in this issue - Your Business Magazine

YOUR BUSINESS | June-July 2017 1

IN THIS ISSUE

Inspiration

12 THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR ADVANTAGEBusiness coach and incubator director STEVE REID considers why now is the time for young would-be entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses…

14 FOUR YOUNG ‘TREPS WHO ARE BUILDING THRIVING BUSINESSESIn celebrating Youth Month we turn our attention to the young, vibrant, and charismatic entrepreneurs who prove that age is no barrier to starting and running a successful business.

62 DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS TO REACH YOUR FULL POTENTIALPassion and talent are a serious power couple – and a good indicator of where your strengths lie…

64 HOW TO UP THE ENERGY ANTE IN YOUR BIZEnergetic individuals inspire energy and action in those around them. Here’s how to up your energy (even when you feel like it the least).

72 BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE QUICKLYMany business owners struggle with confidence issues. And self-confidence can be a game changer; the difference between mediocrity and success. But with a plan and a little practice you can up your confidence levels. Here’s how...

BizNews

4 EDITOR’S NOTE

6 FRANCHISING NEWS

8 BIZNEWS Keeping up with the Kandasamys, a local movie set in Chatsworth, Durban, raked in a remarkable R1.6-million at the box office on opening weekend. Your Business chatted to the film’s director, JAYAN MOODLEY, about what went in to making a family comedy that’s got South African audiences filling up seats...

10 AUTONEWSThe future is automatic...

JUNE/JULY 2017

ON THE COVER40KOBUS WIESE, Wiesenhof Coffee/Dulce Café franchisor, shares his recipe for coffee shop success.

56

Strategy and leadership

30 HOT DESK, CO-WORK OR GO IT ALONE? How to pick the right business space for your needs…

56 5 WAYS YOU CAN STEAL CUSTOMERS FROM THE BIG GUYSCan a small upstart like yours really compete with the big players out there?

58 DO YOU KNOW WHY YOUR BUSINESS MATTERSNothing is more important to the fortunes of your business than understanding why it matters. How will you make a difference to a customer’s life? What’s in it for them? What problem will you solve? Everything else follows.

30 FOCUS ON THE MODERN WORKSPACE

TECHNOLOGY THAT BOOSTS BUSINESS

Strategy and leadership

76 HOW TO GET YOUR FOCUS BACKIf you feel like you are losing steam, find out how to regain your focus and become a better leader…

78 BUILD GREAT RELATIONSHIPSHealthy relationships are key not only toworkplace happiness but to productivity too. Here are a few habits and behaviours you should look to cultivate…

80 HOW IMPROVING YOUR PROSPECTING SKILLS WILL DOUBLE YOUR SALESFor most salespeople, prospecting is the most challenging activity they do. They dread the thought of picking up the phone to make a living. No matter what product or service you sell, success in sales is built through effective prospecting. 38 THE KEYS TO SUCCESS

The franchised food sector has seen rapid expansion, according to a recent survey. For those looking to carve a future here,LAURETTE PIENAAR, National Franchise Manager at Nedbank, draws on the experience of Nedbank’s successful franchise clients to shed light on what it takes to own and manage a successful food business.

40 THE TOUGHEST GAME OF ALLKOBUS WIESE shares a little of what it takes to get started in a sector that certainly isn’t for sissies...

42 SNIPPETS: WHAT’S HAPPENING IN FOOD?

44 THE SECRET IS IN THE TASTE Authentic local brands The Fish & Chip Co and Zebro’s have ambitious plans for growth backed by a management group with a proven recipe for success…

46 A-Z OPPORTUNITIES If you are hungry to get started in the food sector, read on for some inspiration, or an opportunity that might just be right for you.

52 AN APPETITE FOR SUCCESSThree foodies share how they took their passion and turned it into a thriving business – and offer some tips on starting up in this dynamic sector.

FOCUS ON

IN THIS ISSUE

18 STARTING A BUSINESS IN THE TECH ERAThe combination of inexpensive technology, solutions that make access to global markets easier, and more funding options than ever before, means it’s a great time to launch your start-up…

20 TOOLS TO DRIVE GROWTHFor growth-stage companies, the focus moves to professionalising the processes used in running the business. Even the most tedious and challenging processes can be made easy and convenient.

22 HERE’S HOW WE DO ITBEVERLEY HOUSTON shares insights on the tech tools that allow her and her team to work remotely.

26 TECH DIRECTORYRead on for solutions that can help you boost your business.

64

THE FOOD SECTOR

38

2 YOUR BUSINESS | June-July 2017


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PUBLISHED BY INFOCUS PUBLISHING Tel: 021 409 7939 , Fax: 086 687 7519, Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, 7915

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DISCLAIMER: This publication is provided with the explicit understanding that neither the publisher, its employees, agents, nor respective contributors are rendering any legal, financial, investment or other professional advice or services. Questions relevant to those areas should be addressed to competent members of the respective professions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the content of this publication but should seek professional legal advice where necessary. The information provided in this publication as-is, without any warrantee or representations by the publisher and the publisher, its employees, agents or contributors accept no responsibility for any loss or damage caused in whatsoever way by the reader's reliance on any information contained in this publication.

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BUSINESS FINDER An ever-expanding, constantly updated directory gives you lots of investment options to choose from.

Steve Reid, director of False Bay College’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, has coached nearly 200 business owners in his career, and has found it clear that the “field of dreams” is tilted in favour of young people when it comes to the journey of entrepreneurship. In The Young Entrepreneur Advantage on page 12, he delves into some of these reasons why, including the natural energy and drive of those on the younger age spectrum, the fact that they’ve often got less responsibility and more flexibility, as well as the funding choices that are available for aspiring young business owners.

As June is Youth Month, we take a moment to celebrate those who’ve chosen entrepreneurship as a first career choice, and who are contributing to our economy through following their passion for everything from vegetable farming to online sales. We hope they give you the inspiration you need to start the business you’ve been dreaming of – or to keep going with what you’ve already started.

One of the young ‘treps we interviewed said that as a millennial, she’s at a huge advantage in business as she “gets” technology and the benefits it can bring her own business – she built her own website and has harnessed social media as her primary marketing tool. If that sounds a bit daunting to you, the good news is that we’ve distilled all the tech tools you need to grow your business – check out our articles on pages 16 to 29.

We’re also focusing on the food industry in this issue, with each “foodie” we featured expressing the view that it’s undoubtedly the toughest sector to be in; although with the right level of passion and dedication, it can deliver unbeatable rewards. See what Wiesenhof/Dulcé Café’s Kobus Wiese has to say (p40) as well as local celebrity Chef Nti and others (p52) and then be sure to browse our franchise and business opportunity finder to find something that whets your appetite.

As always, we look forward to your feedback, and hope that you enjoy the read.

Until next time Nicole Cameron and the Your Business team

FROM THE TEAM

online news | www.bizmag.co.za


bizFranchising

Every second of every day, across the world, people going about their business will have the “franchise experience”. Whether they’re picking up a take-out coffee; sending a parcel to a friend overseas; going to the gym or having a facial; getting a car service; shopping at a local supermarket or having dinner at the latest gourmet restaurant, chances are that most of these establishments are franchises.

The Franchise Business Festival – in its new format and new venue at the Kyalami Grand Prix, Exhibitions & Convention Centre from June 30 to July 2, 2017, will showcase just that – visitors to this exciting new franchise exhibition will be able to experience, in real time, exactly why and how franchising has become part of everyday life. Get a chance to taste some fast food treats,

let the kids experience the activities in an educational or sporting environment, meet celebrities and listen to live music. On the business and franchise front, see exactly what gets done to your car in a fitment centre and for the ladies, why not get your nails done at one of the franchised beauty salons? And then ask if you can yourself owning one of these franchises and being your own boss?

If you need start-up capital to help fund your dream franchise business, then visit the OK

Franchise stand, enter their competition and you could win R200 000 in cash towards buying a franchise with additional funding support from Absa.

If you are already in business and are looking for new premises, take advantage of the FBF’s networking event where letting agents and developer members of the Shopping Centre Council of South Africa will be on hand to network with business owners on opportunities in retail properties. This takes

place on Friday, June 30, at the Franchise Business Festival at the Kyalami Race Track Exhibition Centre.

For those wanting to learn more about the franchise business format, why not attend FASA’s Franchise Convention taking place at the Kyalami Conference Centre on Thursday, June 29, from 8am to 4.30pm and learn all about the challenges and successes of franchising. Franchisor stalwarts will be talking about their successful brands in various breakaway sessions that cover everything from funding to operations; and from marketing to technology. Cost is R2290 ex VAT. To book, email: [email protected].

For tickets to the FBF, book now at www.itickets.co.za or for more information visit: www.franchisebusinessfestival.co.za.

FRANCHISING: A lifestyle choice and not just a business format Put the Franchise Business Festival on your calendar...

Looking back at 48 years of

franchising and business success. A truly family-run business

that is still growing

today, Jawitz Properties is an

example of what it takes to keep a business

and franchise model running successfully for nearly five decades.

Reasons to CELEBRATEFounded by Eskel Jawitz, and today headed by his son Herschel, the brand is represented nationally, comprising of 61 offices – seven of which are company-owned, the rest are franchises. They also have an office in Mauritius. What inspired Jawitz, then a medical rep, to start a property business? It was his very own experience looking to become a homeowner. When Jawitz and his wife were ready to buy their first property, they encountered an estate agent who made them feel inferior about their budget, even asking them if it was really all they could afford. Jawitz realised right then and there that he never wanted to feel that way

again, or for anyone to have to feel that way, and Jawitz Properties was born.

Kauai turns 21 years young. Kauai has been providing South Africa with healthy casual dining products now for 21 years. Today the group has over 150 outlets across South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with around 50% in the hands of hard working franchisees. The group is experiencing its best sales growth ever and is therefore searching for dedicated franchisees to become part of the Kauai family by offering them either existing stores with a sales history (both corporate and franchise) as well as new stores.

online news | www.bizmag.co.za


bizInspiration

Keeping up with the Kandasamys, a local movie set in Chatsworth, Durban, raked in a remarkable R1.6-million at the box office on opening weekend. We chatted to the film’s director, Jayan Moodley, about what went in to making a family comedy that’s got South African audiences filling up seats...

How did Keeping up with the Kandasamys develop from initial idea into box office hit? The idea and story developed over a few years; we knew we wanted to do something different and fresh and we knew it had to have comedy as its centre. But more than that, and this is what I believe has made it successful, it had to be comedy with heart. So we were chartering new ground as the South African cinema scene does not offer much in the way of family comedy and we were keen to pave the way for more films of this genre. When we saw a callout for proposals by Junaid Ahmed we seized the opportunity and so began the journey.

What are some of the challenges of making movies?A significant challenge any South African film maker faces is trying to produce a movie on a very limited budget. How did we overcome it? We made a plan. We went ahead and shot with a small to medium-sized crew where everyone worked with amazing dedication, pulling the hours day in and day out. It really is fantastic to see the calibre of the crew we have in this country, everyone is very hard working and so true to their jobs. It’s little wonder the rest of the world have taken notice and choose to shoot their films here.

What advice would you give to aspiring film makers?It’s tough, really tough. It’s an industry that takes you on so many journeys all at once; you need to keep the passion and tell your stories, but at the same time bear in mind that making a film that gives a sense of inner fulfillment does not always work at the box office. In order to build a cinema-going audience in South Africa we

need to really listen to our audiences and understand what they are looking for and then accommodate that into our narratives. We could not have achieved our outcome without a great deal of collaboration with various partners – so be prepared to work tirelessly to form these relationships. Special thanks from our side must go to the National Film and Video Foundation, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission, Mnet, the DTI and BMW Supertech, who came on as a corporate partner, something we do not always have in film in SA.

What’s next for you? We do have one new movie in the pipeline. It was selected for the Durban Film Mart last year and we have just received development funding so it’s back to writing very soon. We’re also going into a documentary later this year commissioned by the SABC entitled The Hindu Woman. More importantly, it’s time for the evaluation process to take centre stage and work out how we can best serve the industry in our province.

Making MONEY making MOVIESDirector Jayan Moodley with the cast of Keeping up with the Kandasamys.

Q

QQ

Q


“Out of the gate, we saw that the SME market has a far broader set of financial needs than just accepting card payments,” says Matt Putman. And, the more the trio mulled over the needs of the sector, the clearer it became that iKhokha (www.ikhokha.com) was perfectly positioned to meet this need in an innovative way.

“We challenged ourselves to try to identify additional products that would be useful to our customers,” says Putman. “In the financial services space, we saw that SMEs were either paying too much for products or didn’t have access to those available to bigger companies.” Their focus then turned to developing additional products that could be delivered through the iKhokha mobile app in an easy to understand manner and at a fair price.

Revolutionising solutions First up came a cash advance product in 2016. Merchants using the iKhokha device and platforms are offered unsecured cash advance loans based on their trading histories. The offer is customised to the client and the capital cost is capped upfront, at a

percentage of the capital amount taken - it does not increase irrespective of how long it takes to pay back. iKhokha automatically deducts a fixed percentage on each processed card transaction, so the merchant’s repayments are linked to their monthly business performance.

Next up, the pair is looking to extend their payment offering from the physical to the online shopping environment. “The physical card channel is not the only place where SMEs need an affordable, simple and easy to access payment platform – and our goal is to develop a full omnichannel product offering and analytics as their businesses move from physical to online,” says Putman.

These developments are just the tip of the iceberg for the dynamic duo of Putman Jnr and Daly, who have a vision of positioning iKhokha as a financial services provider for SMEs. “We ultimately want to offer our SME customers all the key financial products they need to run and grow their businesses,” explains Putman. Watch this space!

These INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURS are helping to reshape the payment game…

How do you make physical card payments easy to process for SME retailers, no matter their size or location? This was the puzzle father and son MATT and CLIVE PUTMAN and RAMSAY DALY set out to solve when launching iKhokha in 2012. With this done, they realised that the initial puzzle was in fact bigger than they had envisaged…

Matt Putman

Ramsay Daly

Clive Putman

autoNews online news | www.bizmag.co.za


AUTOMATIC future

With every recent new generation model range huge leaps in technology have been made. The result is that the cars coming to market now are the last of the traditional vehicles we have come to know and love the last 100 years. By 2025 (that is the next generation for many models) almost all new cars will have sophisticated driver aids and use new technology engines.

Ford is one of the pioneers of this evolution. The bread and butter Ranger bakkie range and its sibling the Everest SUV are proof of this. Even they are now offered with smaller advanced 2.2-litre turbodiesels coupled to automatic gearboxes and boasting advanced park

and cruise assist, cameras, stability control and SYNC®3 with Navigation as standard, rear camera and PDC included on XLS XLT and Limited models.

Ford’s SYNC®3 with Navigation infotainment system has fully featured embedded navigation plus voice recognition that uses simple, real-world voice commands. The system offers the benefits of smartphone integration provided through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and periodic over-the-air software updates for SYNC®3 can be downloaded via Wi-Fi.

Sophisticated technologies fitted to most Everest and Ranger models include

Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) with Traction Control, Hill Launch Assist and Trailer Sway Control, Adaptive Cruise Control with Heads Up Display, Forward Alert, Collision Mitigation and Distance Alert. Hands-free parallel or perpendicular parking manoeuvres can be done with Active Park Assist, while the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert informs drivers when there is a vehicle in their blind spot while driving or when preparing to reverse out of parking spots. We are talking about bakkies and bakkie-based SUVs here. The next step is a type of autopilot as all the building blocks have been put in place.

The other side of this development has to do with engines and gearboxes. It was completely unheard of to marry an automatic transmission to a smaller diesel engine even five years ago, especially in a 4x4 model. Now it is rapidly becoming the norm. I predict getting a manual transmission will cost you extra by 2020.

So, how does all this translate to the on the road experience? Very well. I have driven both the Ranger and Everest in 2.2 automatic guise and found them easy to handle in town and a pleasure on the open road. Yes, but what about off-road, you may ask? They are very capable in 4x4 mode off the beaten track even without aids, but Ford is introducing what they call their Terrain Management System across the range that has four driving modes: Normal, Mud, Sand and Rock Crawl.

What is next? Well several manufacturers are developing hydrogen based vehicles and many more are looking to pure electric cars or hybrids so expect the next generation to be very different under the skin. Some will even take you home, automatically.

The Ranger 2.2 TDCi XLT Auto 4x2 we drove costs R485 900, and the Everest 2.2 TDCi XLT 6AT 4X2 is R495 500. Take your pick, bakkie or SUV. Both are great modern cars.

We see more automation and autonomous driving cars in your future…

Ranger

Everest


The Kwid has three selling points: It looks good, it is cheap and it has a nifty touchscreen, more of which, later. There are a few suspect aspects though – like safety and build quality – that let the Kwid down.

I like the pseudo SUV styling with the practical 180mm ride height and the slightly aggressive nose treatment, so the exterior passes the test. The interior is quite pleasant and looks fairly good, particularly the dash and instrumentation. The Kwid may be a real budget car but it does offer air-conditioning and an infotainment system, and ample storage space scattered around the cabin.

Altitude will sap the normally aspirated three-cylinder 999cc engine pushing out 50kW and just 91Nm at 4 250rpm. It is clearly a town car. I got about 6.3L/100km on my usual route consisting of a mix of town driving and highway, so the

tiny 28L tank could take you around 500km. Renault claims 4.71L/100 km is possible.

There is no option of an automatic transmission, but the clutch and gears are easy to use, which is a good thing because you need to use them a lot. The steering is fine at low speeds but gets very vague at speed. It tilts quite markedly around corners, but I think tiny 13-inch wheels may be partly to blame. In short, this is not a car for the highway, particularly when the wind is blowing, or you have three passengers with you.

