As an employer, you are responsible for maintaining a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of your employees while they are at work; this is as per the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act 85 of 1993 Section 8 — General duties of employers. Unfortunately not many franchisees truly understand their obligations and how to adequately fulfil these requirements. Being party to a franchise arrangement does not lessen the health and safety obligations of the employer, and while Operations Manuals are generally silent on this subject and provide only limited, if any, information, it is imperative that franchisees understand the OHS act, its regulations and the importance thereof. The Act outlines the duties of all those involved within the workplace. Generally, the duty of the employer/franchisee is to ‘so far as is reasonably practicable, provide and maintain for employees a working environment that is safe and without risks to health’. In simple terms that ...

Success or failure of retail franchises primarily depends upon local marketing initiatives. In addition to the franchisor’s marketing efforts, success comes when a franchisee markets his or her business among the local community. Failure is usually a result of a franchisee believing he’s bought a business for which everything is laid on for him. Sally J’Arlette-Joy, founder of Sandwich Baron , says the key to success lies in a corporate marketing strategy dovetailing with a franchisee’s local marketing strategy. J’Arlette-Joy has a number of proven tips for franchisees. These are relevant to any franchisee, even though tailored for Sandwich Baron’s 49 outlets nationwide. “Much of our focus has been on maintaining a strong Internet presence, and we would similarly recommend this to franchisees. When you google ‘sandwich’, ‘Sandwich Baron’ is the first website that comes up. But to maintain that search engine presence requires constant updating. My advice is: first put aside a ...

B ACKGROUND In the digital world we live in, the question is often asked whether physical barriers are still relevant and the answer is a definitive, yes! Although the electronic age offers numerous audible warning systems, a physical barrier remains the last physical line of defence against criminal activity — much like the safety belt in an automobile. Maxidor is a leading physical security barrier manufacturer in southern Africa and has been a presence in the physical security barrier industry for over three decades. The company’s well-known trademarks include the original Maxidor Slamlock™, Inscape security concept and, of course, their now famous 10–Year Buy-Back™ Guarantee. By developing products in line with criminal modus operandi their dedicated research and development facilities have ensured their position at the forefront of physical security barrier development, arguably offering some of the best physical resistance against criminal attack. THE CONCEPT  Over ...

Howard Arrand Let’s start with KZN Not withstanding the struggling South African economy, the tourism industry is providing a glimpse of hope as one of the critical sectors that will boost growth and promote job creation. The sector posted positive growth numbers in a year where world markets were depressed.  Businesses in this sector should be prepared to take advantage of the opportunities presented by local and international developments. Howard Arrand, Provincial Head of FNB Business in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) says “the tourism industry contributes an estimated 3% to the national GDP, employing an average of one-in-25 people in South Africa - significantly more than most industries”. He argues that tourism is the ‘goose that lays the golden egg’, we should be focused on growing the sector exponentially. South Africa has remained a popular luxury destination for many international travellers; especially as it offers a world class experience from shopping to pristine beaches ...

Business Partners Limited outlook for SMEs in 2017 From a small and medium enterprises (SME) perspective, the current economic environment is more conducive to growth and opportunity than it was a year ago. This is according to Ben Bierman, Managing Director of Business Partners Limited (BUSINESS/PARTNERS) , a specialist risk finance company for formal SMEs. “2016 saw a shift in terms of global politics and economic issues, specifically in South Africa, which brought about stronger cooperation between the private sector, government and civil society to better foster and increase the success of SMEs in 2017.” In the year ahead SMEs can expect better economic growth, inflation that will not be as severely impacted by rising food costs and an interest rate environment that will at worst not show dramatic increases in the prime rate, says Bierman. “These improved conditions should provide a more solid platform for local SMEs to grow and pursue their objectives in their respective sectors...