Omega Collocott In recent years, Africa has been an area of focus for investment in infrastructure development, trade, and financial inclusion (partly through Fintech and the financing of SMEs). However, environmental and ‘gender lens’ investing (which targets women-led businesses and initiatives) are gaining traction, particularly in the development finance community. This is according to Omega Collocott, Sector Head for Financial Institution Ratings at Global Credit Ratings (GCR), who attended a gathering of investors, service providers and African financial services companies at the recent African Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC) held in London. Despite an increase in social development investments in Africa, more is needed to improve the lives of women and girls on the continent. According to Oxfam South Africa, a third of all women will experience violence at some point in their lives and marginalised women are the most vulnerable. Collocott noted that a key t...

BACKGROUND With over 40 years of experience in providing superior products, outstanding service and successful brand marketing, Timbercity is one of southern Africa’s most recognised and trusted brands. Initially established by two independent entrepreneurs, the brand was later acquired by PG Wood and two years later the first Timbercity franchise store was launched. Today, Timbercity is a subsidiary of SteinBuild, the southern African building materials division of Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. Access to SteinBuild’s supply chain has aided the growth of the group not only in South Africa but also in Zambia, Botswana and Namibia. THE CONCEPT Timbercity’s business model facilitates the franchising of new outlets as well as the conversion and rebranding of existing businesses. To accommodate the building, kitchen, trade and DIY sectors, its retail space has been enhanced to deliver a superior customer shopping experience. Through their skilled and knowledgeable staff a...

Anel Bothma, Gerhardt Becker & Botha Process designed to shorten time frames in insurance claims and legal payouts. A Centurion-based private investigation services firm FICS has developed a pioneering mobile application, which assists those present at the scene of an accident or shortly thereafter, to capture comprehensively all the information necessary to process a claim – shortening time frames in both the settling of insurance claims and road accident fund claims. The FICS Mobile app, uses geo location technology, and is believed to the be the first of its kind in South Africa – if not the world - to fully document the evidence required by insurance companies as well as legal parties to process motor accident claims. The FICS Mobile app fills an identified and existing gap in the accident-claim process. Users are able to capture data such as the location; date and time of the accident; vehicle details; and road and weather conditions. The FICS Mobile app also allows for ...

Successful franchise businesses are characterised by strong relationships between franchisees and franchisors. There are times, however, when unresolved conflict between the two can jeopardise the business and, in some instances, even lead to the shutdown of a franchise operation, writes Sandwich Baron CEO, Sally J’Arlette-Joy. Every franchisor and franchisee relationship incorporates rules and standards that are put into place to outline and protect the quality of the service or products the franchisee provides to the customer. This is to minimise risk and for the benefit of all parties. A franchisee who does not adhere to the regulations and standards that have been established by the franchisor can affect not only his or her own operation, but the entire franchisee chain. This is why it is so important to ensure the lines of communication are always kept open. The franchisor needs to be easily accessible to franchisees and ready with advice or assistance on every aspect of the bu...

Kobus Oosthuizen While we have on previous occasions highlighted various aspects of the programme, in this article we elaborate on how the various phases dovetail with one another in contributing to the greater objective of enterprise development, transformation and job creation. By Kobus Oosthuizen The basic principles of traditional franchising are relatively well understood, however the development of emerging franchisors and their business models within emerging markets presents unique challenges, inherent to the environment and era we find ourselves in. THE CHALLENGES How do you determine whether a business operating in the emerging market, without the benefit of proper management accounting systems, has the potential to be replicated and franchised on a commercially viable basis? How would emerging franchisors, who invariably do not have access to the necessary resources, fund the high cost of developing and packaging a franchised business in a statutorily compliant...