Renault offers you a one-star safety rating (the minimum allowed) and a five-year/ 150 000km mechanical warranty. The cheaper Expression1.0-litre SCe costs R 124 900, but we recommend the R134 900 Dynamique, which we tested, because of the MediaNav and much prettier interior.

Wallace du Plessis is the epitome of a petrol head. He also has a passion for small business and helping them turn their dreams into a reality. He has managed SME publications, worked in TV and now writes for the web and Your Business magazine.

There’s a new AUDI on the blockThe changes are not immediately noticeable, but they’re there... You probably won’t notice much of a difference just looking at it, but Audi has incrementally improved and developed its A3 into a quite sublime package. The new Audi A3 comes as a three-door Hatchback, a five-door Sportback, Sedan or as a Cabriolet. We tested the A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI S tronic.

The exterior is almost perfectly in balance, from the redesigned grille to the newly contoured rear diffuser. It is really pleasing to the eye. And on the inside it is classy and exudes quality. The main element is the instrument binnacle directly in front of the driver, which has a virtual cockpit display adding to the car’s upmarket feel. The display replaces the dials with a digital screen that, in addition to speed and revs, can show everything from fuel economy to satnav maps depending on what the driver selects to display. The pop-up 7-inch display screen is positioned high in the middle of the dash making it easy to glance at while driving and drops down into dash when not needed.

There are three petrol and one diesel engine to choose from and either manual or 7-speed S tronic transmission. I would recommend the Sportback1.4TFSI S tronic at R438 000. I got a long-term average fuel consumption of 8.9L/100km, which is a little more than the 5.9L claimed by Audi, and I must add I did not drive the car aggressively.

The A3 Sportback is very much a driver’s car. It is worth the premium price if you love driving for pleasure. The A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI S tronic costs R525 000 as tested, which included a few extras like a sunroof, S line trim and metallic paint. Prices for the A3 Sportback start at R398 500 for the 1.0T FSI to R646 000 for the S3 Sportback quattro S tronic. The base price of the car we tested, without the extras is R455 000. The standard warranty is two years with unlimited mileage and the service plan is the five-year/100 000km Audi Freeway Plan.

Does this little RUN-AROUND make the grade?

We put Renault’s Kwid Dynamique to the test…

Renault Kwid Dynamique

Audi A3


Having worked with and coached nearly 200 entrepreneurs and business owners over the past 15 years, it’s clear that the “field of dreams” is tilted in favour of young people when it comes to entering the journey of entrepreneurship. Here are seven reasons why young people in South Africa should consider entrepreneurship:

The stats are in your favourYoung people fall into the category with the highest entrepreneurial activity. New research has shown that half the world’s entrepreneurs are between ages 25 and 44. Entrepreneurial activity was highest among 25- to 34-year-olds in all geographic regions, according to the study. The activity of entrepreneurs across age groups, however, varied greatly depending on where they lived.

Examining social entrepreneurship activity by age shows that the 25- to 34-year-old age group is most active in trying to start social enterprises, with 18- to 24-year-olds also quite involved. South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates

in the world, particularly in the youth segment, and jobs are also scarce within the formal sector.

These realities, instead of being discouraging, should cause us to refocus on entrepreneurship as a viable, first career choice. It was Jack Welch, CEO of General Electric who quipped: “Control your own destiny, or someone else will.”

The drivers of the South African economy are quietly shouting for youOur economy is decidedly unhealthy with poor growth rates; ongoing political instability and rampant unemployment rates just three of the factors impacting it. Government has targeted a lofty target of producing 11 million jobs by 2030. It is also true that the formal economy will not be the greatest provider of these jobs, but rather SMME’s. Another way of looking at this target is the creation of one million growth entrepreneurs and their businesses over the next 13 years. Local and national government is seeking

The YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR advantage

Business coach and incubator director STEVE REID considers why now is the time for young would-be entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses…

INSPIRATION


Remember too, that if you truly love what you do and are genuinely passionate about your offering, your energy levels tend to match the demand of the pace required.

You are flexibleYoung people demonstrate quick adaptation to advances in technology. It appears as if the cautiousness towards “new things” that older people may have is less of a hindrance. In a similar way, young people entering a field are more prone to test the limits and boundaries, and not necessarily accept that things can’t be done.

The story of “Dry Bath”, created by Ludwick Marishane is an apt example. As an 18-year-old in Limpopo, he was confronted by an opportunity to create an alternative to bathing. Although it may have seemed an unlikely idea, his research uncovered the value of such a product in the health industry in Africa. He was recognised as the best student entrepreneur in the world; the first African to receive this accolade. Perhaps your innovative idea may be worthy of this award, as you start and scale up your business. As Albert Einstein commented: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

June is Youth Month, and it is my hope that one if not all of these seven points will provide the encouragement you need to begin your journey and start your own business.

Steve Reid has been involved in business coaching for the past 15 years with four years dedicated to the establishment of a successful business incubator in Port Elizabeth. He opened a Centre for Entrepreneurship for False Bay College in 2015; with a Rapid Incubator Hub launched in 2016.

The YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR advantage

to pave the way for future entrepreneurs through addressing cumbersome policy, facilitating more accurate public spend through use of local SMME’s and by supporting the creation of accelerators and incubators.

Corporates and mid-sized companies are also helping through making access to their enterprise and supplier development easier for SMMEs. There is a lot of good will backed up with real support for the aspiring youth entrepreneur.

You can address real challenges The National Planning Commission was formed in April 2010 under the chairmanship of Trevor Manuel. Their first report focuses on the social, political and economic challenges facing the country. They have come up with viable recommendations, and it is hoped that its implementation will adequately and realistically address these challenges.

According to the Commission there are nine key social, political and economic challenges facing South Africa. These include unemployment; poor infrastructure; corruption; poor use of natural resources. Whilst these are serious challenges and problems facing our country, they simultaneously represent very real opportunities for the budding entrepreneur who thinks of solving a national/provincial challenge in a unique way. For example, the Western Cape is in the grip of one of the worst droughts ever, and stage three water restrictions are in place. This challenge impacts every person in the province and so innovative solutions have the possibility of impacting the quality of life of over four million people. It was Thomas Edison who spoke of seeing and taking opportunities in this way: “Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

The funding is thereYoung aspiring entrepreneurs often cite lack of finance as a challenge to starting their business. This is sometimes simply not the constraint they are facing, but it is perceived as important. It may be for a number of other reasons like, not identifying the market; wanting to start an undifferentiated business or even no “secret sauce” about their business.

To those who genuinely have finances as a constraint, the good news is that should you have a viable idea and a robust business model, the likelihood of support increases substantially. A powerful, free funding website (www.finfindeasy.co.za) has been created to assist with locating the most appropriate funding for the entrepreneur. It simultaneously also assists with assessing the financial literacy of the applicant and then “streams” the enquiry to appropriate funders in the area. At the last count there were 326 finance options available.

You have less to loseOne of the biggest deterrents to committing oneself to the entrepreneurial journey is the concern about how you will be able to pay the bills. If you have been employed for five to 10 years or more, this may have seen you entering into long term commitments. The uncertainty of income within a start-up and the risks associated with it may be so prevalent that it halts further movement.

In contrast, those in the youth category generally have less responsibility pressures than their older counterparts. The upside? You are likely used to a “tight belt” mentality and have less to lose than your older counterparts. As Roman statesman Seneca said: “It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.”

You have more energy than the duracell bunnyHaving observed my own children growing into adulthood and starting their own businesses, I’ve witnessed first-hand just how much energy is required in a highly competitive environment. My son is an international travel photographer, and I accompanied him in Edinburgh and Glasgow on a photo shoot. My intention was to assist where I could; but the length of his daily activities soon exhausted my best intentions. He displayed energy levels I had forgotten about. It takes considerable energy to start and grow your business.

Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.Thomas Edison


Meet four young ‘treps who are building thriving businesses

In celebrating Youth Month we turn our attention to the young, vibrant, and charismatic entrepreneurs who prove that age is no barrier to starting and running a successful business. Here they share a few tips for other young entrepreneurs looking to blaze their own trails…

TECH FOR THE FUTURE

Naledi Mhlongo

INSPIRATION

24-year-old NALEDI MHLONGO co-founded NEPTECH in May last year, with the vision of owning a social enterprise that gives every South African child an opportunity to have equal, quality education. She believes that information technology is the key and the company partners with academic institutions to provide these solutions. She is part of the “AccelerateHer” programme organised by the Seed Academy, WDB Investment Holdings and Shell Downstream South Africa.

THAT FIRST CUSTOMER. We have met most of our prospective partners at networking functions, through word-of-mouth and cold calling. We have a niche market to target and our services are B2B and B2G. We are currently piloting a project with a JSE listed company at a primary school in Gauteng, which they have adopted and have been supporting through conventional food and blanket donations etc. They are now ready to increase their social investment, looking at a more sustainable and real-impact solution, and that is where we come in.

FROM FUNDING TO BOOTSTRAPPING. Our biggest challenge, like most SMEs, has been cash flow. After registering our business our focus for the first few months was fund-raising, by means of approaching SOEs (state-owned enterprises), family and

VCs (venture capitalists). We soon learnt that people and institutions are more willing to invest in businesses which have traction. We’ve since shifted our focus from acquiring capital to acquiring clients. Clients will bring the cash-flow, and grow our credibility simultaneously. In the interim we have been bootstrapping, which is a very tough challenge on its own. However, we are driven by our company’s vision, and that is the fuel that pushes us on. I have found running my own business very liberating – it tests me every day, and every day I am learning new lessons.

GOING FOR GOLD. We feel that the Edutech space is a gold mine waiting to be explored. The benefits of exploiting this space is the upliftment of millions of disadvantaged young South Africans, and ultimately securing the economic future of our country. Our short-term focus as a business is signing more partnership agreements with corporates and supporting the State. We are aiming to achieve our target of rolling out our educational software and having 10,000 learner and teacher users registered by end of 2018. Being so deeply passionate about NEPTECH’s long-term vision gives a strong sense of purpose and a reason to get out of bed!


NATASHA MARX, 22, has always had a love for fashion and beautiful brands, and in high school started collecting business cards from small local stores. With some work experience under her belt, and her business model in her head, she launched Savellistore.com to bring an array of amazing brands closer to consumers.

TIME ON MY SIDE. Being a young entrepreneur means that I have more time to make mistakes and grow. As a millennial, I’m at a huge advantage as I “get” technology and understand the benefits it can bring to my business. I also don’t need to outsource any web-related work since I understand how to build a website on my own. The only marketing I’ve done so far is through social media, and being able to fully harness its power has helped establish the store’s online presence.

IT’S YOUR OWN RACE. I knew that going into this venture was going to be tricky for two reasons; firstly the massive companies like Spree and Superbalist doing the exact same thing, and secondly the lack of trust in online shopping in South Africa. But I strongly

believe that everyone is in their own race, and if you think about it there will always be someone doing something very similar to you but at the end of the day it’s passion and attention to detail that will set you apart from your competition. Right now we market and support small local brands and our international brands are all about 20% cheaper than they are in retail outlets. Part of our business plan is to start manufacturing our own collections, and that will end up being our competitive edge in the future.

WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE. Owning your own business is not as easy as it looks and you can quickly burn your fingers. It’s not just about being your own boss and making money – in fact most of your money goes back into the business so you’d probably earn more in a corporate job, at least initially. It takes drive and a lot of discipline. That said, I would strongly recommend it – find what you love and stick to what you know, that’s the best way to stay motivated. We as young entrepreneurs need to understand that we’re in the position to employ, educate and shape the future of our country. The future is ours.

FOR THE LOVE OF FASHION

At the beginning of this year, 25 year-old RENIER BAARD’S dream of launching a craft beer to the market became a reality. Hailing from Upington, Northern Cape, Baard saw the opportunity to create a fine beer that would quench even the heaviest of thirsts in the hot desert terrain – and so Kalahari Craft Beer was born.

THE BREW THAT GREW. I knew from a young age that I wanted to start my own business but I didn’t know what shape or form it would take. After studying viticulture, I worked as a winemaker. Unlike grapes and wine, making beer isn’t seasonal so you’re able to learn and grow throughout the year, and so I started brewing on a small scale. It took me about a year to convince my father, my funder, that this could actually be a profitable business and not just a hobby.

UPINGTON AND BEYOND. The product range, currently a portfolio of two beers – the Gemsbok Lager and Puff Adder Weiss – has been well received in restaurants and well-known lodges in the area, and customers in other regions are also ordering directly from me for delivery. Social media has been our number one marketing tool and is the quickest way to spread the word and reach a large target audience. We’re also very excited to announce that we’re in the process of launching our third craft beer into our range of beers – it will be called the Meerkat IPA and I’m confident that customers are going to love it.

DON’T GO IT ALONE. As a young entrepreneur it’s important to realise you don’t know everything you need to know about business, and often you’ll face a constant stream of new challenges with no frame of reference on how to solve them. I’ve learnt to surround myself with people who lend support as well as business experts who I can learn from on a daily basis and this makes all the difference.

Renier Baard

SUCCESS ON TAP

Natasha Marx


I’ve realised that the biggest part of building a successful business is to not hesitate to ask for help. Having mentors who provide practical advice as well as emotional support is invaluable.

YANDISA LANGA was working as a security guard in Noordhoek Farm Village, Cape Town, when he noticed the restaurant owners driving out daily to collect their fresh produce. Seeing a gap in the market to deliver to their needs, he enrolled in an 18-month agricultural training programme to perfect his tunnel farming skills. Today Langa Fresh Produce Farming has two plots growing everything from tomatoes and onions through to brinjals and kale, and a host of customers in the hospitality industry who rely daily on his harvest.

UNIQUE SELLING POINT. What brought me my first customer was being able to solve their logistical challenge of ordering and collecting tomatoes from areas as far as 30km away – I started to grow them within a 5km radius and this proximity will remain my business’s unique selling point. At the moment I am busy securing a third plot on the premises of Pollsmoor Prison, which will position me closer to the many restaurants in Tokai and Steenberg that I’d like to add to my customer base.

THE VALUE OF SUPPORT. I’ve realised that the biggest part of building a successful business is to not hesitate to ask for help. My first leap of faith was pitching my idea to an organisation called Living Hope, opposite Masiphumele, which enabled me to get the start-up capital I needed to start growing. My business is also incubated with the Centre for Entrepreneurship at False Bay College, and having mentors who provide practical advice (for example showing you how to be disciplined about your finances and re-invest once you start earning a profit), as well as emotional support (helping to overcome the fear of failure and build confidence to establish trust with customers) has been invaluable.

BE RESILIENT. There have been so many times when I’ve been ready to throw in

GROWING AN

the towel. Most recently, I had all my tools stolen and the thieves left the gate to the plot open and the baboons got in and ate all my crops. This is devastating for a farmer, but I’ve learnt I have to stand up, dust myself off and just keep going. Our country really needs us as young entrepreneurs to be strong and not play the blame game about what disadvantages we may have had in the past, but rather look around us at the opportunities we have to build a future together.

Yandisa Langa

OPPORTUNITY

Technology that boosts businessFOCUS ON

More and more people are saying goodbye to the safety of their nine-to-five jobs and taking on the risk of going it alone. Whether it’s a new disruptive Fintech start-up or a local, on-demand flower delivery service; small- to medium-sized businesses are on the increase and driving the domestic economy. New and emerging technologies are among the key reasons that this is happening. Lower barriers to entry Advances in technology have significantly lowered the barriers to entry for entrepreneurs. Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) business models allow entrepreneurs to start and grow their

business without needing to dish out loads of start-up capital for traditional business software. Lower start-up costs mean you need less money to get your company off the ground. More importantly, it also means you can reach profitability faster and start financing your efforts with your own cash flow. A few of my favourite SaaS enterprise applications to consider for your start-up are Slack, Trello, Salesforce and Intercom. These applications are particularly helpful, as they are inexpensive, some offerings even free, and extremely scalable. Successful local start-ups have grown exponentially making use of these scalable SaaS offerings.

Access to a global marketWith the advent of the internet, and the ever-growing power of Facebook and other social media platforms, entrepreneurs have direct access to a global marketplace. This means you can reach a potential client base that spans the globe. Social media management systems such as Hootsuite and Buffer are great ways to streamline and effectively manage your social media send outs. Local e-commerce platform, Shopify.co.za has also been incredibly successful in empowering South African start-ups – whether it’s selling their products online, on social media, in store, or out of the trunk of their car.

The combination of inexpensive technology, solutions that make access to global markets easier, and more funding options than ever before, means it’s a great time to launch your start-up…

Colin Thornton, Dial a Nerd CEO, shares some of the most effective technology tools and platforms on offer for SMEs at the moment…

Big DaysBig Days allows you to easily

track events. It has a built in

countdown so you know how much time you have to get that birthday present for your significant other, purchase an outfit for a work function or study for your MBA. It also reminds you to take a break when your schedule gets too frenetic.

TEDTED is a well-known and well-

loved content platform that

educates and enlightens people with diverse bits of knowledge gathered from all over the world. The best part is that anyone with an Internet connection can access TED Talks online… and for free. This veritable treasure trove can provide much needed inspiration and motivation for business leaders mired in their daily struggle. Next time you need a break for your brain try watching a TED talk.

WunderlistIn today’s fast-paced world,

many of us get by with lists. As the day

goes by, our task list just increases and sometimes we forget where the list is or keep different versions lying around. Wunderlist seamlessly works with you and helps you to better organise your working days. You can categorise, star and set due dates for certain tasks. Its functionality is so simple that you need not waste time scribbling a million post-its (and losing half of them in the process).

