2012 – Page 2

Entries drawing to a close for 2013 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Webmaster

With just less than a month until entries close for the 2013 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, South African entrepreneurs are encouraged to enter in order to be recognised and rewarded for the vital role they play within the country’s economy.

Not only will entrepreneurs stand a chance at winning prizes worth a total value of R1 340 000, which includes cash prizes of R300 000, but all finalists and winners are also provided with the opportunity to expand their networks and receive invaluable exposure for their businesses.

Now in its 25th year, the free-to-enter competition is dedicated to celebrating and profiling the success of entrepreneurs from across South Africa and boosting the level of entrepreneurship in South Africa.

Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, says that entrepreneurs are faced with various challenges and that the competition aims to assist entrepreneurs overcome these.

“Obtaining a credible reputation amongst various other competitors and securing additional capital to grow a business are often two key challenges that business owners encounter on their entrepreneurial journey.

“In challenging economic conditions, competitions offer an affordable marketing platform, and by utilising these platforms, entrepreneurs can grow their business by increasing both their brand reputation and bottom line.

“As an example, Tabisa Nomnganga of Bravo Promotions, winner of the 2012 Emerging Entrepreneur Award, has accredited the competition for increasing her client base, as well as increasing her bottom line profits by over 40% from the previous financial year.”

Naidoo adds that due to the success and exposure that many of the 2012 winners encountered, they are already exceeding the number of entries received during last year’s campaign, with still a few weeks to go until the closing date. “We have already received entries from exceptional entrepreneurs with very promising businesses and look forward to responses from the remainder of the local entrepreneurial community.”

The competition is open to entrepreneurs from all industries and for businesses of any sizes. Categories for the competition include: Emerging Entrepreneur, Small Business Entrepreneur, Medium Business Entrepreneur, Innovator of the Year, Job Creator of the Year and overall Entrepreneur of the Year 2013.

Our 2012 winners share the benefits of entering the competition

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Webmaster

The 2013 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition is officially open for entries! We asked our 2012 winners about the various benefits that they have seen as a result of the competition thus far, as well as their advice for potential entrants.

William Duk of The Plantation Shutter Co: Overall Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® winner

“Although I think it is still too early to measure the precise financial impact, but the positive media exposure that we obtained following winning the award, is beyond comprehension. Over time, this in turn translates into a significant positive financial impact. No marketing budget could ever be big enough to purchase the level of exposure that has been generated. I feel that we could relate to someone coming from relative obscurity and winning an Olympic Gold.

Winning the award is the best possible public acknowledgement that an entrepreneur and his or her business can receive for all the effort and hard work that goes into building a business. For me, the award is not about “me”, but rather about every single person in the business that has contributed during our journey thus far. The resulting energy can definitely be felt in the business.”

Tabisa Nomnganga of Bravo Promotions: Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

“To be awarded the Emerging Entrepreneur Award in 2012 has increased my confidence, as well as my client base. Since winning the award in September my bottom line profits have definitely increased by over 40% from the previous financial year, and the publicity I received provided me with a platform to let the people know I have a worthy business. I would definitely encourage entrepreneurs to enter the competition in order to see how their business ideas fare in front of the experts.”

Madelé Ferreira of Mooihoek Boerdery: Job Creator of the Year

“The prize money that I received has made it possible for me to plan a trip to California in order to visit research facilities where new plant materials and new strawberry cultivars are being developed. The award has also boosted the professional relationship between Mooihoek Boerdery and the various chain store groups that we supply to. In addition, the award has lead to recognition in the form of an award by the Kouga Municipality (Eastern Cape) Business Chamber.

This award boosted the faith that I have in myself. I could never have imagined that one day my business and I would win such an award, or grow to be such a successful enterprise.”

Stuart Forrest of Triggerfish Animation Studios: Innovator of the Year

“Triggerfish had been operating under the radar for many years, and our focus had been on our projects – not on our business. We decided that the company needed to raise its profile, so entering the competition was a great opportunity to do that. We were beginning to talk to funding partners and strategic partners, and we needed to expand our network and increase our credibility.

