How to transition your business into Level 1
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the South African business landscape in a number of ways, with the pressures of lockdown having turned daily operations for many companies on their head. When it came to staff, businesses that could had to adapt to remote working, while those that couldn’t, had to implement a host of rigorous […]
Home grown upstart holds its own against industry giants
In the world of corporate consulting, dominated by a handful of huge international auditing and consulting firms, you would think it unlikely that a tiny local company can grow to hold its own against the giants in a difficult marketplace. But that is just what a remarkable trio of women has been doing over the […]
How to spot a business scam
Business owners are forever seeking new opportunities to expand their operations – a characteristic key to entrepreneurial success. However, where there are people seeking opportunities, you can bet there will be fraudsters looking to scam them out of their hard-earned funds. One only needs to do an internet search including the keywords “businesses scammed” to […]
Emerging entrepreneur defies Covid-19 contraction with stunning sales growth
Theo Baloyi, last year’s Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, is proving his mettle by forging ahead with a phenomenal growth spurt this year despite the lockdown that has led to the biggest economic contraction in South African history. While countless businesses are scaling or closing down, […]
How to stay profitable in difficult times
It is becoming increasingly difficult for many business owners to stay afloat, maintain or increase profitability levels as South Africa’s GDP contracted by 51 percent in the second quarter of 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are measures that business owners can still introduce to maintain and even increase their profits during this difficult […]
Five years in, entrepreneur’s ambition strong as ever
Most entrepreneurs who use corporate careers as a springboard wait until at least their mid-30s before they take the leap to start their own business. Not Lyle Malander, whose ambition was far too expansive for any corporate career to contain for long. He had always wanted to be CEO of a big listed company, and […]
4 Key COVID-19 lessons for SAs restaurant industry
While many sectors have found reprieve in the easing of the national lockdown to Alert Level 1, which includes the reopening of borders to tourists, the South African restaurant industry is experiencing a slow recovery. Strict operating hours, limitation on a number of patrons that can be accommodated, health protocols, and social distancing measures remain […]
SA entrepreneur swims against the economic tide with international break-through
While the world economy languished in the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, a small local cosmetics company has been increasing its sales by a staggering 40 percent this year, notching up one international breakthrough after another. To be sure, Elim Spa Products International’s remarkable success this year is no COVID-induced fluke. On the contrary, it […]
How to find your post-COVID pricing sweet spot
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed our world and the way we do business. And it’s also impacted consumer purchasing habits and, in some instances, reshaped the demand landscape – times are tough; consumers’ wallets are stretched, and their priorities have most definitely shifted as a result. As we start the new year, for a […]
Destined for entrepreneurship
It was inevitable that Cikizwa Nqolobe would one day run her own business. As a 10-year-old girl, she used to help her aunt push her vegetable stock in a trolley for two or three kilometres to her market stall in Gugulethu. Sometimes she manned the stall on her own for the whole day until her […]