MUST-HAVEAPPS

TECH ERA

Starting a business in the



No matter what products or services you are selling or how niche your offering is, your market research, promotion and brand presence can reach a market that would have been inaccessible to small or medium-sized businesses not so long ago. More funding options than ever beforeAccess to funding has always been a barrier to entry and it certainly remains one of the major problems entrepreneurs face. The barrier is now, however, lower. More and more individual investors and large corporations in South Africa are entering the venture capital arena and

are looking to fund the next big idea. Crowdfunding (the use of online platforms to raise money for business ventures from a large base of investors) has also taken up a spot in the funding landscape and has been steadily gaining traction in South Africa over the past decade. Entrepreneurs have access to investors across the world that they would have otherwise never met. To get in on the action, you have to find a suitable and relevant crowdfunding platform and create the project that needs funding. Make sure you clearly communicate your vision, goal and the public incentive for funding the project. A well-known South African rock band recently even raised over a million rand in less than a month to fund the release of their next album. Crowdfunding could be a very useful and powerful tool in your funding journey. For more info on crowdfunding options that would suit your specific business, check out Candystick.co.za, Thundafund.com and Jumpstarter.co.za. If you’re thinking about starting a business, yet you want to wait for the perfect circumstances, think again. If you’re holding out for “perfect”, you may be waiting a long time – if not forever. From where I’m sitting, there really has never been a better time to be a business owner. So, what are you waiting for?

Jack O’Reilly is a commercial law associate at Dommisse Attorneys and forms part of the start-up law team.

AvocadoWhen running a business, we

too often neglect our significant other

and his needs. To help you avoid this neglect, this tool allows you to have your own personal chat app. With a smart twist, Avocado syncs both of your calendars so that you can see each other’s schedules and find a perfect time for date night. You can also send your location to your partner to let him know where you are – and it notifies you when your partner’s phone is running low on battery. Talk about Corporate Cupid’s saving grace.



UberWe don’t really need to tell you much about this

app (or do we?)… Despite some sketchy PR gaffes

and lawsuits hanging over the company, it’s becoming an essential app for every business owner and professional. What you may not know is that companies are increasingly using it as a short distance courier and food delivery service. Due to the trackability and security, Uber is incredibly efficient and fail-safe. Now available in 555 cities, it’s also replacing car rentals as the de facto foreign transport option.

SchemesIn the hustle and bustle of running a business,

one often forgets to show appreciation or to send a

simple birthday message to a colleague or customer. Wonderfully, Schemes not only reminds you of events, but also sends out scheduled messages via SMS, Facebook, Twitter or Gmail. You can also set a time and a date to send your team a reminder that a deadline is coming up or that they need to prepare something for the next team-building session.

F.luxDuring the day, our computer screens

look good – they’re designed to look like the

sun. However, at 9PM, 10PM, or 3AM, you probably shouldn’t be looking at the sun. It’s disruptive for your sleep, and probably not great for stress levels. That’s where F.lux comes in – it makes the screen of your computer, smart phone or tablet adapt to the time of day. Healthy screen = healthy eyes (and healthy life).

But, where do you start when looking around to find the right technology to grow your business? Here are five ways we think you should be using technology to spur growth:

MANAGE YOUR PROJECTSSuccessfully managing clients and projects relies on having the right systems in place to keep track of what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. In the early days of your start-up, a simple manual or paper-based system may have done the trick, but as you grow an online project management tool will be very useful. These systems allow you to schedule your workload, create To Do lists and add calendar features. These features are all aimed at helping you run your business and individual

projects efficiently and conveniently. AUTOMATE WHERE YOU CANBy automating what you can, you will free yourself – and your team – up to focus on working on your business as opposed to in it. The level of automation available to your business will depend on a number of factors, including what industry you are in. But consider looking at your bookkeeping system, CRM system, marketing tools, etc. as a start. And, if you notice there are specific tasks that you repeat again and again, these are probably the one’s you should look to automate. For example, if you invite people to subscribe to a newsletter via your website, you should look for an application that allows you to

Tools to drive BUSINESS GROWTHFor growth-stage companies, the focus moves to professionalising the processes used in running the business. This additional structure, often lacking in the start-up phase, is made all the more easy by the range of technology solutions on offer today. Even the most tedious and challenging processes can be made easy and convenient.

MUST-HAVEAPPS


automatically send them a thank-you email. Generating and composing emails each time reduces productivity and profitability in general. MAKE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA If your customers are using social media, you need to be doing so too. It’s an efficient – and inexpensive – way to reach your target audience, expand your existing marketing techniques, and find new leads or markets for your product or service.. COMMUNICATE EASILYOngoing innovation means that no matter your location, you can

communicate with clients and team members “face to face”. And these videoconferencing tools are only getting better with time. Skype and Google Hangouts are among the best known, but there are many others. These tools allow you to collaborate on documents and files while at a remote location. And, of course, will save you money as there is no need to now travel to client’s office to get the task done. LEVERAGE THE CLOUD Cloud-based systems are a key tool for growth-focused businesses. In a 2014 Deloitte study “How the cloud enables rapid growth in SMEs”, it was found that businesses using cloud technology to overcome their

growth challenges grow 26% faster and deliver 21% higher gross profits. 85% of those surveyed believe cloud enable their business to scale and grow faster.

Staying abreast of emerging tech-nologies that could add efficiencies in your business may seem a near-impossible task. But, if you use the above as a guide, and explore the industry-specific solutions available to you, you should be well-positioned to ride the tech wave. And, grow your business at the same time.

Jared Koning heads up client relations at Fatality Marketing, a company that specialises in inbound marketing and appointment booking services.



EmplotimeThis is a smart, web-based time clock system

in which the time spent and attendance of

employees is calculated via a virtual clock. For the tech phobic, it doesn’t require any installation. This handy platform also provides an administrator portal – whereby the administrator can authorize devices such as PCs, tablets, or mobiles to be used as the company time clock. For stressed out business leaders, such a tool can lead to enhanced efficiency and employee productivity (without changing much).

QuoraHave you ever Googled something crazy and

not found the answer? Quora is the answer.

Unlike other Q&A forums, Quora has attracted a knowledgeable and highly curious audience. When you ask a question on Quora, you are getting real answers from real people. For example, if you want to know what it’s like to work at Google, someone from Google will answer. In a business context, this forum can be priceless.

YammerIn every business today, collaboration is the

name of the game. And technology, as always, is

here to help. Yammer is a reasonably new web tool from Microsoft which allows employees – or certain teams and departments – to chat online, share files and documents and to have private conversations where needed. It has a fun and easy-to-use interface, often described as Facebook for business, and truly gets everyone into the spirit of both innovation and collaboration. Best yet, with many versions of Office 365, it’s included free.

but are increasingly using Skype for status meetings. We also have Whatsapp groups for each client and use that if and when necessary.

The greatest benefit, however, has been convenience for staff. Flexibility allows them to save time that would otherwise be spent in traffic, and to work from spaces that inspire fresh ideas. Our work requires a lot of time spent talking and brainstorming together, so we do schedule team office time – but we are able to work around peak traffic times and business trips when doing so.

Overall, remote working tools have brought a pleasant balance and culture of productivity to our working lives. We enjoy office time, it’s vital for team cohesiveness, but everyone appreciates that if we need to be at home for a morning, visit a bank, wait in a queue at SARS or desire a change to our working environment (a necessity for creativity) – we can do that. My experience has been that as a result of the flexibility, staff become more responsible and dependable – this could change as the business grows and new members join the team. But, it currently works really well because of the personality types that form part of our team.

Here’s how WE DO ITBeverley Houston heads up Cape-based public relations firm Be-cause Integrated Communications (www.be-cause.co.za), and spends a fair amount of her week working remotely, as does her team. She shares insights on the tools that allow them to do so.

When we started introducing remote working, we experimented with a range of available tools, including Google Docs and Slack, before

settling on a system that suited our needs best. We now all share a Dropbox folder and conduct all of our work through that – whether in the office or not. It allows us to step in and help each other out when needed, review each other’s work regularly and monitor the progress of ongoing projects. We also use the full range of Skype tools, including shared screens when we work together on a design concept. If we need an immediate response, we will use Whatsapp or call. We do however curb use of this outside of work hours as we all need a break.

For the business, our cloud-based set-up allows us to have clients in other cities – almost half of our clients are Johannesburg based. It also allows us to be as on-the-ball as possible – if a journalist requests comment or a photograph, we can send it from a number of devices that we have on hand, regardless of where we are. Skype screen sharing has meant that we can work collaboratively not only with our team, but with clients too, which saves time and reduces costs significantly. We still meet face-to-face with all of our clients,

MUST-HAVEAPPS

How to make data-driven decisions quickly and cheaply

AdvertorialFEATURED SOLUTION

One course of action is to bounce questions off your friends and family. A good start, yes. But this is limited data resulting in answers from a relationship-based perspective. Another option is running your questions up the flagpole with your work colleagues where you’ll get varied opinions based on their professional standpoints and experience. But again, it’s a limited data set.

What if we told you that you could survey thousands of real people to see what they think? What if we also told you that you could do this quickly and inexpensively, with the results analysed and presented back to you in an easy to interpret manner?

This is now possible with FastFactsTM from

Billaway. FastFactsTM provides individuals and organisations of all types with a way to ask probing questions to a general cross-section of qualified and pre-screened consumers. This is not a small group of professional panellists; these are thousands of everyday people, living everyday lives.

FastFacts turns the conversation from “I think that people will…” to “I know that people will…” Essentially, it changes a crucial verb through statistically significant surveys among large sample sizes. Additionally, it solves business problems through informed decision-making.

So, how do they get thousands of everyday consumers to respond to your survey questions?

First, FastFactsTM engages with them via mobile devices, not web, and certainly not on a landline. FastFactsTM is available where users spend most of their time. Whether for business or pleasure, consumers choose

mobile as their primary device, enabling them to do surveys on the go. It’s a positive reinforcement loop that fuels a self-feeding cycle – people answer survey questions on their phones, earn mobile data and airtime for doing so, and look for more surveys to earn more rewards.

Better yet, the solution is significantly less expensive than other survey companies out there. The reason for this is that surveys are just one part of the platform; offers and advertising drive their revenue. FastFactsTM doesn’t rely on survey income alone to support the business, therefore, they don’t charge as much.

Email: [email protected] or visit: www.billawayglobal.com/surveys.

Tom Haley is the CMO of Billaway, a cloud-based marketing technology platform that seamlessly enables the conversion of global currencies, earned by consumers through their everyday activities, directly into free mobile airtime.

So, you have a product, a service, or an idea and you’d like to find out what the rest of the South Africa thinks about it…


AdvertorialSHOWCASE

Technology has afforded many benefits in all areas of business, including systems that enable employees’ working time to be monitored to have accurate records of attendance and absenteeism.

Recognising the remarkable opportunities that the growing computer industry had to offer in this sector, Vivian Taback set up Itatec in the early 1980’s, a company which has now firmly established itself as a market leader, with its team of in-house developers and technicians providing first-class service and unmatched technical know-how. They service hundreds of clients, including large national retailers, food processing and manufacturing factories, hospitals, office buildings and more.

Simple, easy-to-use for even the smallest businessBiometric clocking is not just for big enterprises, and can be cost effective for even the smallest business. A great entry level solution is the FP3 fingerprint reader with time display. It works without cabling and only requires an electric plug point – simply plug in a USB flash drive and in a minute the device saves a spreadsheet, which can be opened anywhere on a computer with formatted, ready-to-print timesheets.

The FP7 is a reader with LAN connections that makes the process even easier; with a click of a button all the information needed can be transferred directly to

For workforce time control, ITATEC has you covered

your computer. One can then add the Clockwatch T&A software and the system will provide output that most of the popular payroll programs can import, and employees can be paid according to the time worked.

Multi-branch companiesThe Itatec Econo reader offers a unique solution. It connects over a standard ADSL line from each branch to a server anywhere in the world. On the server each reader is seen as an icon which turns blue as the reader links in. A couple of clicks and one’s clockings from all the company’s branches are safely stored on the server.

Advanced technology for large enterprisesIn larger enterprises, the challenge is to consolidate all the clockings from spread out sites onto a central server so that all time and attendance reporting can be done centrally. This can be achieved by using intelligent biometric readers at each site, which can link back over the internet to the central server, or to use local computer-based USB fingerprint readers where the local computer is on a WAN and keeps the central server database up to date with every clocking made.

A locally-developed solution Itatec utilises the locally-developed CWbio management software to create huge enterprise solutions at a fraction of the cost of the international options. With CWbio a range of biometric readers from Morpho provides the options needed to deal with all types of requirements. The latest version, CWbio 3.0, has been built on the same robust design philosophy of the CWbio 2.4, using the latest .Net framework and supporting the latest Windows operating systems. It is backwards compatible with all Morpho/Sagem readers, offering full support for the new family of Morpho Sigma Readers and full integration with well-known time-and-attendance systems like Clockwatch, Synerion and KRONOS. CWbio WSD internet distributed clocking provides the ability to use the powerful Morpho MSO USB readers plugged into any PC on the internet, enabling employees to clock where there is limited infrastructure. This is cost effective enough to deploy at sites with few employees.

CASE-STUDY: Managing attendance for a workforce of 3 000

One of the largest courier companies in South Africa uses the CWbio system to track almost 3 000 staff at 27 hubs nationwide. Working through Synerion Direct, the automated workforce management solution includes attendance and absence management, scheduling, manager self-service and a smartphone app for reports of its sales reps and in-house staff at client sites. The solution was mainly chosen because of its flexible scheduling capabilities – assigning employees to shifts according to fixed patterns on one hand, and making ad-hoc modifications as required on the other. The solution meets all of the company’s payroll processing needs, regardless of their complexity.

FP3 reader

Econo reader

FP7 reader

Itatec has a range of clocking and time-and-attendance solutions for businesses of all sizes.


In large factories, the CWbio solution combines with access control to ensure that only welcome people gain entry and also that staff movements are always recorded. These systems seamlessly integrate with the Synerion workforce reporting system to provide a range of management reports. Time calculations can be done on even the most complex of company work rules.

Regardless of your requirements and the size of your organisation, Itatec has the right solution for you, as well as qualified experts to provide the support you need, at any time. And as a family-owned South African company, they are focussed on always maintaining the service values at the heart of their business philosophy.

• Built on the same robust design philosophy as CWbio 2.4, using the latest .Net framework and supporting the latest Windows operating systems.• Runs on Ms SQL server 2008 and above.• Backwards compatible with all MORPHO/Sagem readers MA1xx, MA2xx, MA5xx MA-J.

• Full support for the new family of Morpho Sigma Readers.• Full integration with well-known Time & Attendance systems, including, Clockwatch, Synerion, KRONOS.• Built-in seamless integration with SAFLEC Access Control and PAXTON Access control providing single point of enrolment.

• CWbio WSD internet distributed clocking provides the ability to use the powerful Morpho MSO USB readers that can plug into any PC on the internet enabling employees to clock in where there is limited infrastructure. This solution is cost-effective enough to deploy with few employees.

CWBIO 3.0 HIGHLIGHTS

Call Itatec sales on 0860 100 854 or +27 11 264 0530. www.itatec.co.za


Billaway operates a plug-in software platform providing South African consumers with the

opportunity to earn free mobile airtime and data by providing their opinions on any given topic via surveys, sweepstakes or filling out online quotes. Users can also redeem offers and take advantage of deals and specials.

Consumers can access their free mobile data by downloading BBM app, which is available on both iOS and Android smartphones, and selecting “Rewards” within the “Discover” tab.

Since most activities on BBM Rewards – such as taking surveys – require a purchase, users engage in the program at a very high rate. Due to the high engagement rate, and thousands of users; offers tend to see high redemption rate as well.

So, why is free airtime useful? Because mobile users place a high value on data. Everyone is constantly on their phones, so the ability to increase their airtime without having to pay is extremely valuable. It allows users to access more information, watch music and ultimately stay connected with their loved ones.

Visit Billaway at www.billawayglobal.com or email: [email protected] with any questions.

Concentrate on running your business knowing that your IT requirements are taken care of.

Dial-a-Nerd started in 1998 and has evolved into a highly professional IT consultancy with branches in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Their highly qualified technical team provides seamless IT support for small businesses, educational institutions and home users, offering a vast range of services from network architecture design to managed services. They also offer remote monitoring and SLA providing unlimited remote and telephonic support for a fixed monthly fee.

Dial-a-Nerd believe that outsourcing your IT requirements is a strategic tool that can have a powerful, positive impact on your organisation’s focus, growth, financial stability and productivity levels, with access to a team of highly skilled professionals at the fraction of the cost of an internal IT department.

The company’s simple and clear pricing structure eliminates the “surprise” factor when dealing with repairs, and hardware can be dropped off at their workshops or technicians can make a call out to your premises. Diagnosing and troubleshooting computer problems can be challenging, so Dial-a-Nerd encourages clients to let them know what difficulties they are experiencing and they will take care of the rest.

Email: [email protected], or call 010 007 0012 (JHB) or 021 200 1460 (CPT).

Tech directory

Put your customer WiFi to work.

While looking for a WiFi system for a complex, the owners of Clickspot found most of the existing systems to be cost prohibitive, inflexible and incredibly complex. And so they set out to create something better, to offer value both to the customer and to the venue owner. The result is a WiFi experience that includes WiFi management (you can control the amount of time and data that can be used for free, stop bandwidth hogs and data thieves and sell internet vouchers through their secure payment gateway), powerful stats (you can see who is visiting and track the time of day and day of week habits of regular patrons) and WiFi marketing (you can send promotions via SMS or email, creating highly personalised messages to engage and encourage repeat visits).

The first step to signing up with Clickspot is to order a device, which will be couriered to you, plug it in to your internet using the provided instructions, and then advertise to patrons and guests that they self-register to use the connection. Clickspot also supply “Free WiFi” stickers that can be displayed in outlet windows.

