interpreted within the context.	“I am going to order my Memi charms now-now” (and hopefully this means soon!)
Smaak	This is used to describe something or someone you like.	“I smaak Memi’s charms.”

Memi:

Memi is a South African brand that creates jewellery pieces with you, the South African, in mind. This means that they are focused on creating jewellery that matters to consumers in South Africa. South Africa deserves to be celebrated, supported, and protected for future generations. You can do this through supporting local businesses, such as Memi.

Why Charms?

South Africans are known to use their hands and body language extensively when communicating with one another or expressing emotion. What better way to embellish this South African trait than with some stunning Memi charms around your wrist? Add some sparkle to your hand gestures as you catch up on the exciting gossip with friends at coffee or add some extra emphasis to your (typically crude) hand gestures when driving around South African towns.

Which Charms:

Memi’s charms aim to become a part of your personal story, and how you express your story as a South African is completely up to you. If you need some inspiration, we have selected a few of Memi’s charms that truly capture the essence of South Africa.

⦁ Loud and Proud:

By choosing charms that have a South African or African symbolism demonstrates that you are loud and proud about being from this beautiful place. The charms on offer at Memi are the Love of Africa charm, the Stronger Together Africa charm, the Stronger Together Pebble Charm, the Life Circle charm (cue Lion King theme song), the African Elephant charm, the African Rhino charm, or the African Giraffe charm. Wear your local pride on your sleeve with any one of these great charms.

⦁ Diversity:

South Africa is known for being a Rainbow Nation, and Memi’s charms are the perfect tool to use to show your pride in how diverse this country is. Religion is one of the many diversities in this country, and you can showcase your religion with anyone of Memi’s charms. A few examples of the religiously orientated charms on offer at Memi are the Om charm, the Star of David charm, or the Faith charm.

⦁ International Love:

Whether you have emigrated, work abroad, or are planning an extended journey overseas, you can keep a piece of home close by with any one of Memi’s charms. Pair a charm that captures your essence of South Africa with either the World charm, Compass charm, or Airplane charm to describe where you have come from, and where you are going. This is made easy by Memi due to offering international delivery.

⦁ Your Name is Your Heritage:

Embrace your heritage and highlight your name, your surname, or your initial on your Memi charms with any one of the personalised charms on offer. If you want to pay homage to your heritage by having both your parents or significant figures in your life on a charm, then on offer at Memi is the new Two Piece Heart charm or the Breakable Puzzle charm.

⦁ South African Seas:

South Africa is known for its seas, so why not channel that iconic feature into your South African style. Incorporate some sea-inspired charms with either the Surfboard charm, Starfish charm, or Sea Horse charm. If you are a surfer, these charms will look brilliant as you throw a Shaka sign to your mates.

The only limit to how many charms you can mix and match is the length of your Memi Charm carrier. Owning a variety of charms allows you to change your style as quickly as the weather changes in the Western Cape.

Supporting Local:

What you spend your money on has many powerful implications for yourself, your community, and your country. Understanding this power is critical towards making decisions that have positive repercussions. We have created a list of benefits for supporting local so that you can understand the impact which you can make, and then feel even better about buying your Memi charms!

Benefits of Supporting Local:

There is a wide range of benefits which stem from supporting local which range from the country as a whole to your next-door neighbour.

1) The Bigger Picture:

⦁ The Economy:

Supporting local businesses is in turn supporting your country’s economy. This happens directly by you spending your money with the company of your choice. The economy is also further supported by you supporting local companies as often that small company will make use of other local companies. For example, Memi will ensure your charms are delivered to by using third party courier companies. Your purchase, therefore, supports Memi, the delivery company, and overall, the economy.

⦁ The Environment:

Purchasing products from local businesses means that you are supporting companies right on your doorstep. This has great implications for the environment as there is a smaller carbon footprint due to the proximity of transporting the products. Plus, this means the product will essentially be cheaper due to not involving any importing costs or customs costs. You win, and the environment gets a small breather.

⦁ The Community:

By supporting local businesses you enable them to support the community through creating employment opportunities. A successful business requires a team of hard-working individuals who are dedicated to actualising the dreams of the company. Supporting local businesses also allows them to hire people of the best standard available to them. Memi has a team of experienced goldsmiths who create high-quality jewellery pieces using genuine materials and precious metals. Purchasing your charms from Memi will mean that you are receiving charms held to the highest standard, and also ensuring that everyone who is queuing in the line behind you receives the same high standard.

⦁ Legacy:

Supporting a local business will help cement that business in the history of your community. Allow companies to create a business that will have a generational impact and leave a legacy.

2) Personal Level:

⦁ Dreamers:

Behind every local business is a person or a group of people who started with a dream. The dream which drives Memi is to create jewellery that goes beyond just being another item to fill your jewellery box with; it aims to create jewellery that captures your individuality, experiences, and life journey. This is done by incorporating you into the design process to ensure that the timeless jewellery is unique and within your trends. Not only are you supporting Memi’s dream, but you are also given the opportunity to create your dream charms. This is a win-win situation.

⦁ Competition:

Every local business will have local competitors which they will need to compare themselves to. This is healthy for local businesses as it transpires to the company constantly needing to be innovative and grow. Local businesses will aim to stay relevant and on-trend with what is going on in the local community. This is directly evident in Memi’s charms as their unique and personalised quality will rarely be found in any other mass corporation stores.

⦁ Individuality:

Supporting local businesses allows them to move away from the homogenised trends and create a one-of-a-kind business with products or services unique to the area they are in or to their specialised target market. This not only benefits the company but you as well as you will have a greater product diversity to choose from.

How to Support Local:

⦁ Buy Local Products and Use Local Services:

Now that you know the benefits, you can put them into action through informed purchasing.

⦁ Support Local Online:

We know you are going to love your Memi charms, so why not share a bit of that love online? Upload any photos of you showcasing your Memi charms to Instagram or Facebook and tag Memi in the photo. This helps Memi get the wide coverage it deserves and makes you look like a lekker local.

⦁ Gift Cards:

Gift cards are a great way to help spread the love for your favourite local business to those special in your life. They get to choose exactly what they want, the local business gets supported, and the business’s name gets spread to a wider group of people. Memi allows you to purchase a gift voucher and incorporate a personal message into it. This can then be sent via email or postal mail.

Every choice you make has a consequence, so why not have a positive impact on your local community and South Africa through any one of Memi’s beautiful charms.