Living in Juba can be both exciting and exhausting. It is a big town and, at the same time, a small town, especially when it comes to shopping and discovering new places to find what you need.

At Bargain Bazaar, we have been thinking about the different kinds of shoppers in Juba.

There are those who know the markets. They know exactly where to go in Konyokonyo, Sug Libya, Customs Market, Libya Market and other local markets to find what they need.

Then there are the online shoppers, the patient ones who will sit with their phones and search Google, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp hoping to find someone selling what they need.

And then there is the “I’ll bring everything from home” community.

Because there isn’t enough information online about what is available in Juba, they arrive with suitcases full of things they were told they might not find here. When those supplies run out, they head to supermarkets. If they still can’t find what they need, they go online, place an order, ship it to Juba and pay the extra shipping costs.

But here is what we want to tell you through this week’s Monday Market Update:

Chances are, that thing you are looking for is already available somewhere in Juba.

There is probably a young entrepreneur who has already thought about it, sourced it, imported it and made it available for you.

The problem? You may simply not know where to find them.

Juba is largely a cash economy and, perhaps more importantly, a word-of-mouth economy. If you are looking for something, sometimes your fastest route is simply asking someone:

Do you know anyone who sells this?

And chances are, someone will say: “Yes, I know someone.”

At Bargain Bazaar, we see this every day.

Our vendor community has grown to more than 100 entrepreneurs, and what continues to amaze us is the diversity of products and services they offer. A significant number sell completely different products, even though clothing remains one of the biggest shared categories, partly because of the demand and the limited number of shopping spaces in Juba offering a wide variety of brands.

Some Photos from Our Recent 17th Market Event at Pyramid Hotel, Juba

You might even be surprised to discover how many women-owned businesses in Juba are sourcing and importing popular East African brands and products through established hubs and distributors.

So, the next time you are looking for something in Juba, don’t assume it isn’t here.

Ask around. Search online. Ask us.

Reach out to Bargain Bazaar through our social media platforms or website, and we will do our best to help you find a vendor who sells what you’re looking for.

And now we want to hear from YOU

What’s that ONE thing you’ve been looking for and struggled to find easily in Juba?

And one more question:

Would you be interested in joining a WhatsApp or Telegram channel specifically for consumers where you can discover products, vendors, offers and businesses in Juba?

Let us know!

To all the entrepreneurs who go out of their way to source, import, create and make products available for our city we see you, and we appreciate you.