Contact: 010 312 5053, email: [email protected] or visit www.clickspot.co.za for more information.



Fatality finds leads, educates prospects and sets up appointments.

Fatality can give your business the sales edge it needs by finding you relevant business leads, educating your prospects on the value you offer, pre-qualifying them and then setting up appointments for you to engage offline and deliver real-world results.

Their starting point is business research – focusing first on your business, products and services. They then dive into the marketplace and get estimates of the market size, identify influencers and discover core areas for market penetration before mapping out your ideal customer and identifying ways to target them. The next step is lead harvesting; pre-qualifying leads in compliance to the POPI act, before qualifying and warming these leads. Fatality will also educate qualifying leads about your offering before filling your calendar with high-quality, interested appointments. Prospects confirm in their calendar and Fatality perform a follow-up call on the day.

As a B2B inbound marketing agency, Fatality is focused on small-to-medium business in South Africa that want deliverable, affordable marketing options, and are constantly innovating and adapting processes for their clients. Founded by Phillip Gimmi and Jared Koning, the team bring a wealth of digital marketing experience and are committed to a long-term return-on-investment for clients.

Call 021 012 5166 or visit: www.fatality.co.za

SMS DIY is designed to allow you to run a full mobile campaign on a Do-it-Yourself basis. This internet-based, free product, allows users to tap into the power of mobile marketing to generate leads and build a database. You will need to select and register a keyword, which can be added to all your marketing

material. When a person SMSes your Keyword to 44590, SMS DIY will capture the date and time and mobile number into your keyword database. You can then log-into your database to access your leads. Next, follow-up by calling them as soon as possible. Remember, a follow-up call within three hours has the best rate of conversion into a sale. The registration process takes just five minutes to get you up and running.

By monitoring the number of SMSes coming in, you can analyse which media work best for your brand.

For further information SMS DIY to 44590 (std rate) or visit: www.smsdiy.co.za.

Peopleplus is a flexible HR and Payroll software solution that is powerful, configurable, simple

to deploy, easy to manage and remarkably cost-effective, whatever the size of your business.

We haven’t sacrificed sophistication, performance or security – but we have taken out cost and complexity. That means taking a different approach to HR and Payroll software, which is what we have done. Peopleplus is designed for the Cloud, and delivered from a state-of-the-art hosting facility with advanced security and the 24/7 availability that you’d expect.

The Peopleplus software acts as the nucleus for the other Peopleplus service offerings such as HR consulting/outsourcing or Payroll administration services both onsite or off site. At PeoplePlus, we have highly experienced consultants with years of experience who are capable of managing all HR or Payroll projects regardless of the size or complexity.

Regardless whether your business is small-medium or large with the Peopleplus software and supporting services you can remain compliant with legislation, at prices that are affordable.

Call 011 867 7971, email: [email protected] or visit: www.peopleplus.co.za




PayDay – the Preferred Payroll SolutionAre you looking for a system that has been designed to handle every last detail of the remuneration function with the minimum amount of human intervention?

Nigel Bird, CEO

PayDay is the answer. Having paid close attention to user needs in developing the solution, PayDay offers all the basic functions in a package that allows you to pick and pay for only those facilities you are likely to use. And, if your needs change over time, you can add functionality at a later date. “We believe that one of the most important features we offer is the modular architecture on which PayDay has been developed,” says CEO, Nigel Bird.

The benefits of this solution are twofold. Firstly, if users simply want a means to improve the speed and accuracy of the

calculations while generating the relative documentation involved, and are happy to input hours manually; a single module attached to the core database module is the only purchase necessary. PayDay has interfaces that enable integration to most general ledger and time and attendance (T&A) systems currently available, including their own advanced T&A offering. With the T&A function in place, data transfer is automatic, saving time and eliminating human error.

Secondly, the modular structure means that additional functionality can be bought as and when it is needed.

In addition to the standard reports such as IRP5s and payslips, PayDay can generate the electronic file for SARS, as well as IOD, UIF and Skills reports, and any tailored internal reports that a company may need. Standard documents such as IRP5s and historical payslips are available directly to

employees on demand, and they can also update their personal details via PayDay’s secure Employee Self Service module.

PayDay guides users through the package using audio-visual how-to’s. Compatible with all common operating systems, it is the preferred choice of countless South African businesses.

WORKSPACE


Steve Jobs’ vision for the perfect workspace was one that would blur the line between the inside and outside, and include modular spaces, known as pods, for work or collaboration. Construction toward this vision started in 2013 and was nearing completion as we went to print with this issue. Interestingly Apple Park, nicknamed the Spaceship for its ring-shaped building, which will eventually accommodate 12 000 people on an average working day, has only one restaurant. Why? To force people to bump into each other and encourage conversation and collaboration. Quoted in a recent article in Wired Magazine, Jony Ive, Apple’s chief design officer said: “Connecting extraordinarily advanced buildings with rolling parkland creates a wonderfully open environment for people to create, collaborate and work together.” Construction cost a reported US$5-billion.

Jobs had a clear picture of what he believed it takes to create innovation of the type that Apple has become famous for. And, many of the emerging workspaces designed for entrepreneurs today seem to subscribe to something similar albeit on a far smaller scale. These next-generation shared workspaces are moving beyond simply providing a large room with desks and chairs in it, and are now evolving into a more deliberate manipulation of the environment and moveable elements to better provoke spontaneous and natural collaboration, innovation and networking.

As Paul Keursten, co-founder of OPEN, which runs OPEN Maboneng in Joburg and Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town says: “Working and living are no longer separate. We don’t only want to live during holidays and after retirement, we want to live now, while working. We want to work in an environment that is pleasurable and inspiring and in which we can be part of a stimulating community.”

Non-traditional workspaces are on the rise. “We are also seeing that co-working spaces are attracting a growing audience, not only start-ups and independent professionals but also more experienced entrepreneurs and corporates, looking for innovation, ideas and a different vibe. There is also an increasing variety in spaces and offerings, from basic to triple A-level facilities, addressing a range of demands, from occasional hot desking to fully serviced dedicated offices,” says Keursten.

HOT DESK, CO-WORK

How to pick the right business space for your needs…

or go it alone?


WHAT’S ON OFFERThere are a range of different types of workspaces available in the marketplace today – Storehouse, OPEN Maboneng, Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront, Bandwidth Barn Woodstock and Khayelitsha, and the Basement at the Bandwidth Barn are profiled in the pages that follow. It’s hard to fit these spaces into a “box” as some have developed hybrid models, and can cater to just about any tenant need. But here’s a very general overview of your workspace choices:

Working from homeWorking from home can be an attractive option, particularly for solo-preneurs. Perks include low overheads, flexibility and convenience. But it can also be a very lonely and isolating route to go, and requires a lot of self-discipline to ensure you stay glued to your chair. And as your business scales, you will probably want dedicated space to meet clients and suppliers. An extension of this model could be setting up a “virtual office”, or working from anywhere that suits you at any given time; it could be a coffee shop, a client’s office or even your car while on the go. The key advantage again is no overhead expenses – when you run a physical office you have to fund upfront purchases to buying furniture and fittings which is usually a challenge for a start-up business, you also have to pay your monthly overheads. A virtual address saves you the overheads of rent and utility bills and you don’t have to buy furniture. But if you have a group meeting where a number of employees need to get together to work, you may

Only you can decide which work space is right for you and your business. Along with considering the pros and cons of the options outlined below, you also need to consider the type of business you run, the type of clients you have as well as your personal preferences and character traits. By considering all these criteria, you will be able to come to a decision that will suit your business and your people.

Bobby Forssman, lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of Storehouse, which offers a variety of upmarket, affordable workspaces that can be personalised to suit your needs, says you should consider the following factors when deciding where to locate your business:

>> The size of the workspace: What do

you need in terms of workspace, will your needs change over time, and will your landlord be able to accommodate this?

>> Operational requirements: What work will be done in your space? Will you be manufacturing, storing, creating, meeting clients? Can the workspace accommodate your specific needs?

>> The lease terms: Find out the lease period and termination requirements. Also, what are the minimum lease terms, and if you need the workspace immediately, how easy is it to get started? And, if you no longer need the workspace, how easy is it to leave?

>> Security and access: Have appropriate measures been taken to secure your personal safety and to protect

your workspace from theft? Is access available on a 24/7 basis? How easy is it for your visitors to gain access?

>> All the costs: Find out how much the rent is and what is included in the price. And, are there any hidden or extra costs over and above the rent.

>> Location and appearance: Does the location and appearance of the workspace portray a professional image – or the image you are after?

>> Conduct rules: What are the rules of conduct of the workspace?

>> Sense of community: If you opt for a co-working space, find out what your landlord does to drive networking among those who rent space, and to encourage them to engage with the rest of the community and offer their services.

WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE MOVING IN


need to rent a space and will incur costs in this way. No fixed address can also come across as unprofessional, depending on your industry.

Co-working/shared office spaceToday’s shared office spaces generally have a range of options available to tenants from hot desks that can be rented by the hour to shared office space areas and private offices that can accommodate any number of people. Some offer the benefit of shared infrastructure, which could include a reception, meeting rooms, kitchen etc., and low overheads as many come fully furnished with access to essential services like Wi-Fi, printing facilities and phone services at reduced costs.

Even though the cost to rent at a co-working space is substantially lower than renting your own business space, it can still be expensive. Make sure you take into account all the expenses and that you understand all your responsibilities before signing a contract.

Hot-desking and shared workspaces won’t suit everyone, particularly if privacy is a concern. You will need to weigh this up against the benefit of belonging to a community of entrepreneurs who are going through similar challenges. This network of like-minded co-workers provides you with strategic partners who understand the unique challenges you face as a start-up founder.

Renting your own premisesYour own space allows you the opportunity to design your own

THIS NETWORK OF LIKE-MINDED CO-WORKERS PROVIDES YOU WITH STRATEGIC PARTNERS WHO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A START-UP FOUNDER.

environment, incorporate branding elements and start to build a corporate culture for the business. But this has to be measured against the expenses associated with setting up, including rent, phone lines, office furniture and connectivity. Having an office space usually means having to commit to a fixed lease period. Small businesses go through lean times financially which may make it difficult to honour your commitments to a long lease.

If you have a business that requires having clients come to you, rather than

you going to them, then having office space may be a necessity. Depending on your business, having client meetings at coffee shops and restaurants may make it difficult to maintain the credibility and professionalism that an established office provides.

Few of us will get to work in a space as awe inspiring as Apple Park, but with the range of options available to business owners today, there is no doubt that once you have identified your needs, you will be able to find a space that is right for your business and people.


Ian Merrington, CiTi CEO, says the primary goal of the organisation is to “develop globally competitive tech and innovation sectors to enable sustainable economic growth and greater employment. One of the ways we make this possible is by setting up spaces like the Woodstock Bandwidth Barn, Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn and The Basement at the Bandwith Barn.” Businesses located here benefit from access to a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and industry experts as well as daily events and networking opportunities.

Tap into an ecosystem CiTi’s flagship hub, the Woodstock Bandwidth Barn, in Cape Town, has steadily grown its influence over the past 17 years and is home to 24 tenants, as well as Fintech, Edtech, Traveltech and Data Clusters. These clusters aim to spur greater innovation and skills development in the Western Cape, across South Africa

and the wider continent, providing home-grown entrepreneurs with the facilities, expert advice and introductions to funding they need to take their solutions forward. Barclays Rise, Thomson Reuters LabsTM – Cape Town and the Blockchain Academy, amongst others, are members of the Fintech Cluster at the Woodstock Bandwidth Barn.

A community to birth start-ups The Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn is situated at Lookout Hill in heart of the Khayelitsha/Mitchells Plain Development Corridor. Designed as a space to drive inclusive innovation, the programmes run here focus on supporting individuals and small businesses that don’t have access to financial assistance or social capital, and support them in developing tech and business skills. It’s a creative and social space that offers 32 dedicated desks for tenants, a shared eventing space, a 20mbps MetroLAN and 40-computer lab for training.

Connectivity is key to exponential growth The Basement at the Bandwith Barn co-working space and innovation lab based at the Woodstock Exchange, Cape Town, is powered by an up to 300 Mbps, uncontended, low latency fibre connection that is amongst the fastest in the country – and definitely the fastest available at a co-working space. An indication of the size of the link: it is equivalent to 15 000 households’ ADSL needs.

This connection gives big data analysts the speed and access to cloud computing needed to crunch huge amounts of raw data to create meaningful customer insights with commercial application. The connectivity is complemented by the value-added support provided by the Woodstock Bandwidth Barn, including skills development, incubation and acceleration programmes.

If you’re planning to launch a tech or tech-enabled business, the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) operates three facilities that continue to drive growth in the start-up and tech scene.

The home of tech start-ups


Co-working may feel like it came out of nowhere for a lot of us, but it was first observed as a trend by Google as far back as 2007. The last decade has seen it grow both in search volume, and physical real estate to an estimated 10 000 spaces worldwide, housing over 700 000 individuals. In South Africa, the trend started to take root a few years ago, and by March 2016 there were reportedly 67 co-working spaces in South Africa; half of which were located in Cape Town.

Paul Keursten, co-founder of OPEN, which runs OPEN Maboneng in Joburg and Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town says the demand for co-working and collaborative workspaces is being driven by three factors – the changing nature of work, rising costs and the need for inspiring environments.

Changing nature of work. The way we work has evolved, almost beyond recognition, so workspaces need to change too. This is potentially the most significant reason behind the rise of co-working. Many of us look for an

AdvertorialSHOWCASE

Why CO-WORKING is becoming a ‘THING’

inspiring work environment where we can mix work and pleasure, make a meaningful contribution and continually grow and develop. A growing number of workers have thus become independent professionals or entrepreneurs working on projects with and for others.

Technology and globalisation have transformed what a workforce looks like, what work looks like and where it takes place. One third of the jobs available now did not even exist 25 years ago and the technology used to do this work sometimes didn’t exist even a few years ago. And yet, our office spaces and our expectations of what “coming to work” looks like haven’t really changed that much. Co-working spaces like OPEN are redefining what a workspace can be: a flexible and multi-functional landscape for working, connecting, learning and creating.

Office costs and office hassles. A more pragmatic, but no less important driver towards co-working, is the cost of maintaining a fully functioning office.

Rent is the obvious part, but don’t forget the facilities and services you need to work well: from desks and chairs, to high speed internet and good coffee. It all adds up. And it is often a hassle to get it up and running and keep it working well. “You don’t want to be managing an office,” says Keursten. “You want to focus on your work and be productive in an environment that is plug and play.”

Co-working builds on the sharing economy. By sharing costs, everyone can now have access to the fastest internet, boardrooms, a full time coffee barista and a front desk for a fraction of the cost.

Conversational magic. Beyond the money and the need for flexibility, there is another compelling reason to embrace co-working: the people. “The office fundamentals remain critical, they should offer a friction-free experience,” says Keursten. “Without that, the office space is nothing more than an annoyance. But the magic lies in the interactions. Co-working is about becoming part of a community and tapping into a network to create more ideas and opportunities.”

More to comeThe co-working and flexible office movement is just beginning, and we will see a lot of development in the coming years. OPEN has partnered with Growthpoint and will be creating a number of new and unique co-working destinations in the near future. Each location will have a continuum of spaces: a public café, meeting and eventing spaces, member areas with hot desking and dedicated desks, and private offices. The first new location to launch will be OPEN Sandton, at the end of July. Situated at 138 West Street, Sandton, it is right opposite the Gautrain station and Mandela Square. It will have a public café, with terrace and street access, connecting the location to the wider environment. It will also offer electric bikes to easily get to your meetings in Sandton.

Low set-up costs: Shared

offices spaces

come equipped

with furniture, equipment and IT

and telecom infrastructure, meaning no hefty initial outlays and the ability to pay

only for what you use.

Flexible leases: Depending on the type of shared workspace, your lease agreement will no doubt be shorter and more flexible than signing a commitment to a rental managing agent. This means that you acquire more space as and when you need it as opposed to being tied down to a set location. Professional office support: A

big benefit of serviced office space is the ability to present a professional image to clients, including reception staff to greet visitors and to answer and redirect incoming calls, and fully-equipped meeting rooms. Cleaning and maintenance services will also most likely be taken care of, allowing you to focus on your business and not a variety of housekeeping issues.

Networking and idea sharing: Businesses can benefit immensely from the networking opportunities presented by sharing office space. Innovative ideas are often encouraged through casual discussions with like-minded tenants, enabling the establishment of valuable business relationships. If you opt for a

co-working space with a view to networking, be sure that your landlord is focused on creating a space with a sense of community. This is what differentiates a co-working success story from other shared spaces.

Finding clients: A co-working or shared space can be a great place to find potential clients or partners.

Becoming part of a larger eco-system: Being part of an eco-system of like-minded start-ups or businesses is a key advantage offered by many workspaces. You will have the opportunity to meet founders with complementary services and peers who have contacts that lead to mutually beneficial relationships.

ADVANTAGES at a glanceWhat are some of the advantages of new-generation workspaces?

When your garage just won’t do


If you need space to create, make, fix, store and/or distribute your product from, you’ve probably found – like many entrepreneurs before you – that most commercial space available in the market is too large, too expensive and the lease requirements too onerous for a start-up business to commit to. As a result, you may be forced to compromise on your requirement for a professional workspace and end up working from a garage or spare room in your home. But unfortunately, the reality is that even this spare space is in short supply given the high density living that has become the norm for most urban dwellers.

So, where do the budding Richard Bransons, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and other want-to-be entrepreneurs start out from? This is the gap the founders of Storehouse

are striving to fill. They put together all their research and designed, developed and launched the first Storehouse facility in Midrand, a complex of 350 garage-style units of various sizes that are rented to entrepreneurs who need space to work. Units can be used as workshops, offices, studios, showrooms, mancaves, storage or anything in between.

