Oasis Brands brings creativity and innovation to Finance: Malawi Stock Exchange Magazine’s Redesign

Step into the realm of creativity and innovation as we take you on an extraordinary journey through the redesign of Malawi Stock Exchange’s 7th Edition Magazine. As the first redesign in seven years, we knew that we had to create something that was not only modern and creative but also innovative.

We approached this project with a vision to transform the magazine into an immersive experience that would captivate readers and breathe new life into the financial industry.

Our first step was to immerse ourselves in a world of data and insights. We delved into the magazine’s previous editions and conducted extensive market research to understand the evolving needs and preferences of the target audience. Armed with this knowledge, we embarked on a mission to craft a magazine that would not only resonate with readers but also stand out as a symbol of forward-thinking innovation.

a snapshot of the front and back page covers

To add a touch of magic to the reading experience, we introduced an unprecedented feature: the immersive audio and visual magazine experience. The first ever of its kind in Malawian publications. Recognizing the power of multimedia, we devised a groundbreaking solution that allowed readers to scan a code next to an article, unlocking a harmonious fusion of audio narration and written content. This novel approach not only engaged readers on a deeper level but also catered to diverse learning styles, creating an inclusive experience for all.

We also redesigned the cover and all of the adverts to create a cohesive and visually striking publication. The cover featured bold typography and striking imagery that captured the essence of the Malawi Stock Exchange’s brand. We chose a color palette that was both bold and sophisticated, ensuring that the magazine stood out on the shelves.

“What I like the most about this year’s magazine is the balance it strikes between visual appeal and quality content. It seems to have successfully combined eye-catching design elements  from the front page with well-written articles, creating a magazine that is both visually stimulating and intellectually stimulating.” Said Sean Mwawi Longwe, the Head of Marketing, Business Development and Communications at Ritz Attorneys at Law.

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Our team’s expertise and unwavering commitment to pushing boundaries played a pivotal role in overcoming these challenges. By combining our creative thinking with data-driven insights, we were able to address specific problems and find innovative solutions that delivered exceptional results.

The 7th Edition Magazine of the Malawi Stock Exchange is not just a publication; it is an immersive experience that invites readers to embark on a voyage of discovery in the world of finance.

As we reflect on this transformative journey, we are immensely proud of the final outcome and we also look forward to welcoming you to the Oasis!

Industry Tips with Gift Nkhoma: Three tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Malawi

Starting and running a small business or being an entrepreneur can be a challenging and rewarding experience. It requires a lot of hard work, determination, and strategic thinking to succeed. To help small business owners and entrepreneurs navigate this journey, we sat down with Gift Nkhoma, a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and Lead – Brands and Communications at Airtel Malawi PLC, to discuss his tips and insights on how to succeed in the industry.

In this interview, Gift shares three key tips that he believes are essential for small business owners and entrepreneurs to focus on in order to achieve success. Gift’s advice is sure to provide valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to take their business to the next level.

Here are the three tips I would give to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Malawi.

  1. Lack of clear communication in media assets – Due to budget constraints, small businesses have a lot of information in one advert, to save costs on making the advert and media buying. This proves to be costly in the long run because nobody understands the value proposition when there is so much information in one advert. An example is billboards with multiple lines of services offered, it is advised to have one value proposition (max 3) on any outdoor media. The same thing applies to social media marketing where I see entrepreneurs selling 4 to 10 cars in one post on Facebook, this doesn’t work. Where an ad is difficult to process or understand, social media users simply just scroll down. In this case, posting one car at a time will make sure people read through the specifications of one car at a time.

2. Hiring Family Members in their Business – Again, it goes down to saving costs or compassion towards unemployed family members but it is not advised to recruit family and friends. They start to treat the business as a personal project and take out business capital for personal gains. Where a set of process controls are placed in the structure, this shouldn’t be a problem. Controls in place can include CCTV for retail shops, hiring an independent auditor to give an external assessment, etc.

3. Starting businesses without research – With entrepreneurship recently embedded in most of Malawi university’s curricula and the high unemployment rate, graduates are pressured to invest all their savings to start businesses as a get-rich scheme without proper research of the investment industry. For example, in pig farming, anyone can start a business with limited funding just because they heard it’s a good business – this is true but also not true if you are not well aligned with the industry. People know that pigs multiply a lot in a year but what they do not understand is this depends on feed, breed of the pigs, location of the farm (and weather), and understanding of their reproductive system, etc. It is always best to understand the business industry you are getting into to avoid frustration.

In conclusion, Gift Nkhoma’s tips and insights provide valuable information for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to take their business to the next level. By focusing on building a strong brand, developing a clear marketing strategy, staying organized, and managing finances effectively, you can set your business up for success.

At Oasis Brands, we understand the importance of these tips and that’s why we offer a wide range of services including marketing advisory, design services, and digital marketing to help small businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Our team of experts has the knowledge and experience to help you create a powerful and effective marketing strategy that will help you stand out in the competitive marketplace.

We also encourage you to subscribe to our blog series “Industry Tips” where we speak with leading experts in the marketing and design industry to bring you valuable insights and strategies to take your business to the next level. We believe that this series will help you stay on top of the latest trends and strategies in the industry and will give you the tools you need to succeed.

Thank you for reading our blog post and we look forward to helping you achieve your business goals.

Oasis Brands Founder Ian Khonje inspires Malawi University of Business Students to Entrepreneurship

Speaking at the Future Youth Conference on the 24th of September that was hosted at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences in Blantyre, Ian Khonje (Founder of Oasis Brands) spoke to first and second-year students and encouraged them to take up entrepreneurship as a way to tackle problems in the society.

“Entrepreneurship is the ability to use the resources you have access to solve the problems around you. The difference between the magnittude of the problem you solve and the resources you use is the value you create”

Ian Khonje (2022)
Ian Khonje (F) Posing with the students from the conference

He shared his start-up story from selling lollipops back in secondary school to founding his first business and discussed the importance of building a minimum viable product (MVPs), the power of creative branding, marketing, and positioning, and the power of a positive mindset.

Among others he stated;

  • Never Stop Learning: How business works, How to Innovate, How to Grow, 
  • Association: Surround yourself with like-minded people and people who speak the same language
  • Celebrate every win: 
  • Never Give up
  • Use your environment and campus to your advantage
  • Find a way to combine your studies to your business
Business Student giving her quick pitch of her running business

He made emphasis as to how this is the best time for Malawian youth to be entrepreneurs as the opportunity has never been more prevalent. The Intra African Continental Free Trade Agreement sets out to create a large unified borderless market that will allow Malawians to trade freely with other African markets by 2040, the population of Africa is going to grow over the next 30 years to adding over a Billion people which means the buying middle class is also going to grow to make Africa one of the largest Markets. The Malawian government and organizations are supporting the youth more than ever before through mentorships, grants and funding, sponsorships, and many more.

A glimpse of some of the students at the event

The “Hello Future Conference” is a youth conference that seeks to inspire students in universities to aspire to success, and Oasis brands was happy to take part in this function as it solidifies our belief in the creativity and innovation that exists in the youth of Malawi and Africa at large.