Christo Botes While the current economic status continues to paint a gloomy picture for the business environment, now is the time for small and medium enterprises (SME) to capitalise on the gaps in the market that this changing environment is creating.  This is according to Christo Botes, executive director at Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS), who says that larger corporations’ tighter internal structures hinder the ability to adapt timeously to the changes in the market, thereby creating gaps for smaller businesses to fill. He points to an analogy that is fitting the situation - “Big ships take long to turn, whereas smaller ones are able to turn quicker and move swiftly along.”  “Smaller businesses are agile and have the ability to quickly overcome various obstacles to establish and attain longevity. Compared to bigger corporations, smaller businesses are easily adaptable to movements in the market due to their size,” says Botes. Looking at the curre...

Annelie Smith The risks facing businesses are greater than ever. Each day a business and its executives are exposed to a vast array of risks - both internally and externally - that have the potential to negatively impact a business’ cash flow, operations, reputation and ultimately the success of the business. According to Annelie Smith, Corporate Executive at Risk Benefit Solutions (RBS) , often businesses, and in particular small and medium enterprises (SMEs), don’t know the true extent of the risks impacting their business, or have measures in place to protect themselves from the consequences of these risks.  She adds that when implementing a risk management plan, businesses need to identify all possible threats against their business. “Often businesses obtain insurance for the more ‘obvious’ risks such as fire and perils, theft and damage to property. There are however so many other lurking risks which could be harmful to a business if the necessary protective measures...

Gugu Mjadu Entrepreneurship is one of the most noble career paths, but also the most challenging and does not come without its pressures. Gugu Mjadu, spokesperson for the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, says that entrepreneurship is not suited to everyone and individuals taking this career path should possess certain characteristics in order to thrive. “While successful entrepreneurs are widely celebrated, the reality is that starting a business involves hard work, sweat and tears. Having a great idea is just one of many steps and processes to starting a successful business venture.” Mjadu says that there comes a time in every aspiring entrepreneur’s career path that they decide to take the leap of leaving their 9-5 job to embrace their passion of creating and building their own business and become their own boss. She advises that before taking this step, entrepreneurs need to make sure they have done their homework and sufficient research....

The Small Business Development Institute and the Department of Small Business Development will host a sequel to the successful inaugural National SMME Policy Colloquium that was held in 2014. This year’s colloquium will be held at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) from 30-31 October 2015. The colloquium’s principal focus is to debate and interrogate policies that hamper the growth and sustainability of SMMEs. The colloquium also seeks to find sustainable solutions to the challenges that confront small businesses and cooperatives and to identify policy interventions that will contribute to the growth and sustainability of small businesses. The second National SMME policy colloquium will highlight the first anniversary of the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) and will provide an opportunity to the Minister to report to the nation some of the progress and key milestones her department has registered since its establishment. Minister of Small Business D...

Clamber Club and Safeway have teamed up to help parents and children enjoy a safe, stimulating and stress-free car journey every time. The Happy Traveller Campaign, which launches in Baby City stores nationwide in September 2015, offers a free Clamber Club Car Sanity Saver CD (valued at R80) with selected Safeway car seats purchased. Safety is first priority From the first time your baby goes home from the hospital, you as a parent are responsible for your child’s safety in a car. “We understand that safety is every parent’s number one concern and a correctly installed car seat is one way to assure your child’s safety whilst travelling in a car,” comments Elise Lustig, owner of Safeway Vehicle Restraints. In fact, a car seat could save your child's life during an accident. Arrive Alive Research Data and Statistics on the importance of seatbelts and restraining toddlers in car seats reveal that when correctly installed and used, car seats can reduce the risk of death for i...

In October 2014, the Engel & Völkers Hartbeespoort Dam licence was acquired by Antoinette Swanepoel and Cherry Grobler, a dynamic management team with a wealth of experience in the industry. The shop is now celebrating their first Birthday, with a wealth of accolades achieved in such a short time.  From left to right: Kevin Norris (Intern Property Sales Advisor), Leilani Augostine (Rental Property Advisor), Trudy Burger (Property Sales Advisor), Cherry Grobler (Principal and License Partner), Craig Hutchison (CEO Engel & Völkers Southern Africa), Maryka Broodryk (Team Assistant), Puleng Monametsi (Intern Property Sales Advisor), Antoinette Swanepoel (Director and License Partner), Marina Roux (Intern Property Sales Advisor), Lorna Stander (Intern Property Sales Advisor), Rolo Armer (Property Sales Advisor).  Antoinette has been a highly successful resident agent in Hartbeespoort since January 2005. She is very well known in her community and has always ha...