Users rent a basic unit and can tailor it to suit what they do and their budget by choosing extras such as electricity, lighting, ceilings, floor finishes, air-conditioning, shopfronts and mezzanines which are installed for them. Leases are month to month with users paying a basic monthly

rental for their unit plus an additional monthly rental for any extras installed.

At the core of the complex is the Hub which functions as a business centre offering free Wi-Fi, hot-desking facilities, coffee and lounge areas, meeting rooms, showers and ablutions as well as outdoor pause areas. The complex offers state of the art security, access control and is open 24/7 to allow users the freedom to work whenever it suits them. In a nutshell, Storehouse provides entrepreneurs with upmarket, flexible working spaces in a professional and supportive environment where users only pay for the extras they need.

Storehouse gives you the space you need to grow your business...


The keys to SUCCESS

The franchised food sector has seen rapid expansion according to a recent survey. For those looking to carve a future here, Laurette Pienaar, National Franchise Manager at Nedbank, draws on the experience of Nedbank’s successful franchise clients to shed light on what it takes to own and manage a successful food business.

Laurette Pienaar

According to the Franchise Association of Southern Africa’s most recent study, the fast food and restaurant sector is the largest franchise category making up 23% of the market. The survey shows that there has been rapid expansion in the food category driven by the organic growth of existing brands, acquisition of new brands, in-house development of new brands and international concepts entering the market.

If you’re looking to taste success in the sector, there are four steps to follow:

1 Implement operational procedures

Well-established franchise concepts are tried, tested and proven business models. To improve your chances of success, you need to fully understand and implement the franchise’s operational standards and procedures. These daily routines could range from product preparation to the management of staff or opening and closing procedures. These procedures

are designed to help you reach optimal operational levels and ultimately generate profit. Following the operational requirements of your franchise is essential for the future success of your business.

2 Recognise seasonality and predictable fluctuations

Most restaurants experience some form of seasonality or fluctuation in their trading throughout the year, which will influence turnover either negatively or positively. Some of these seasonal periods are easy to predict and plan for. The obvious time periods to consider include school holidays, winter and summer months, the festive season, religious holidays and large events taking place in your area. Unfortunately, some things can’t be planned for, such as fickle weather patterns, which can negatively affect your business. Do the research needed to make sure you take unexpected fluctuations into consideration when putting together your annual planning. Included in your annual planning should be your seasonality

cash flow forecasting. Speak to your relationship banker for further advice on this matter and to discuss your future requirements for working capital facilities.

3 Ensure customer satisfaction Great customer service plays an

important role in securing return business, and good reviews will draw in new customers. People like to rate and discuss the service they receive on various online and social media platforms. Employing the right staff will contribute to the consistent delivery of great customer service in your restaurant. Training staff on how to appropriately respond to complaints is an important part of this.

4 Understand margins and inventory control

Food wastage needs to be controlled to ensure that you achieve maximum profitability. Good stock control influences gross profit margins and can be improved by using the right software, by regulating stock take processes and doing interval audits. Be sure to investigate any anomalies and irregular fluctuations to determine the cause of food wastage. The higher your food costs, the lower your gross profit margin. Speak to your accountant and relationship banker to assist with the analysis of your financial statements. The food sector is highly competitive, so be sure to explore all possible avenues for improvement to stand out from the rest and to up your chances of success.

For further information on franchise funding send an email to [email protected].

The Food IndustryFOCUS ON


AdvertorialCOVER STORY

Wiesenhof Coffee and Dulcé Café have notched up more than 20 years in business, built a network of 85 stores, and carved out a niche in the competitive coffee shop arena. Here KOBUS WIESE shares a little of what it takes to get started in a sector that certainly isn’t for sissies...

Thinking of entering the food industry? “You’ve

got to be a born foodie, love working with people,

and really be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do what it takes,

says Wiesenhof Coffee/Dulcé Café franchisor Kobus Wiese. This is one of the

toughest trades in the world, but the rewards can be great, says the Springbok star turned restaurateur and businessman.

It’s important that would-be franchisees go in with their eyes wide open – and attracting people who fit the bill has helped Wiese grow his two brands, Wiesenhof Coffee, a chain of gourmet coffee shops featuring coffee supplied by the company’s own roastery based in Heidelberg, and Dulcé Cafés, a network first opened in 1984 and taken over by Wiese in 2013, to a combined 85-store network across South Africa and Namibia. And, there is with further expansion on the cards.

BACKING WINNERS “It’s all about the jockey – no horse can win the Durban July without a great jockey on its back, and the same goes for franchise success without a committed operator,” says Wiese. “I’ve learnt over the years that you have to pick the right people – someone who will be personally involved in every detail of running their business.”

The toughest game of all

Wiese says he’s also learnt the value of keeping good franchisees in the group and making it worth their while

to open second, third and subsequent stores. “You get very

good operators who only have the capacity to run one store, and that’s fine, but I also believe in operating a bit like the mafia, you know, keeping it in the family.”

The Wiesenhof Coffee/Dulcé Café head office team gives franchisees all the tools they need to run their businesses, and aims to keep them easy-to-use and free of loopholes. This applies to everything from the operating manual and open-close procedures through to point-of-sale materials. “The aim is to produce collateral that, if stuck to, will enable a very good chance of success. In this industry you can’t take shortcuts; that’s when things like shrinkage and food wastage and other issues creep in. You’ve got to be diligent and stick to stock takes and portioning control and your costings must be right – it may not be fun to go into the fridge and count, but it’s critical,” explains Wiese.

Providing clear guidelines and operational support to franchisees is an ongoing process, Wiese adds, and the head office team is always open to new ways of doing things and identifying areas that need tweaking. “I don’t know any food brand or foodie who is completely learned and knows everything; and on top of that everything keeps changing.”

AN EASIER ROUTE IN It’s this volatile and intense environment, along with the support on offer by the franchisor that makes franchising an easier


option than going it alone. “I believe there are more pros than cons when joining an established franchise brand because you’re getting involved with people who are going to set it up for you, and who have the necessary expertise and track record, particularly if you have no formal training or previous advantage,” says Wiese. “You get all the benefits of the mistakes having been made already. Customers also like recognised brands as they know what they’re getting.”

Wiese says that while it’s by no means impossible to start out alone in the food industry, it’s just much more difficult and the risks are far greater. “What’s more, very few people have a couple of million Rand lying around, they may have some cash available but most would go to the bank for a loan. And the banks are much more open to lending to established franchise brands.”

Cost is simply not an issue that can be minimised when it comes to setting up a restaurant or food outlet. “It’s become so expensive and landlords in shopping centres are charging exorbitant rental amounts,” says Wiese. “It’s not that the operators are bad, but if you have to pay R70 000 a month in rent for a coffee shop you have to make an astronomical amount in order to earn a profit.”

It was this reality that made Wiese and his team think outside the box and target the so-called “captive markets” – hospitals, office blocks, Makro stores and golf clubs. “It’s a fair deal as the landlord, franchisee and franchisor all get their share, it’s worth their while and not a one-way street,” says Wiese. “It wasn’t rocket science; we knew we had to look at ways of finding new sites. While initially people were sceptical, we now have competition in this market as others have seen that it’s a good way to go, but we have built up good relationships with the big corporate groups over the years.”

A FLEXIBLE FORMAT Wiese is convinced that the coffee shop/restaurant industry is the trade of the future, given that the stores are affordable and provide an environment for anyone to go to any day of the week. “If you look into our coffee shops you’ll find business men and women meeting, oupa and ouma enjoying a cuppa, and a family enjoying a morning out. The target market is just so much wider than more specialised eateries,” says Wiese. “If you’re a genuine steakhouse or sushi bar or pizzeria, you must make sure that you are very good at what you do – I wouldn’t order a steak at a pizzeria or a pizza at a steakhouse, as you expect expertise in a particular niche. In our trade, it’s far more flexible and diverse.”

Wiese says that he’s learnt all his mistakes on the job and he’s still learning. “You either sink or swim and you certainly learn very quickly from mistakes – it’s probably not the ideal way but certainly the best way.” Wiese and his wife Belinda entered the sector when they invested in “a worn-down coffee shop” on Gauteng’s East Rand in 1994, having had no previous food industry experience but plenty of passion and determination. In fact, Wiese attributes his own personal success to employing the four D’s he lives by – determination, discipline, dedication and desire; that it’s not always about winning all the time, but rather about being determined to get up again when you fall and not letting fear hold you back.

“You have to be open to new ideas and suggestions all the time. If you think you know everything and you stick to your guns, believe me you will make a big mistake because the industry is ever-changing. The demands of customers are changing – and while the basics of good customer service, good food, and ambience stay the same – you must be willing to listen and to look and to learn new things.

As to what keeps Wiese going in the strenuous game of restauranteering? “There’s nothing better than a happy customer. If you get that right, they’ll spread the word about your business

for you. I can honestly say I love every second of the game.”

For franchise enquiries or to contact the coffee roastery call 016 340 8300.

Some of the Wiesenhof Coffee/Dulce Cafe head office team


British brand Southern Fried Chicken has opened its first store in South Africa in Cape Town.

Cape Town is to be a test market for the brand before it embarks on the bigger task of rolling the chicken franchise out across the country. The brand has also recently opened stores in Senegal, Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Ghana and has its eye on many other African countries.

As part of its agreement with Casual Dining Group (“CDG”), Gold Brands will be launching four international casual dining brands – Café Rouge, Las Iguanas, Bella Italia and Belgo – in South Africa. Café Rouge offers authentic

French food in a Parisienne-style setting, Las Iguanas specialises in authentic Mexican, Brazilian and South American food and cocktails, Bella Italia is an all-day Italian, and Belgo is known for its huge selection of Belgian beers and its range of mussel dishes.

Operators should take a leaf out of franchising’s book where franchisors spend years building their brands, never compromising on standards. Reliance on certifiers that aren’t internationally accredited, or implementing your own interpretation of Halaal status, won’t win you any favour with customers or the certifiers themselves.

According to SANHA, South Africa’s leading certifying authority, using the term Halaal friendly, for example, is unacceptable by any standard of Halaal. In fact, there is no such thing as Halaal friendly.

An outlet is either Halaal through compliance with the Islamic law (Shariah) requirements or it is not. Instead Halaal friendly suggests that the establishment has been unable to meet the requirements of Halaal. “The euphemism has been coined by establishments that are generally not exclusively Halaal yet are desirous of attracting the Muslim consumer. This is perceived as a misrepresentation and offensive as they opine that suppliers are aware that consuming Halaal for the Muslim is a mandatory article of faith,” says SANHA’s Ebi Lockhat.

Operators use Halaal friendly as a subtle upfront precautionary disclaimer in the event of items not meeting the Halaal standard. “Over the years we have seen this excuse surface in these Halaal friendly outlets where personnel in the preparation areas were handling Haraam and Halaal on the same chopping board, and other similar infringements,” says Lockhat.

Don’t look for shortcuts; let SANHA get you on the track with their internationally-recognised Halaal assurance system.

THE ROAD TO HALAAL STATUS – there’s no shortcutThe Halaal niche market continues to grow at pace and many an aspiring food sector entrant has burnt his fingers (and capital) by looking for shortcuts...

SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN comes to SA

NEW INTERNATIONAL BRANDS ARRIVE ON OUR SHORES


The average South African wastes 177kg of food annually by the average South African. This is according to a 2013 study by the CSIR; so the number may even be higher today. The study found that the cost to the economy was approximately at R61.5-billion a year or 2.1% of our GDP. It’s a scary number when you consider that some 70% of poor urban households in South Africa live in conditions of food insecurity.

Internationally a number of organisations and entrepreneurs are looking to combat the problem – and fight global warming – by opening food waste supermarkets that only sell food that’s past its expiration

date or rejected by grocers for aesthetic imperfection. Denmarks’ WeFood was the first to launch, and other brands have since opened in UK, Germany, US and Australia. In the US, innovative start-ups are making all sorts of food-waste products, including snack bars from spent grain (from beer) and compost from kitchen waste collected from restaurants, bars and residents.

Locally many supermarkets already sell products that are damaged or past their expiration to staff or in-store at reduced rates. But there is a long way to go, and we can only hope that some canny entrepreneur spots the gap and launches something similar here soon.

FUTURE BITES What’s trending in food?

A Cape Town-based supplier of industrial machines for the SMME market is offering a solution for the current water crisis gripping parts of the country…

“The Zhauns Air to Water machine could not have been

Necessity breeds INNOVATIONlaunched at a more opportune time. With the global crisis around the lack of clean drinking water, this machine makes use of a never-ending supply of air and converts it to purified drinking water,” explains Riad Ahmed.

The raw material – air – is free and no plumbing or water point is required. Operators can rent out their machines to individuals or businesses where clean drinking water is in short supply or inaccessible like game lodges, camping sites, office blocks, schools, or any other location where people need water. The machine is currently available from Zhauns and can be delivered anywhere in the country.

For more information visit: www.zhauns.co.za


The Fish & Chip Co and Zebro’s are operated by the Taste Holdings Group, a South African-based management group that is focused on growing the local franchising sector. Other brands in the Taste Holdings’ stable include global players like Starbucks and Domino’s, as well as local brand Maxi’s.

Over the years The Fish & Chip Co has built a reputation for serving generous portions of fish and fresh cut chips at affordable prices. And, while it started out as a small business in the Western Cape, it has grown into a brand that has South Africa wanting more. The low-cost business model requires a minimum investment and is agile in growth due to the responsiveness of the business.

Zebro’s has taken South Africa’s love for braaing and turned it into a fast growing food brand.

At Zebro’s all meals are prepared on hot coals using a secret marinade and basting sauce to serve up a distinct and delicious flavour that celebrates our South African heritage. Customers can also look forward to an enticing menu, which includes chicken burgers, Russians, fresh-cut chips, and assorted salads. All meals are available either as a take-away or eat-in meal.

AdvertorialSHOWCASE

The secret’s in the… TASTE

The value for money product, combined with the backup and support provided by the franchisor, is undoubtedly Zebro’s’ competitive advantage. And, the simplicity of the product range has resulted in the lowest new-store establishment cost in its category, as well as uncomplicated in-store operations. The fact that many Zebro’s franchisees own more than one store is proof of their positive sentiment at being part of such an exciting and dynamic franchise.

The secret sauce? As part of the Taste Holdings franchise

agreement, all franchisees receive operational and marketing support. All staff also undergo intensive training comprising of theoretical and practical training modules. Each store has a dedicated franchise manager who facilitates communication and operational requirements between the franchisee and franchisor.

Prospective franchisees for both brands should be hands-on individuals who understand the importance of superior service delivery, are passionate about people and must be willing to commit to a long-term plan that will yield results. Preference will be given to applicants who are experienced in customer service, management, operations and business planning. A franchise company is only as strong as its weakest franchise, so Taste Holdings takes great care when selecting prospective franchisees.

Franchising offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to realise their dream of owning a business but with the benefit of having a solid support structure in the form of a franchisor. So why not find out more about The Fish & Chip Co or Zebro’s today by contacting 011 608 1999 or [email protected].

Authentic local brands THE FISH & CHIP CO and ZEBRO’S have ambitious plans for growth backed by a management group with a proven recipe for success…

Franchising offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to realise their dream of owning a business but with the benefit of support.


Butcher Block

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 031 816 7300 (ext 3081)Email [email protected] Website www.butcherblock.co.za

Dulcé Café

The first Dulcé Café was franchised in 1987 in Port Elizabeth. Since then, Dulce Café has captured a niche in the market by placing themselves strategically between a restaurant and a coffee shop, classifying themselves as a continental café or espresso bar in the true European tradition by serving four major products, namely, food, liquor, coffee and ice-cream. There are currently over 25 franchised stores, with expansion on the cards for 2017. The brand has a long-standing association with FASA (Franchise Association of South Africa). Concepts offered include the typical Dulcé Café (a restaurant operating out of 150m2 to 270m2), Espresso Bar as golf estate and residential estate outlets – all offering various customisations to best suit a chosen site. Please contact Brigid for more information.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 016 340 8300/ 083 628 9107Email [email protected] Website www.dulce.co.za/franchising

The Brazen Head

Are you interested in owning your own restaurant and pub? A Brazen Head restaurant may be just the answer for you. Celebrated for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, this popular franchise brand offers guests a truly authentic Irish dining and entertainment experience. Bringing this to life, the restaurant has an extensive food menu and full wine and beverage menu, including many international beers on tap. Our menu features hearty, wholesome, reasonably priced Irish and South African fare that appeals to the local palate. The Brazen Head allows you to experience a true taste of Ireland in South Africa. For more information, please email us or call our Head Office and speak to Karin van der Walt.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 011 467 4224Email [email protected] Website www.brazenhead.co.za

Durban-born steakhouse Butcher Block is looking for owner-operators to join their growing network. The chain, which is known for its exceptional quality steaks and relaxed dining experience, has recently undergone a brand overhaul and boasts a new-look interior and updated plating. The menu ensures that every taste is catered for by also offering seafood, poultry and traditional venison dishes. Franchisees and their key personnel undergo an intensive training programme, which encompasses both theoretical and practical on-the-job training within an existing operation. New stores receive up to one month’s support once the store is open for trading. Regular store visits and inspections are undertaken to ensure that franchisees adhere to brand.For more information, please contact Manuel.

