By Vicky Sidler | Published 10 June 2025 at 17:00 GMT

Running a small business in South Africa right now feels a bit like trying to play darts during an earthquake—your aim’s solid, but the ground keeps shifting.

And it’s not just you.

According to the latest RMB/BER survey (per Reuters), South Africa’s business confidence index slipped from 45 to 40 points in Q2 2025. That’s a clear sign that business owners across the country are feeling the shake.

What’s Behind the Dip?

Several pressures are stacking up at once:

• Tariff turmoil, driven by U.S. “Liberation Day” import duties, has made global trade harder to predict.

• Logistics bottlenecks—especially at ports and along the freight rail network—are still slowing the movement of goods.

• Political uncertainty from coalition government dynamics continues to rattle the markets.

• Even with a recent repo rate cut to 7.25%, it’s not enough on its own to reignite optimism.

The result? Key sectors like retail, vehicle sales, construction, and manufacturing have all reported confidence drops. The only sector that saw a lift? Wholesale trade—and even that may be temporary.

So, What Do You Do When Confidence Drops?

As a Duct Tape Marketing Strategist and StoryBrand Certified Guide, I help businesses build marketing systems that don’t panic when the news cycle does.

Here’s the truth: you can’t control macroeconomic policy, but you can control your message, your systems, and how you show up for customers.

Confidence isn’t just a national metric—it’s something you create daily in your own business.

Here’s What to Do This Week:

Instead of pausing your plans or waiting for the perfect moment, lean into actions that bring structure and certainty. Here’s how:

1. Review Your Message:

During uncertain times, clarity wins. Does your website and content clearly explain what you do, who it’s for, and how you help? If not, start there.

2. Simplify Your Marketing Plan:

Don’t try to do everything. Choose one channel to double down on this month—LinkedIn, email, or in-person outreach—and do it consistently.

3. Protect Your Energy by Automating One Thing:

Pick one recurring task—like a welcome email or content schedule—and automate it this week. When confidence dips, systems give you a steady hand.

Because Sometimes, the Best You Can Do Is Throw the Dart Anyway:

The national confidence index may be wobbling, but you don’t have to.

Download my free 5-Minute Marketing Fix. It’s a simple, printable tool that helps you write a clear one-liner about your business—so no matter what the economy’s doing, your message hits the mark.

👉 Grab it here.

And if the ground’s still shaking? Well, at least you’re aiming in the right direction.