The On-Demand Economy is revolutionising consumer behaviour around the world. But what is it exactly? Lloyd Ball The new on-demand economy is the immediate real-time provision of goods and services by companies using smart technologies, and consumers have embraced this trend with a frequency that is unprecedented. The increase in the number of smartphone connected consumers, simple and secure purchase flows, and location-based services are a few of the market conditions and technological innovations that propel the explosion in on-demand services.  The always on, always connected revolution has made convenience, efficiency, and simplicity critical ingredients in purchasing decisions — never before has a consumer been able to buy anything they want at anytime with simply the tap of a button. Despite the relative youth of on-demand businesses, it is expanding at a rapid pace. Supply is driven via an efficient, intuitive digital mesh layered on top of existing infrastruct...

Engel & Völkers Southern Africa is celebrating its continued growth in to the Western Cape with the  recently signed Bellville licence. The signing of yet another licence, moving into the Bellville area supports the companies aim to satisfy the growing demand for a premium real estate service, the new signature shop will open its doors later this year.  Standing on the left of Craig Hutchison, CEO Engel & Völkers Southern Africa, is Heinrich von Loggenburg and on the right is Jimmiette von Loggenburg, the new Licence Partners for Bellville. Residents in the area will now be able to benefit from the exceptional customer service that has become the trademark of the agency and access to international customers through our global market network.  Heinrich von Loggenburg and Jimmiette von Loggenburg acquired the licence after being introduced to the brand through the Natoinal Guide publication in Umhlanga by a friend of theirs. “The brand immediately caught...

Morné Cronjé FNB will host the fourth consecutive FNB Franchise Leadership 2015 Summit where South Africa’s franchising leaders and stakeholders will meet to discuss and debate the Franchising Landscape. Aptly themed, ‘Planning for the Future’, the event will take place in Johannesburg on Thursday, 12 November 2015. Morné Cronjé, Head of FNB Franchising says, “In South Africa, the franchise industry has remained solid despite challenging economic conditions and the country remains attractive to local and international franchise brands however the shift in the franchising landscape is changing and businesses  need to start looking and planning for the future. South Africa will need to continuously improve the operating environment for franchisees because competitors are increasingly positioning themselves.” The global franchise environment is growing at a fast pace. Looking at the South African franchising landscape, South African franchises are still confident about their...

Cash Converters Southern Africa came of age this year celebrating 21 successful years of operation and a brand new global corporate identity to align the brand with its Australian founder.  From left to right: Glen Donaldson - International Brand Manager, Richard Mukheibir - Managing Director - Cash Converters Southern Africa, Peter Cumins - Managing Director - Cash Converters International and Peter Forshaw - Financial Director - Cash Converters Southern Africa Over 110 franchisees and their partners attended a three day Africa Conference celebration in Zimbali Lodge with special guests Peter Cumins, Managing Director of Cash Converters International, Glen Donaldson, International Brand Manager, and Richard Mukheibir, Managing Director, Cash Converters Southern Africa. And what a celebration it was! “I didn’t know very much about South Africa when I first met Richard Mukheibir and Peter Forshaw and heard about their quest to obtain a master franchise. I couldn’t help b...

Krispy Kreme has announced The Zone in Rosebank, Johannesburg, as the location for their 800th global outlet. The first Krispy Kreme store on the African continent will open on the 25thof November following their development agreement with local company Krispy Kreme Doughnuts South Africa (Pty) Ltd, signed in May this year. South Africans can look forward to the launch of 31 Krispy Kreme shops around the country over the next five years. The Zone is a cosmopolitan melting pot of cultures, creativity and style for the vibrant local population, making it the ideal introductory location for this world famous doughnut retailer. Easily accessible via a variety of transport modes, The Zone is sure to attract curious visitors from around the city of Johannesburg, all eager to treat themselves to one of the 16 decadent Krispy Kreme doughnuts on offer as well as the wide variety of locally roasted coffee flavours.  Gerry Thomas, CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts South Africa said, “Our ic...

Luvuyo Rani For Luvuyo Rani, founder of Silulo Ulutho Technologies , turning his home grown IT business into a franchise was a dream for the foreseeable future. Little did he know that after partnering with the Standard Bank Franchising Incubator his dream would be realised sooner than he thought, with 200 stores expected to be up and running by 2024. “Before creating the franchise, we had grown from a single store in Khayelitsha, a township in Cape Town, in 2004 to 36 branches in the rest of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape by 2015” says Rani. “That’s no small achievement, but it had taken an enormous amount of painstaking work because at the time, we were functioning as managers of people rather than entrepreneurs.” According to Ethel Nyembe, Head of Small Enterprises at Standard Bank, the owner-manager commitment of a franchisee automatically works in the business owner’s favour, as it allows owners to facilitate and accelerate growth. She adds that franchisees want to...