Food: A-Z OpportunitiesFOCUS ON



eLiquor offers investors an excellent opportunity to join a very profitable industry and generate good returns. The franchisor ties it all into one, and gives business owners a fully fitted and furnished store, plus a step-by-step guide to operating a successful branded outlet. Outlets range between 80 and 120m² and offer a range of products that customers are familiar with, including a wide selection of beers, cider, fruit alcoholic beverages, wines, fortified wines and spirits. The investment price of R195 000 (excluding vat and excluding trading stock) includes the liquor license application, shop fitting, signage, shelving, fully operational point-of-sale, a complete back office system including stock management, CCTV cameras, equipment, fridges, marketing and opening promotion.

eLiquor

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 083 353 7535Email [email protected] Website www.eliquoronline.co.za

Goldline Industries

Goldline Industries is a leading market supplier of specialty kitchen equipment to the food service and hospitality industry. Goldline delivers flexible, value-driven restaurant equipment solutions to suit the needs of the big brands, as well as entrepreneurs looking to set up in the hospitality sector. With a full range of classic favourites and on-trend specialty equipment, including soft-serve and yoghurt machines, Goldline has just the equipment you need to attract customers and build your business. As the agent for the Taylor range of machines from the US, customers can access the best machines available in the marketplace today. Create a high margin frozen desserts and frozen beverage menu, as well as a variety of grilled specialties and more. Goldline Industries offers comprehensive after-sales service, including 24/7 specialist technical support from approved sub-agents in most major cities around the country. Full training is available at the company’s training centre in Johannesburg.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 011 608 1532Email [email protected] Website www.goldline.co.za.

Eezi Street

Brand new on the mobile/convenience food scene, the response to Eezi Street Pizzas has been overwhelmingly positive. They’re cropping up at most major events in the Cape, as well as at markets, school sports days, home parties, corporate functions: anywhere pizza is consumed – and that’s pretty much everywhere! Eezi Street’s unique, world-first oven bakes a pizza in a minute – delivering flame-baked flavour in a flash. The Eezi Street concept makes for a simple, cost- and energy-efficient operation. A menu with standard toppings is available or you can customise the Eezzi Cheezi (Margarita), with fresh toppings. Eezi Street’s network of licensed operators is expanding, so come on board and be part of this success story.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 082 778 7791Email [email protected]

The Braai Hut

South Africa is known for its sunshine, passion for sport and braaivleis. And The Braai Hut, is looking to serve up delicious, traditional braaivleis fare - steak, chops, sausage and more - in malls and other sites across the country. This is a South African tradition turned into a profitable and exciting business opportunity. The stores offer a full range of ready-prepared, take-away braai meals along with salads, pap and other side orders. The investment of R345 000 has been kept low to ensure that this remains a viable business opportunity with a menu that is loved by all South Africans.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 072 203 7872Email [email protected] www.sabizopps.co.za


After realising that the sunny coast of KZN had no good steakhouses, Manuel Savic set out to stir up the restaurant scene in Durban by joining the Butcher Block Group in 2006. The brand, which puts the best quality steak front and centre on its menu, has since opened three stores in Johannesburg, two in Durban, has another two in development, and is exploring opportunities across our borders.

2016 saw the Butcher Block brand go through a complete overhaul in terms of the look and feel of the stores. And, the modern décor and updated plating have been

very well received by old and new customers alike.

For Manuel the secret to restaurant – and franchise success – lies in an uncompromising commitment to service excellence. “If you have a great meal but the service is not up to scratch this taints the entire dining experience. We are constantly training our staff to ensure we offer exceptional service.”

A focus on training As part of its franchise package Butcher Block provides extensive in-depth training to all franchisees to ensure that when they take over the running of their store they are fully trained in all aspects of the business. Training is ongoing and additional store support from the management

team – who have all been in the restaurant industry their entire working careers and are passionate about food and the Butcher Block brand – is always available. “This level of support makes business sense – for the brand and our franchisees – in the tough competitive environment,” says Manuel. Manuel says restaurant experience isn’t a pre-requisite for a would-be franchisee but may be an advantage. For those who have a passion for food and are prepared to put in the long hours, the Butcher Block brand offers a great opportunity to start out and achieve success in the food industry. You will need patience to bear the fruits of your labour, but in the end the rewards can be outstanding.

Good food is GOOD BUSINESS

BUTCHER BLOCK serves up a modern new look – and the same great food and service...

AdvertorialFEATURED OPPORTUNITY


Occasions is the latest business opportunity on offer from MLA Import/Export, a company that was established in 1995 to identify suitable low-cost business opportunities within niche markets. In the food and beverage industry, the Occasions Gift Basket opportunity is a work-from-home business where operators create and supply gift baskets for special occasions, including birthdays and holidays. A Mobile Food Vending opportunity is also available in this category. Both businesses can be started with a minimal investment required from the operator.


The Fish & Chip Co

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 011 608 1999 Email [email protected] www.fishandchipco.co.za

Zebro’s

Zebro’s is a truly local brand that serves authentic local flavours.The brand’s key point of difference is that all chicken dishes are braaied over coals, offering a distinctively South African taste. Customers can enjoy a wide selection of meals, including chicken on the bone, chicken burgers, Russians, fresh-cut chips and assorted salads. Zebro’s offers customers the option of enjoying their meal in a friendly and approachable restaurant or as a take-away. The simplicity of the product range has resulted in one of the lowest new store establishment cost in its category. Zebro’s offers a turnkey business solution including training and office support. All new franchisees and their staff undergo intensive training comprising of theoretical and practical training modules. Contact Dewald van Deventer for more information.

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 011 608 1999Email [email protected] www.zebros.co.za

The Fish & Chip Co provides great value take-away foods and has built a reputation for serving generous portions of fish and fresh cut chips at affordable prices. Customers also enjoy a delicious menu including traditional fish and chips and Russians. Stores are easily accessible, well located and offer consumers a sit-down or take-away option. The Fish & Chip Co. offers a turnkey business solution including training and office support. Unlike the traditional franchisee model, the low royalties and marketing fees are fixed and not based on a percentage of turnover, making this model attractive to potential franchisees. Contact Zelneri van Zyl for more information.

Occasions

CONTACT DETAILS

Tel 076 897 9926Email [email protected]


The professional START-UP SOLUTION Vending offers many opportunities and advantages for aspiring entrepreneurs. You can start small, and add machines as your cash flow increases; it’s low maintenance, and you can run your entire business from home.


And with technological advances such as plug-and-play remote management systems and debit and credit card readers as optional extras, much of the physical handling has been streamlined. What’s more, you can partner with a company that helps individuals with every aspect of setting up and running an independent service, including recommendations on how and when to expand and what equipment is needed for various sites in order to obtain the highest returns.

Vending Solutions is one such company, and with 20 years’ industry experience, you can rely on their expertise when it comes

to strategic planning for the future, while you get on with the day-to-day management of your business. The Vending Solutions’ turnkey approach leaves you with the manageable job of installing the vending machine, keeping it stocked and collecting the cash.

Vending Solutions supplies an enormous range of brand new and refurbished machines, as well as the option to rent equipment. They are also set apart in the fact that they supply coffee machines and water coolers, making them the sole supplier choice to many businesses, and are the only company in the local market which has the ability to customise its

machines. With customers wanting many alternative items such as razor blades, healthy snacks, fresh food and safety equipment just to mention a few, Vending Solutions’ customisation department will allow just about any item to be stocked.

Factories, hospitals, fitment centres, business reception areas, schools and offices are all filled with people looking for a quick on-the-go snack, and as vending machines offer the perfect answer to this demand, it makes sense that their popularity continues to grow. And as the African market opens up, there are further exciting developments on the cards.

Another satisfied client, Thuto Sebotse, receives her turnkey business at

MTN Polokwane!

April 2017

VENDING SOLUTIONS SOURCES SITES!


The verdict is unanimous – if you’re going to start a business in the food industry you have to start with an absolute love for food – both preparing it and enjoying it – because it’s that passion that will keep you going through the tough times. And, in one of the most competitive sectors out there, you can expect some tough times indeed.

“It looks easy and fun but it’s a lot of work – when you’re working back to back days with crazy hours you have to love it because that’s what will drive you,” says Nthabiseng Nti Ramaboa, affectionately known as “Chef Nti”, who has risen to fame as a celebrity chef and TV personality through her unique dishes which celebrate South Africa’s culinary heritage. “My key

An appetite for SUCCESS

Nico

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on

Three foodies share how they took their passion and turned it into a thriving business – and give some tips on starting up in this dynamic sector...



challenge in fact is trying to find a balance between working and trying to preserve my natural love for cooking. I would like to keep my relationship with food fresh, so I pick the jobs I do wisely.”

Megan Eloff, who runs The Yard in Cape Town, with its quirky Dogs Bollocks brand drawing the crowds for their limited supply of 50 drool-worthy burgers every

evening, grew up in the restaurant her mother owned and developed her love for cooking at a young age. “The reality of running your own food business, however, is that you soon become swamped doing everything but the cooking. I believe I have to know how to do everything with my eyes closed before I can pass on the duties, and as the numbers are the most important element of a business I’ve found myself completely submerged in running the books,” she says. Eloff says she also spends a lot of her time ensuring that managers and staff are following the systems they have in place, and updating and evolving them as the business grows.

Brad Meiring who co-founded The Munching Mongoose with Tamryn Dicks combined his business expertise with a love for organically grown food when starting the brand, which gives customers an authentic “market” experience through the weekly delivery of fresh vegetables and products like free range eggs, farm fresh milk, crispy crusted artisan bread and gourmet cheeses.

“Tamryn’s experience has been invaluable in managing our financial and administrative tasks, and I have applied myself to introducing good business systems and processes so that we can run a smooth, scalable operation,” says Meiring. The duo bootstrapped the business from day one, working with very limited budgets and growing as they could, along with their customer base.

Growing customer loyalty While Munching Mongoose faces some competition in this market, Meiring believes the business sets itself apart through its extreme focus, even obsession, with offering a personalised experience for customers, presented in a fun and professional manner with clear and consistent communication. “We follow a flexible product subscription model, which is different to our competitors, and see ourselves as an experience – one that becomes part of a family’s weekly routine and brings them together around great produce, encouraging them to spend more time together.”

Eloff also attributes The Yard’s success to building relationships with customers who are attracted by the delicious burgers and cosy setting, and converting this initial interest to loyalty. “You’ll never just be a number to us,” she says. For Nti, the key to success is consistency; right from the start. She is also committed to learning and keeps up with what’s happening in the industry around the world through research and taking lessons from everything she does and sees.

“Many people think you can open and run a successful restaurant, yet most fail – new places open and close every day,” says Eloff. “As a restaurateur you need to be good at many things but also have the ability to multi-task all the time. Often the smallest things get overlooked but those small things can be detrimental over a long period of time.”

An example of this is portion control – at The Yard the only item of new equipment bought was a digital scale, to ensure that the profit margin on every single item sold in the restaurant is accurate. “And don’t give away free food – even to friends and family. In my shop, everybody pays, including my parents. If people truly support you then they will cough up the cash. If I treat someone to a freebie in my shop, I physically pay the bill on their behalf out of my own pocket.” Eloff cautions against relying on friends to make your business successful given that while they often lend support in the beginning, they soon get back to living their own busy lives.

I would like to keep my relationship with food fresh, so I pick the jobs I do wisely.

Nthabiseng Nti Ramaboa


Bridging the gapMeiring says he has experienced challenges when his small scale producers, growers and artisans who supply their boxes include families and friends getting together to do something they are passionate about. “Many are so well-intentioned but are not the most efficient or professional when it comes to the administrative side of things. This can cause stress for us when we are relying on delivery or waiting on an order confirmation, and then holding thumbs that what we receive is indeed what we asked for, and in the quantities we need. This however is part of the reason there

is an opportunity for us to do what we do, because we can bridge the gap and present a seamless experience for the consumer.”

In fact, sourcing and working with a “coalition of small producers” is one of the aspects he enjoys most about the business. “There is currently no formal legislation around the growing and sale of organic produce in South Africa and so there is a lot of ‘green washing’ and we have to be very careful who we work with,” says Meiring. He is on the committee of Slow Food Johannesburg, which focuses on getting local communities of farmers to grow according to good, clean and fair principles and ensure produce is free of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

Partnerships like this, as well as working with nutritional and health experts offering talks to parents about the health of their children, have helped the Munching Mongoose to gain exposure, as has their unique and fun branding, which has attracted media attention. “Our most consistent growth so far has come from word-of-mouth exposure through existing customers. This is also the most affordable form of marketing – as long as we keep doing what we say we are going

to do and keep our customers satisfied, they have been more than happy to spread the word for us.”

In fact, it was a customer who nominated them for the 2016 702/Cape Talk Small Business Awards with Sage One and winning this award opened up a host of new avenues for the brand; from new customers and suppliers to potential partnerships. These will no doubt help pave the way towards achieving their short-term goal of consistently delivering to 500 customers every week within their existing delivery zones, and their longer term vision of centralising many of the administrative, financial and marketing roles for the company in order to be able to set up nodes in other areas.

As to what’s next on the cards for Eloff, a three and a half month sabbatical spent working with world-class chef Francis Mallmann in all of his restaurants from Argentina to Miami, has seen her team up with an Argentinian friend in Cape Town to start a side line business cooking on open fire – “a blend of braai and an Argentinian Asado”. She also hints that pizza is a trend which will never fade, so Yard customers can keep their ears to the ground for potential developments in that area.

Chef Nti has recently spent time as part of a jury panel in Nigeria, working alongside international chefs in judging up-and-coming talent, and is also hosting the Cape Town good food and wine show. She says that she takes each month as it comes because there are always great opportunities in the wings.

And that is perhaps what these food-preneurs all have in common: an attitude that is on the constant look-out for how they can improve on what they’re already doing, backed by the willingness to put in the hard work that these achievements require. And, at the heart of it all, an insatiable hunger to feed their core passion for this dynamic, exciting industry.

Brad Meiring

We follow a flexible product subscription model, which is different to our competitors.

Megan Eloff

As a restaurateur you need to be good at many things but also have the ability to multi-task all the time.


SALES & MARKETING

5 Ways you can STEAL CUSTOMERS from the big guys

A disclaimer before you start reading; there’s no actual “stealing” involved here. Instead I’ll unpack a few tactics you should consider when mapping your growth plan. These strategies are often overlooked by the big brands when servicing their target markets. The bigger the organisation, the longer it takes to respond to trends and customer needs.

As a small business owner, you can explore this gap between customer expectations and the realities of the industry in which you operate. Monitor your sector carefully, identify pockets of

opportunity, pick one – or a few – take aim and ride that wave.

1 KEEP IT SIMPLEThe digital age is here and it’s a game

changer. The bar has been raised when it comes to consumer expectations, and today’s customers demand quick and easy access to the information they require. Once they find the information, it must be concise and easy to understand, and make it easy to do business with you. More often than not, the brand that is within reach and has the clearest messaging will get the deal.

Can a small upstart like yours really compete with the big players out there?


4 BE EVERYWHEREThey can’t be everywhere,

but you can. The more established a company, the more defined its brand strategy and experience. Any marketing platforms used must always complement this strategy, which means that big brands can’t be everywhere. In the early stages of growing your business, take advantage of the fact that you can use just about any marketing platform to promote your business. And, before you craft your brand strategy, remember that nothing prevents you from casting your net further than the big brands.

5 FIND OUT WHAT THEY VALUE

Craft your experience based on what your customers value the most. Take note of any feedback from your clients – and check out what the big brands’ customers are saying too, if they’re disgruntled they’ll be quick to take it to the “streets” of Twitter. Knowing and understanding what your customers want is gold! Find out why they seek out your services, what they value the most and why they keep coming back. Use this information to build an exceptional customer experience. Your small customer base offers a great opportunity to study your customers’ consumption and purchasing habits, and personal preferences, and find ways to best sustain the collection of this data. In addition to this, as the owner of a small business you can go back to the drawing board and rework the customer experience based on what you hear. Something that is very difficult for a big, established brand to do.

With these five points in mind, perhaps it’s time to revisit your growth strategy?

Amantle Mokubung, Marketing Strategist and Founder of Creative Collab – focused on outreach programmes for basic education learners in rural parts of South Africa. Email: [email protected].

Brand loyalty has become difficult to build; instead convenience and brand experience are key. The answer? Simplify everything. Make it easy for your prospects to commit to doing business with you. Keep your content and visual messaging simple, clear and aesthetically appealing. Apply this to your website, marketing collateral, online forms and the like. Then take it a step further. How easy is it for prospective service providers to do business with you? Are there any unnecessary barriers that you can remove? Revisit your processes and simplify where you can.

2 ACT QUICKLYSmall business owners often take

days to respond to enquiries or fail to deliver on time. Remember that bad word-of-mouth spreads more quickly than a trending Twitter topic moves to Facebook. And, that’s definitely not something you want to have happen to your business. In addition to this, your competitors are always just a click away. You are not your customer’s only option. Respond to enquiries and service your clients timeously. Even if you can’t offer the services required, acknowledge the enquiry, and don’t leave prospects hanging. Stick to the lead times that you have agreed upon with your clients, regardless of the size of their order or deal. Referrals for new business could come from anywhere.

3 EXPAND AND SPECIALISEI recently spent just over a week

in Cape Town and staying in Sea Point meant a visit to the popular ice-cream sandwich spot Crumbs & Cream was on the cards, naturally. Looking back at the experience, I realise that the ice-cream sandwich brand is really an ice-cream parlour and waffle house on steroids. They’ve added all the frills needed to create a full experience by allowing ice-cream lovers to co-create their ice-cream sarmies and add a personal touch too. I’m not encouraging you to copy, but you can certainly take a close look at your industry – and perhaps even adopt a similar approach.


Do you know why your business matters?Nothing is more important to the fortunes of your business than understanding why it matters. How will you make a difference to a customer’s life? What’s in it for them? What problem will you solve? Everything else follows.

