Category: Advertising Covers

OK Bazaars Ltd

South Africa

On 25 June 1927, Michael Miller and Sam Cohen opened the first OK Bazaars on Eloff and President Streets in Johannesburg. In 1929, OK Bazaars was listed as a public company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. OK Bazaars went on to gain success as a general store throughout South Africa, and became a household name. The company played a role in the labour history of South Africa, as the establishment of this franchise led to competition between stores in small towns throughout the country, for example, where Indian traders had set up general stores.

The inaugural branch was opened at OK First Street Harare (then Salisbury) in 1942 and a second branch in Bulawayo in 1952. A further five outlets had been opened across the country by the end of 1960 including Gwelo, Umtali and Fort Victoria.

In 1978, OK Bazaars was bought by Delta Corporation; the name was changed to OK Zimbabwe in 1994. In 1997, OK Bazaars was bought out by Shoprite Checkers. However, the OK franchise still exists today as a furniture chain store.

Branches

• Bulawayo
• Kitwe
• Salisbury

References

• okziminvestor.com
• sahistory.org.za

Contributors

• Andrew Wilkie
• James Gavin

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Rhodesian Acceptances Limited

Salisbury

Rhodesian Acceptances Limited (RAL) was a credit organisation established in the 1950’s to provide short term capital for the financing of imports and exports and the movement of goods within the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland. It was promoted by Union Acceptances (South Africa) and Lazard Brothers of London.

RAL, now known as RAL Merchant Bank (Zimbabwe) was part of Anglo-America until reorganisation/rationalisation, now in the Nedbank/Old Mutual Group.

References

• The Manufacturing Economy of Southern Rhodesia: Problems and Prospects – Leonard Tow
• Uneven Zimbabwe: A Study of Finance, Development, and Underdevelopment – Patrick Bond

Contributors

• James Gavin

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