Winning the Innovator of the Year was perfect, because we were looking for partners who were attracted to innovation. It’s been very helpful to say at the bottom of our introductory email to potential clients that we were chosen as Innovator of the Year by prestigious brands such as Sanlam and Business Partners. It means that there has been a certain level of analysis performed and we have been recognised as a valuable company.”

Trevor Davids of Trevor Davids Plumbing: Medium Entrepreneur of the Year

“Winning the 2012 Medium Business Entrepreneur award was an awesome experience, which drew a positive response from all of our clients. I advise 2013 participants to remain positive no matter the difficulties they may face. Considering the current economic climate, they should be proud that they have been considered, as this is an achievement in itself.”

Warren Graver of Envirodeck: Small Entrepreneur of the Year

“Winning Entrepreneur of the Year® has benefitted Envirodeck tremendously due to increased mainstream publicity – which often proves unaffordable for a small business. In addition, the networking opportunities that the competition provides has also helped me make better business decisions, due to sound advice that I have received from successful entrepreneurs.

A 2013 entrant should have a strong understanding of how marketing and finance combine to make a successful business. This needs to be conveyed in an overall business plan that is simple for the judges to understand. Remember that simplicity in presentation is key and that key facts should be elaborated on in order make your business stand out.”

2013 EOY competition launches

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Webmaster

25 years on and still committed to fostering entrepreneurship in SA

Entrepreneurship is crucial in stimulating a country’s economy, as well as fostering critical skills development and job creation. It is therefore vital that entrepreneurship is embraced and celebrated locally.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, South Africa’s pre-eminent entrepreneurial showcase, the 2013 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition has been launched, offering a free platform for the country’s leading entrepreneurs to share their achievements and elevate the profile of their businesses, as well as their profits.

According to Nimo Naidoo, project manager at Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year®, the competition also provides entrepreneurs with the chance to win prizes worth R 1 340 000, which includes cash prizes to the value of R300 000. “Beyond the chance to win, previous finalists and winners’ businesses have benefitted significantly from the competition’s various networking opportunities and associated marketing and national media exposure,” says Naidoo.

According to 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® overall winner, William Duk of The Plantation Shutter Co., no marketing budget could ever be big enough to purchase the level of exposure that was generated on his behalf. “The award also adds to the level of credibility that a business has in the market place.”

Tabisa Nomnganga of Bravo Promotions, one of the category winners of the 2012 competition, says that winning the Emerging Entrepreneur Award has increased her confidence as an entrepreneur as well as her client base. “Since winning the award in September, I have signed up three lucrative business deals which in total amount to over R500 000. My bottom line profits have also increased by over 40% from the previous financial year.

“In addition, I have had to increase my staff compliment and have thus created more job opportunities within my community.”

Naidoo adds that 2013 entrants will also experience a new streamlined entry and judging process. “This is to primarily ensure that entrants do not become over-burdened during the entry form completion phase and we now expect even greater interest and participation from entrepreneurs from across the country.”

She says that one of the key aims of the competition is to acknowledge successful entrepreneurs in the small and medium enterprise sector and their relentless drive to grow their businesses to keep our economy ticking. “Through this initiative we focus on celebrating entrepreneurship and promote the successes of our heroes in the SME industry.”

According to Naidoo, the competition is open to entrepreneurs from all industries and for businesses of any size. The 2013 competition will also feature a series of national workshops where crucial entrepreneurial skills will be provided to attending business owners.

Entrepreneurs interested in entering can do so here as well as interact with fellow entrepreneurs and entrants on the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition social media platforms: twitter: @EOY_SA and Facebook: www.facebook.com/EOY.SA.

The closing date for the competition is 16 June 2013.

Welcome to 2013

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Webmaster

Feed on the positive SME entrepreneurs!

The Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® team welcomes you to 2013! May we feed on the positive this year and not allow the eternal pessimists to shape us into a negative frame of mind. May we celebrate entrepreneurs and their relentless drive to grow their businesses that are keeping our economy ticking and promote the successes of our heroes in the small and medium business world.

Although businesses are most likely to face challenges going forward, business owners / entrepreneurs shouldn’t blow these hindrances out of proportion and forget about the great strides they have made in continuing to grow, rendering goods and services to their target market, employing people, paying their taxes and contributing towards the wellbeing of their communities?