Mar

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STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP

Businesses need to believe that what they are doing today will contribute to their fortunes and their sustainability tomorrow. As management guru Peter Drucker puts it: “They need to create customers.” The surest way to create customers is to matter to them. In the first of three articles, Mark Varder explores the value of putting human beings at the heart of your business strategy.

Strategy matters. A lot rests on getting the answers right. And yet the reality is that more than 50% of senior executives will admit in an unguarded moment that they do not have a winning strategy (Strategy& survey of 4,400 senior executives, 2010 to 2015). Richard Rumelt has written an entire book – Good Strategy/Bad Strategy – on what people think is strategy, but isn’t. On what they

The main advantage of a good strategy is that your competitors won’t have one. They might think they do, but strategy is a frequently misapplied and misunderstood term. Richard Rumelt

believe will help them realise their ambitions, but won’t.

Why does your business matter? It’s a pretty simple question. There’s no eye-watering jargon. It’s human. Your business needs to make people’s lives better in some way. Richer, healthier, easier, faster, slower, more exciting, more relaxed, or whatever. The question is also suitably demanding. Can you and your leadership team, sitting in the quiet of a boardroom, write down why your business matters? If you can, everything else follows. Your execution, your investments, your core competencies, your communications.

At the heart of any business there are a handful of words, usually a line or two, possibly a paragraph. These words tell everyone:

continued on page 60


Many schools of thought – like Positioning and Core Competencies – focus on the strengths of a company in relation to the competition. That rigour is essential, but I value this approach to strategy from Professor Cynthia Montgomery, the former head of the Strategy Unit at Harvard. You can read her book, The Strategist – Be The Leader Your Business Needs, without needing a degree from Harvard. Focus on “the unmet needs” of your customers, she says. When you start solving problems for them you’ll automatically find yourself well-positioned in relation to your competition.

Being human is the key To understand where I will be going with this (in the second part of my article) – the role of brand in business strategy – let’s consider a company that we’re all fairly familiar with. In The Strategist, Montgomery tells us that Nike’s “handful

>> Which people will reach into their pockets and provide the all-important revenue to the business. In other words, the customers the company is going to matter to.

>> What meaningful and valuable difference the company is going to make to their lives. In other words, why the business is going to matter to them.

Getting the words down is no easy task. But when you do, they result in clarity about three things:

1 Why your business exists – why it matters – why it is valuable.

2 What your business is trying to achieve – its reason for being – its sense of purpose.

3 How your business will create its meaningful and valuable difference – its strategy.

► WRITE IT DOWN

Many businesses find it difficult to set aside the time and the commitment to write down why they matter. With good reason. Firstly, it’s time-consuming. And it’s a long-term thing. And there’s always a more pressing problem that needs their attention. Secondly, “You know what, the business is moving along just fine.” And thirdly, they discover the discipline of writing surprisingly difficult.

But a winning strategy remains a must-have. A new type of consultancy – part brand

continued from page 58


Creating and implementing a strategy for your business is difficult enough. Don’t make things more difficult than they have to be. And, don’t start off on the wrong foot. What your company does should matter to human beings. The more it matters to them, the more its potential to be valuable to everyone involved, including your shareholders. It’s as challenging but also as simple as that.

Next issue: Use your brand – the human face of your business – to protect and unlock the potential of your business.

Mark Varder is the co-founder of the consultancy Varder Hulsbosch. Like many strategists, including Richard Rumelt mentioned above, he is an engineer by training.

of words” are: “To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.” The words – the answer to the question: Why does your business matter? – are surprisingly simple. There’s nothing intimidating about them. They’re human. If you’ve read Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog or Scott Bedbury’s New Brand World, you will know that, as Nike evolved, its leaders wrestled with difficult choices. The straightforward sentence they came up with captures the essence of the choices the business made. That’s why, when the words finally settled and became obvious – “Hey, I could’ve written that” – they captured why Nike matters. No doubt, you have experienced Nike’s innovation and inspiration for yourself and shelled out hard-earned cash in response. For decades now, the words have explained how and why Nike is valuable. They have had the power to animate and guide everything Nike does.

agency/part management consultancy – is answering the need. London-based BrandCap is a leading example. Locally, Varder Hulsbosch combines the left-brain rigour and discipline required of strategy with the right-brain creativity required of brand development.

“Writing things down imposes a discipline that no amount of talking can match.” Cynthia Montgomery, former head of the Harvard Business Strategy Unit.


when I start to lose interest or move on to the next challenge.”

Donovan and Kotze both have Communication (…generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and presenters) and Woo (… love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with someone) in their top five strengths and have used these to their advantage in taking their business – digital agency Yellow Door Collective – to the next level.

The duo have been so impressed with the insights provided by the Clifton StrengthsFinder that they have signed up their entire team, and now use it as part of their recruitment process too. “It’s a great way to see where a candidate’s strengths overlap with other team members, and what new strengths they can bring to the table.” When they secure a new project or client they then refer to the strengths matrix pinned on the wall and use it to work out who will be best suited to the account and why. “We also use it to get to the bottom of issues around employee frustration or apathy – and figure out how we can play to their strengths to boost productivity and positivity. For example, an employee in a junior role with Responsibility as a core strength needs to feel that they are taking ownership of what they say they will do – even if they are not ultimately responsible for signing off the work – and it’s important to encourage them to do so.”

The bottom line is that playing to your team’s strengths is a sure-fire way to build a solid foundation for your business; one that’s based on mutual understanding, respect and appreciation for the unique role that each person plays, and the value they add. Invest time and energy to harness this power, and build on it as your team develops.

INSPIRATION

Passion and talent are a serious power couple – and a good indicator of where your strengths lie…

You probably have an idea of what your strengths are, but the important question is whether or not you harness them, celebrate them, and use them intentionally, both in your personal capacity and when developing your team.

There are numerous approaches, tools and theories that you can use to identify your strengths. Business partners Emma Donovan and Dominique Kotze were

Discover your STRENGTHS to reach your full POTENTIAL

introduced to Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment by their business coach, and it has had a profound effect on their relationship, and how they run their business.

So, what is it? Gallup introduced this approach in 2001 in Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book became a New York Times bestseller and sold two million copies – so it’s safe to say it’s gained a bit of traction. Quite simply, it tells you how you’re talented and helps you to identify what you naturally do best.

How exactly does it work? Each person completes a 30-minute assessment to discover what their top five strengths are,

and what categories they fall into. You then receive a detailed explanation of each one, and what it means. Categories include Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building and Strategic Thinking.

Every strength has a flip side. Donovan’s assessment showed that she has Activator as one of her top strengths, which Gallup explains: “People exceptionally talented in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. [But] they are often impatient.” For Donovan this has meant learning to accept that not everyone else thinks like she does, or gets things done in the same time frame, and that that’s ok. “In fact, it’s probably a good thing, as their strengths will kick in

Emma Donovan and Dominique Kotze

*See page 75 & inside back cover for more opportunities

How to UP THE ENERGY ANTE in your biz

Energetic individuals inspire energy and action in those around them. Lethargic people do exactly

the opposite; they drain energy, limit focus and are generally wet rags when it comes to innovative

thinking. But no more! Here’s how to up your energy (even when you

feel like it the least)…

I was lucky enough to find myself on an adventure last year. I say “lucky” because spots on this project were hotly contested. Not because it was the most interesting or high profile work, but rather because it was highly innovative and fun. The project leader galvanised the team with enormous energy, which never seemed to flag. At technical discussions she was the one with her hand up asking questions. At team meetings she was the one asking the opinions of the “quiet ones” encouraging them to emerge from their shells

and talk. And at late night

sessions she was the one making the

rounds to each person to ensure that their families were cared for while they were at work, and that they themselves were fed, had

a ride home and were as

comfortable as possible. It made a real difference. High energy individuals are just more fun to work with.

Of course being high-energy and sparky requires a fair amount of effort. The pressure to be perfect parents, innovative employers, ever-smiling spouses, fun best friends, selfless offspring, and more, take its toll. And, if energy is a finite resource, how can we manage it better?

KNOW YOUR HIGHS AND LOWSYou know how some (annoying) people jump out of bed the moment their alarm goes off? And then bounce around singing while they get their entire morning routine done in a blaze of sunlight and unicorns, while you, bleary-eyed, give them the side-eye. They clearly have high energy levels in the morning. Knowing when your energy is at its highest, allows you to schedule work around your peaks and troughs. Hard, challenging or strategic thinking should be scheduled for when your energy levels are at their peak; while boring, mundane work needs to happen when energy is low.

To assess when your energy is at its highest, note your high, medium and low energy periods over a few days. Draw a 24-hour graph and plot your energy on a scale of zero to five throughout the day. Once you have an idea of your peaks and troughs, you can begin to plan your work accordingly.

MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONS



The commonly-held theory is that people who finish half their To-Do list by 8am win at life, but everyone is different. We have a software developer client who attends his morning meeting remotely via Skype in his PJs because he’s not a big fan of mornings. He’s at his most productive between 9pm and 2am, when he turns into some kind of strange coding machine.

A LITTLE MORE FOCUS PLEASEDoes that headline leave you gasping at the thought of focusing any more than you already do? The fact is, to get the best results we think that you need to change the way in which you focus, just a bit. We believe that smaller, more focussed

time blocks are a much better option than longer focus periods. Give yourself a limited amount of time to complete a task; this provides a much better focus point than an endless deadline. Allocate entire batches of work to be done in a limited time period to allow for a short, high-energy burst of effort.

We have a client who had been working on her final MBA paper for months and had made little progress. With just three weeks to go, the looming deadline gave her no wriggle room and she managed (with almost no sleep and obscene volumes of chocolate) to turn her paper in, in just 16 days. It took razor focus with no interruptions over a limited time period.

INTERRUPTIONS STEAL FOCUS Ever get to the end of an extremely busy day and asked yourself what you have actually accomplished? You’ve probably done a million things, but nothing monumental – nothing on your To Do List. Try this. Monitor yourself over an hour on a normal working day when you are trying to complete a task. Note every interruption. We find that once you see just how often you are interrupted, you will understand the need to block out the world so that you can get stuff done.

It is very difficult to focus on being continued on page 66




productive for long periods of time, particularly when there is a continuous barrage of external stimuli. We suggest setting aside short lumps of time where you can focus on the task at hand. Try this. Block out a 45-minute period in your day. Turn off your email, turn off your phone, wear head-phones, if you have to, and focus on the task at hand. Doubling time doesn’t double productivity, so keep your intense bursts of focus to a slightly shorter time period than usual. Once your time is up, go for a walk, eat an apple, go and chat to someone, but let your mind wander.

This only works if you prioritise your tasks for the day in the morning so that you can schedule the most arduous tasks for when your energy is at its highest. To achieve this, you may need to have a gentle conversation around how you are not to be interrupted when your door is closed or your headphones on.

CONSIDER THE WHOLE OF YOUThe concept of the “whole” person is one in which you acknowledge that every person is made up of different facets that all need to be functioning in tandem in order for the entire system to operate effectively. These facets could include family, social life, work life, the mind - both intellectual and spiritual, the heart (including close relationships) and body. You aren’t made up of just the family or just work, so to ensure that you are operating at an optimal level, all areas have to receive attention over time. The problem is we often tend to focus on one or two, and neglect the others.

We work with our clients to get them to use mind, spirit, and body activities in order to become more effective decision makers in a chaotic work environment. Playing in all areas fills your energy wells much faster than other methods. If we are working too hard, and not considering other parts of the system, it becomes almost impossible to regenerate energy levels appropriately.

ACTIVATE YOUR BODYYou’ve read this before, but it bears repeating. To up your energy levels, you need to treat your body like the temple that it is. Eat properly, sleep properly and exercise. Activity begets energy, so if you put a bit of effort into exercising and living healthily, the payoff is more energy at work.

Eating, as we all know, impacts energy rhythms. You can manage your peaks and troughs through what you eat and when you eat. A traditional large lunch is an almost universal recipe for an afternoon nap. Bad food habits need to be broken, but remember that everyone’s body is different and responds to food differently. So it may take a little trial and error before you hit on the recipe that works for you.

ENGAGE YOUR HEARTYour emotional state impacts your energy levels. Being positive allows you to be more resilient and not let the situation get you down. It can be tricky if the people around you are negative. But you need to manage your emotions, in order to maintain high energy levels. Any negative self-talk has to stop too. Immediately! You are good enough!


JG Electronics was founded by John Georgiou in 1990 and has grown from strength to strength, by importing a wide array of state-of-the-art printing systems. The company has clients throughout Africa, the Seychelles and Mauritius and is the one-stop shop for entrepreneurs looking to get started or expand their current offering in the novelty printing industry.

With everything from inkjet to colour laser, sublimation and the new White Toner and Neon systems, JG gives business owners the option to print on pretty much any fabric, wood, metal vinyl, poster, plastic, crystal or glass surface.

When it comes to sublimation systems, JG is the sole agent for the class-leading Sawgrass desktop system in Southern Africa, as well as for the Textprint sublimation papers and specially-coated

printable items, with their MUGGIT brand setting the industry standard in quality. The systems enable unique personalised gifts, corporate and promotional items to be produced using a photo in minutes. They also sell vinyl cutters, and are an authorized distributor of Silhouette America, thus supplying and marketing their wide range of craft cutters and consumables. Their photoblasting systems are ideal for memorial images on headstones, while their Forever Transfer Papers, of which JG became the leading distributor for in 2016, allow for printing on items like pens, USB sticks, mirrors and shirts. JG does not manufacture items itself but rather imports from key manufacturers based overseas.

THE SUPPORT YOU NEED With so many options on offer (starting from under R10 000), JG Electronics is

Vinyl Cutting

Be limited only by your imagination...JG Electronics has extensive offerings for creative business owners...


committed to offering professional advice pertaining to your specific needs, prior to purchase. You will, therefore, only walk away with the equipment that will enable your business to achieve best results. You don’t have to buy the complete system; you can buy as many or as few items as required. All equipment comes with training at the company offices, as well as a full instruction manual and training video.


if you feel as if you are contributing to positive things, you will want to carry on. So find out where you get your kicks and do those things. As trite as it sounds, you need to love what you do, in order to be energised by it.

Running a business is hard, and for most of us takes up more than half of the day. You need to be loving it and you need to be energised by it in order to be the best possible versions of yourself every single day.

Grant Newton is a Senior Consultant at BTS, a global professional services firm supporting world leading businesses with strategy execution, leadership development and sales transformation. With a focus on the people side of strategy, they turn strategy into action and results. Visit: www.bts.com for more info.


You can do this, and you are not an impersonator! This type of thinking can drain your energy and enthusiasm.

Moving to a more positive frame of mind is an active process that requires your attention. You need to be aware of any negativity and either remove yourself from the conversation or stop this thinking in its tracks. To do this you can come up with alternative truths. For example, if someone complains that a brilliant idea wasn’t adopted, look for examples of where innovative ideas have been actioned. Always look for counter-evidence to present to the negative-Nancy.

Another way to boost emotional energy is through acts of kindness. This can be as small as making someone else coffee when you wander over to the machine, or giving the security guard a lift after

his shift ends so that he doesn’t have to wait hours for a taxi. It doesn’t have to be huge, but practicing one act of kindness a day can have a profound impact on your emotional energy well.

CENTRE YOUR SPIRITLife is frenetic. We run, run, run and react to everything. But this constant outpouring of effort is draining. This needs to change and be replaced with a space in which you can be less reactive and take a timeout if needed.

It may seem counter-intuitive but to speed up you need to slow down. For some people that means a 10-minute walk, for others a 90-minute yoga class, and for others still it’s taking leave to go and do those things that make them happy. Victor Frankel, who famously wrote on finding purpose in your life, in even the darkest times, believed that


As long as there are cars on the road, car washing services will be in demand. My Mobi Car Wash’s low water usage model – less than four litres of water is typically used per car wash – is a real drawcard for customers as water restrictions come into effect in various regions across the country and consumers become more environmentally aware.

Convenience sets you apart Convenience is another plus for your customers as you can offer a full range of valet services at their home or workplace. The mobile units are compact and easy to operate and designed for the mobile operator. You can set up at a fixed location like a local mall, corporate building, gym etc. so your customers can have their cars valeted while they shop or work.

For newcomers to the industry, My Mobi’s business model means you can get off to a quick and easy start, and grow with market demand

by adding mobile units to your line-up. My Mobi also takes the guesswork out of chemical and consumable purchases through its service-based volume package, which ultimately means more profit in your pocket. The franchise package offers a low upfront investment, no ongoing franchise fees and the flexibility to set your own service prices.

A solution for corporates For corporate clients, My Mobi offers on-site managed car wash services for staff and customers. They also have an Enterprise Development solution to assist in delivering on CSI objectives, creating jobs and enabling sustainable small business opportunities.

Email [email protected] to place your order and join the My Mobi network, a business opportunity that addresses People, Planet & Profit.

GO GREEN, it makes business sense


My Mobi Car Wash is creating serious income potential for its operators and doing their bit to save the planet…



With nearly three decades of experience and having helped thousands of individuals across Africa start their own businesses, No Betr Autoglass Repair Systems is the industry leader in manufacturing and distribution of professional autoglass repair and restoration systems. The systems are specially designed to be operated by anyone, are completely portable – so you can work from anywhere – and are packaged with everything you need to turn your investment into profit. Expert training takes place in person over the course of one day, after which entrepreneurs will be able to start working and earning a profit immediately.

