Small business & global shipping advice from DHL Express

As a South African business owner, standing at the crossroads of local ambition and global opportunity, you dream big – selling your products far beyond the familiar streets of Joburg or Cape Town – but then, reality kicks in: customs paperwork, regulations, and delays that can turn the excitement of international trade into something about as appealing as Friday traffic in Sandton.

When a sprinter on the Cape Flats is driven by the south-easterly wind at their back their stride forward is propelled faster than a normal walk in the park. That’s what geographic tailwinds feel like a surge of natural momentum that can turn effort into advantage.

Often, during a sun-drenched Saturday at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, a pop-up sneaker shop opens its doors, and by the time the gates swing wide, there’s already a queue of eager shoppers hoping to snag an exclusive pair before they’re gone.

South Africans know a thing or two about resilience. We’re used to tackling challenges head-on, whether it’s load shedding, drought, or finding ways to move our businesses forward.