Each system has been manufactured to ensure

Repair systems born out of CUSTOMER NEEDAlready represented in 18 countries, the No Betr Autoglass Repair Systems market continues to grow...

durability and is supplied with all the necessary accessories. The Windscreen Repair System can repair nearly any rock chip with up to a 5cm diameter, and is battery-operated and completely mobile. The bonus is that windscreen repair costs are mostly covered by insurance, so one can expect a steady stream of work. The franchisor predicts that repairing two windscreens a day will result in a R9000 monthly profit. The Headlight Restoration System can restore headlights to near-

new condition and original shine, with a special coating that cures and bonds to the lens, as well as protecting headlights from damaging UV rays. The glass polish kit removes scratches from any glass surface including vehicle glass, shop fronts, patio doors, show rooms, display windows and more.

All the systems are great companions to anyone working within the motor industry who are looking to provide exceptional service to customers. They also come with

a 100% quality guarantee. “We have the right system for anyone wanting to start an affordable but profitable business, so contact us today to get started,” says business owner Frik Liebenberg.


“The most impressive part of this business opportunity has to be witnessing the customer’s excitement when they see the books for the first time,” says Gary Steyn of Create-a-Book, a company that produces personalised story books, and allows a child to become the hero of their very own story in a professionally bound hard cover book. Perhaps the next best thing is the fact that it takes less than five minutes to make these lifetime keepsakes, and that this low-risk investment offers the ideal work-from-home opportunity to suit those wanting to be in charge of their own time and income.

“As soon as the software is loaded onto a computer, the ability to make money is there, and as the concept is so unique,

the books practically sell themselves,” continues Steyn. “As with any business, success comes from hard work and smart marketing and selling. Our record for the dealer that paid their business off the quickest is two months; although this was exceptionally fast and six months is probably a good average time to expect.” The R15 500 investment includes the lifetime license, all assembly equipment as well as start-up stock, and there are no further royalties or ongoing costs other than purchasing your own stock to make up the books.

Bring smiles to little facesFull training is given at the time of the package handover, and the new dealer is guided through the process of making

up their very own book. Each licensee is also supplied with a marketing manual with guidelines and examples of how to market the products, and the Create-a-Book friendly staff are always on hand to discuss new and innovative ideas. “We are continually looking at improving the delivery of our products and services, and there are plans afoot to make the product easier to sell online,” says Steyn.

“Joining the Create-a-Book team means becoming part of a leading national network selling an exciting concept that has a huge target market – come along and join the fun!”

Be your own boss with Create-a-Book’s exciting concept...

CREATE your BUSINESS SUCCESS STORY



INSPIRATION

Boost your confidence, quicklyYou can up your confidence with a plan and a little practice. Here’s how to do it...

I’m always amazed at just how many business owners struggle with confidence issues. And self-confidence can be a game changer; the difference between mediocrity and success. Think of a business icon you admire, they no doubt exude confidence

1LIST YOUR PAST SUCCESSES.

At least 100 of them. Read this list whenever you need a confidence boost.

5 “SOFT” CONFIDENCE BUILDERS You can boost your self-confidence with a few easy tips and tricks:

in their abilities, their products and their companies. Mediocre products and services have even been known to push through the clutter because of a business owner or sales person’s ability to sell with confidence.

Self-confidence is no different from any other skill; it can be acquired through hard work and practice. If standing up and addressing a crowd is difficult for you, the only way to get past this is to do it over and over again. There’s no doubt it will be challenging, but you can get through it.

2DRESS FOR SUCCESS. Shallow

as it may seem, little bolsters your confidence more than looking and feeling good. Those expensive shoes and eye-catching sunglasses have a real feel good value, whilst feeling underdressed will make you want to hide in the corner studying the canapes.

3SAY IT. Words are powerful.

Affirming why you can, rather than why you cannot, is a powerful confidence builder. It is scientifically proven to strengthen your resolve and be encouraging. Become your very own cheerleader.

4EXERCISE. Sorry to break it to you,

but exercise is good for self-confidence. It has to do with all those feel-good endorphins that are released, and the sense of pride that comes from conquering lazy habits. Your mind will quickly deduce that if you can get this one thing right, today, you can get many more

things right as the day and weeks progress. Start with a win early in the morning and watch your confidence rise. This is also true for any morning routine that requires commitment and discipline.

5INTEGRITY. This is a real

confidence game changer. By keeping promises to yourself – not just to everyone else – you build self-respect and trust. This is a key building block

for self-esteem and confidence.These quick and easy confidence boosters will help you get up, get dressed and show up. But real confidence comes from acting or following through on something, even when you are nervous and perspiring heavily.

Some people suffer from general low confidence, while others lack confidence in areas they are not skilled in. The former is a highly complex personal challenge and a journey of self-discovery and development of self-esteem, self-respect and self-appreciation. The latter can be dealt with on a challenge-by-challenge basis.



Mel Tomlinson is a business and consciousness coach and CEO of Performance Booster (Pty) Ltd. She is also a registered COMENSA (Coaches and Mentors of South Africa) member.

MAKE IT HAPPENA good rule of thumb to bring about change is to set a date for achieving the desired confidence outcome, for example become comfortable addressing an audience of 30 people. Next, commit to three to six actions that will help you achieve confidence in this area. Get a coach, partner or friend to hold you accountable, cheer you on and encourage you when you feel despondent. Plan a celebration or reward to mark your achievement and then move to the next level. Make it happen!

ACTION STEPSHere are a few real-world scenarios and recommended action steps to help increase your confidence exponentially:

THE CHALLENGE

PUBLIC SPEAKING

I need the confidence to speak in public and present my products to an audience.

Your assignment: Join your nearest networking organisation. Here, you will get ample opportunity to practice this skill in a safe environment. For a slightly bigger stretch, join Toast Masters, the international public speaking platform, and start eating the elephant one bite at a time.

THE CHALLENGE

COLD CALLING

I know I would do much better if I saw more clients but I hate cold calling.

Your assignment: Make 100 cold calls for a friend, selling his product. Do this in one day. Once you have experienced 30 rejections for someone else, you will begin to realise that the rejection is not personal, and it will become easier to make your own calls.

THE CHALLENGE

TOUGH CONVERSATIONS

I hate confrontation but people keep taking advantage of my good nature. I am so tired of it, but I don’t want to offend and hurt them. When I start speaking I get nervous and forget what I want to say. I have no confidence in this area.

Your assignment: Start by reframing this “difficult” conversation. Turn it into something positive; a growth conversation rather than a tough conversation. Write your thoughts down and keep writing until

you feel some of the emotion around the issue dissipate. Next, jot down three important things you want to get across during the conversation. Then practice these in front of the mirror or with your coach or a friend. Now make an appointment and have that growth conversation.


*See page 63 & inside back cover for more opportunities


Losing steam? How to GET YOUR FOCUS BACKRegain your focus and become a better leader…You’ve come to the middle of the year and the hustle and bustle of the New Year is a distant memory. You have navigated your way through all the public holidays in April and May, as well as through your business year-end… So, it is time to kick back and cruise for a bit, right? No! Your sales and deliverables will plummet together with your receivables and your profits. As the leader, you can never ever take your eye off the ball.

Here’s the thing; if you lose your focus your employees will slowly but surely lose theirs. So what do you do if you find yourself losing focus? My go-to strategy is to re-read the Four Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your

Wildly Important Goals, by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling. In a nutshell these are:

1 Focus on a few critically important goals.

2 Act on the lead measures that impact goal achievement,

3 Measure success and motivate employees through visible compelling scoreboards and

4 Hold one another accountable through a weekly “cadence” of accountability.

Before we go any further, let me be blunt – you haven’t lost focus all of a sudden, it’s happened over time. And, whatever you do

to get back on track will require consistent effort and action; things won’t change overnight.

LET’S UNPACK THOSE TIPSFocus on a few critically important goals. Identify your goals, and make sure you know which are a priority. Chase the top three or four on your list and focus on these. Set dates for when tasks must be completed and allocate time in your diary. Be realistic with the time frames. You now have an action plan in place for all of your priority goals.

Act on the lead measures that impact goal achievement. Part of your action, as

STRATEGY & LEADERSHIPNi

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Nikki Viljoen is an internal auditor and business administration specialist who can be contacted on 083 702 8849 or [email protected] or www.viljoenconsulting.co.za for any policies and procedures that you may require.

a leader, should be to ensure that your team has its own goals. Just as you have an action plan, each team must have a plan to work towards, and due dates set. Taking this one step further, each member of the team should have an individual action plan with due dates and targets. This ensures that everyone is both responsible and accountable for their specific role in the process. Some team members may need help in prioritising their tasks and slotting them into their daily working requirements. Ensuring that their daily, weekly and monthly tasks are set properly is important if everyone is to work in sync.

Measure success and motivate employees through visible, compelling scoreboards. Keeping your team motivated is crucial. Employees can become pretty down, very quickly, so anything that can be done to motivate and inspire them is useful. For example, why not turn each goal into some sort of competition? So, for example, the team that achieves their goal first gets some sort of prize (and it doesn’t have to be money or goods, it can be as simple as some extra days off). Put up a scoreboard (for everyone to see) and record daily, weekly and monthly achievements. Then incentivise the individual in each team too. The scoreboards will ensure proper measurement takes place and transparency in terms of milestones achieved.

Hold one another accountable through a “weekly cadence” of accountability. If the end goal is to be achieved, it is clear that every single member of the team needs to meet their daily, weekly and monthly targets. Link team members up so that they can hold each other accountable and also assist each other in the event that someone is struggling. Set up regular meetings (usually weekly) to ascertain if there are problems and to create a time for brainstorming to find solutions to challenges. In this way “stronger” team members can teach and even mentor their peers and assist them.

As the leader, you need to make sure that everyone is clear on what the goal is, what they have to do in order to achieve the goal and what they get as a reward for a job well done. You also need to ensure that everyone is committed to the plan and pulling in the same direction, at the same time. Employees who are not committed to being part of a winning team have no place in your organisation.

In translating the plan into action, be sure that everyone knows what they have to do, how it needs to be done and by when. This will mean working together and dealing with and removing any barriers that prevent this. Open and honest dialogue and transparency go a long way to helping a team work together effectively and efficiently.

Accountability is important too. Does everyone meet their deliverables, and if not are there consequences? And, if they exceed expectations, are there rewards?

Implementing the above will ensure that focus and commitment to the task at hand is once again clearly in evidence throughout the company.

ROYAL TOMBSTONESRoyal Tombstones offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to manufacture granolithic concrete tombstones in their own area. The tombstones look and feel just like granite but cost a fraction of the price. Franchise packages start from R320 000 Excl. Vat for a complete turnkey operation. The package includes an exclusive area, manufacturing equipment, moulds, signage and advertising. No experience is required to run this easy-to-manage business. Full training and ongoing support is offered by head office. For more information on this tombstone manufacturing franchise that offers excellent returns on your investment, contact head office. Secure your area today – don’t miss out on this fantastic every-growing market.

For more information, call Craig on 033 342 0744, fax: 086 574 1372, email: [email protected] or visit: www.royaltombstones.co.za


STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP

How to build great relationshipsHealthy relationships are key not only to workplace happiness but to productivity too. Here are a few habits and behaviours you should look to cultivate…

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We spend, at a minimum, eight hours in the office every day, so it makes sense that the relationships forged here are crucial for workplace happiness and productivity too. However, most of us operate on autopilot for a good part of the day, unaware of what is going on inside of us (emotions) and around us (environment, other people) and the constant feedback we are getting (from ourselves, from the environment/situation and from others). Humans are social by nature, so it is essential for us to have good relationships in our personal and professional arenas, but we can’t do this effectively if we are operating on autopilot.

According to a recent Gallup Report, when we have good relationships in the workplace, we are up to seven times more engaged which enables us to be creative and innovative. Good relationships are essential for our personal and business growth, that age old cliché “it’s not what you know but who you know” bears testimony to this. Many a new contract has come about as a result of being in the right place at the right time with the right people giving you a helping hand (i.e. a referral, a recommendation, providing an opportunity).

The key characteristics of good relationships are:>> Trust – yourself to do the right thing, uphold your values/morals/boundaries and trust others to do the same.>> Honesty – be honest with yourself first before you can be honest with others.

>> Respect – for each other as human beings first and foremost before gender, position, role etc.>> Communication – open, honest, transparent and meaningful dialogue.

So how do you go about building good relationships in the workplace?The basic principles for professional and personal relationships are the same. However, personal relationships are more emotionally charged as they are driven by romantic love, whilst in the workplace, we are driven by the love we feel for our enterprise, our clients, suppliers, employees etc. Just as children mimic their parents’ behaviour, so too do employees mimic the behaviour of leaders in their organisations. Parents set the tone by which the family functions and thrives whilst leaders set the tone for the corporate culture, values, vision and mission. So yes, the basic principles are the same.

If you are looking to build great relationships in your professional (or personal) environment, then focus on these key elements:

Develop people skills. Also known as social intelligence (SQ), work at taking a genuine

interest in the people who work for you. Enquire about their wellbeing, their family; acknowledge their personal achievements (e.g. sport, birthday, anniversary etc.). Learn how to be a good communicator and listener.

Identify relationship needs. Every relationship has a transactional component to it, in other words you add value to each other through your behaviour, skills, knowledge, insights, values etc. Understand the value that each relationship holds for you (positive and negative) and how you can maintain the value (e.g. be the go-to person for a specific skillset). This is not only about getting your needs met but also meeting other people needs.

Schedule time to build relationships. If you don’t make time for your relationships, over time you won’t have a relationship. Set a reminder in your diary if you need to, take a walk around the floor/building, talk to people, have coffee chats with them, build a connection. When people know you care, they tend to be more engaged, committed and participative.

Develop your emotional intelligence. People often confuse EQ with mindfulness. They are two very different elements but are very much intertwined. EQ is the personal growth and development work we do to raise our level of self-awareness and emotional state. Mindfulness tools and techniques are one of the ways that we can do this (e.g. meditation, breathing etc.) to help us manage our emotional state and presence in the here and now.

Appreciate others. Having an attitude of gratitude for life in general and others provides us with a sense of wellbeing and that all is right in the world. Yet, we very seldom acknowledge and appreciate others for the small things they do, we wait until they have done something big and recognisable before acknowledging their efforts. It’s the small actions done daily that builds a great relationship.

Be positive. Our attitude and approach to life and our relationships contribute to their health and quality. If we have a negative attitude towards our relationships and are always finding fault or complaining about everything, eventually people are not going to want to be around us because it will be emotionally draining. If you want to leave a lasting impact in people’s lives, be encouraging, motivating, supportive and inspiring. As Maya Angelou said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Manage boundaries. It’s important to know your own values and personal boundaries, that way

you will not find yourself in uncomfortable or compromising situations. When we have healthy, clear boundaries, we are able to say no to people and situations that do not align to our values and morals – in other words we are living our truth. All relationships need boundaries.

Avoid gossip. It may be nice to be in the know as to what’s going on, but when gossip comes calling, you need to shut the door. Not only is it energy consuming but it can also have a negative impact on everyone around you but it leaves room for way too many misinterpretations, misunderstandings and assumptions. Besides you have way too many other important things to focus your energy on.

Listen actively. There is a very big difference between listening and hearing. One of the traits of a good leader is to be a good listener and that involves more listening that talking. Active listening means you are giving the person and situation your undivided attention, in other words you are fully present in the moment and taking in everything that is being shared with you – both the verbal and non-verbal clues. Did you know that only 7% of our communication is verbal? The rest is all non-verbal in other words our body language, energy we give off, posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, and the words that we use.

Good relationships are essential in all aspects of our lives, personal and professional. At the end of the day money doesn’t make the world go round – relationships do.

Paula Quinsee is a relationship expert, Tedx speaker and author of the self-help guide Embracing Conflict. Paula is also a consultant to the TV show Married at First Sight SA. She works with individuals and organisations to cultivate healthy relationships in both personal and professional arenas by focusing on real skills and personal growth and development. Go to www.paulaquinsee.com for more info.

LAST WORD

How improving your PROSPECTING SKILLS will DOUBLE YOUR SALES

For most salespeople, prospecting is the most challenging activity they do. They dread the thought of picking up the phone to make a living. No matter what product or service you sell, success in sales is built through effective prospecting.

Here are five prospecting secrets to help you:1. Establish a routine. You must schedule time for prospecting every day at preferably the same time. Do not allow anything to interfere with your prospecting time. The salesperson who has a set daily routine of making prospecting calls at a specific time and adheres to this schedule without distraction has a massive advantage over others.

2. When is the best time to prospect? The best time to make prospecting calls is when you have the most energy. I always prospect early in the morning because that’s when I have the most energy. It also gets me off to a winning start,

which sets up my day for success.

3. It gets easier after the first call. The first call is always the most difficult. Getting yourself to make the first call of the day is normally the biggest hurdle. After you make the first call, you realize it was not as difficult as you had imagined. Prospecting is fun after a few positive calls. You will often find receptive people on the other end of the line who are open to your call. Just do it, break through the barrier, your confidence will soar when you realise that prospecting is the trigger to all successful selling.

4. Set prospecting goals. Set a specific goal of what you want to happen on each call. Know what you want that prospect to do. It is difficult to achieve prospecting success without clearly defined objectives.

5. Prospecting is a numbers game. I guarantee you that the more

prospecting you do, the more deals you will secure. Prospecting allows you to plan your income and results. If you track your prospecting efforts, you will find that you have clear ratios in your sales efforts. Once you know how many prospecting calls you need to make in order to get a client presentation and therefore a closing opportunity, then you have a good measure of how to achieve any sales target.

Prospecting is truly the starting point of success in any sales profession. I teach a simple sales model – the more you effectively prospect, the more presentation opportunities you will get, therefore the more sales you will close. Develop and apply the above-listed prospecting ideas and I guarantee that you will become one of the top sales people in your field.

John Lloyd is a business growth strategist, award-winning marketer, speaker, trainer, columnist and author of the book Smart Thinking for Crazy Times.


*See pages 63 & 75 for more opportunities

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