As we consider what the year might hold for South African businesses one realises that the only certain aspect is the economic uncertainty that prevails in the country and the world. If one however takes stock of what we have to be grateful for, there is much positivity to feed on.

The South African economy grew marginally by an estimated 2.5% (in 2012) and economists forecast growth of about 3.5% in 2013. Although this growth is not enough, it should result in demand for your services also growing marginally. This boils down to increased sales, which could be even more positive if businesses manage to outplay their competitors with better service and competitive pricing.

Entrepreneurs are more than likely to be experiencing the lowest interest rate environment they have encountered in the history of their businesses. Are you capitalising on this? In most businesses the cost of debt (interest) is amongst the three highest expense items on an income statement – now this cost has decreased down to prime lending rates of 8%. In a SME’s case the saving on the interest bill alone could be 50% or more when compared to four years ago.

In real terms the saving is even more and should be used to reduce the debt in the business, in other words, paying off more of the capital portion of loans or to fund the working capital needs of a business. SME owners could also consider paying creditors/suppliers sooner, but this should only be considered if they are able to provide early settlement discounts. This is another positive aspect to feed on!

The lower inflation environment experienced over the past few years should bring some stability in ensuring that prices do not run away. In order to embrace this, costs should be managed appropriately and negotiations with suppliers and other service providers to limit their price increases should be considered. South African businesses already have to contend with substantially higher than average inflationary electricity costs and cannot absorb more price increases. A lower inflationary environment is a further positive for SMEs.

Commodity prices are on the increase and with the weaker rand, the rand prices of commodities are increasing even more. With demand for commodities also picking up and mining strikes hopefully under control, mining activities should increase locally through higher output and a renewed drive to increase capacity through an increased capital expenditure programme. This is positive for direct job creation and will in turn increase the level of consumer spending as overall disposable income improves. Sub-contractors to the mining industry are mostly small and medium-sized businesses and their order books should hence benefit directly. This is a positive for SMEs operating in the mining service sector and/or servicing mining communities.

South Africa is playing a leading role in the Sub-Saharan economy. It is estimated that this region will grow nearly two and a half times faster than the advanced economies of the world as we head towards 2020. This fast growing region is economically viable and this is seen by other emerging giants such as China and India as an opportunity. These regions realise that they need South Africa as an entry point into the continent and that our country is the best place to settle in first, as we are the strongest economy on the continent, with the best infrastructure from which they can leverage. South African SMEs should view this as an opportunity as businesses can be grown by being these regions’ local agent and service provider. The opportunities clearly outnumber the threats.

SMEs and business owners should feed on the above positive pointers and develop strategies for the year ahead, which will also assist in a positive change of mind frame. Challenge yourself and be positive – also remember to not be all things to all people. As an SME, you should try to be an efficient niche player mapping out a future in a growing market that still has many opportunities just waiting for the real entrepreneurs to take up and run with them.

I wish you all great success in 2013 and know that as a real entrepreneur you will be able to capitalise on opportunities and create gaps for your business, even where there are not so many obvious ones. Good luck!

Christo Botes
January 2013

2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® winner named

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Webmaster

winners

After months of searching and assessing, the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition winners were announced at an awards ceremony held on Thursday, 6 September in Johannesburg.

The overall Entrepreneur of the Year® Winner for 2012 is William Duk of The Plantation Shutter Co. (Pty) Ltd, a business that designs, manufactures and installs adjustable window and door shutters.

According to Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, William was awarded the overall title because of his hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to transform a bankrupt entity into a thriving, profitable business that services a national clientele.

The competition, widely considered to be the pre-eminent of its kind in South Africa, has served as a springboard for past finalists and winners. Nimo says that the competition aims to honour, benefit and uplift South African SMEs, as well as celebrate excellence in entrepreneurship, thus serving as an inspiration to others trying to succeed in the world of business.

Other category winners that managed to beat hundreds of other South African business owners to win awards are Tabisa Nomnganga of Bravo Promotions, who was awarded the Emerging Business Entrepreneur of the Year® award, Warren Graver of Envirodeck who took the Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year® award home and Trevor Davids of Trevor Davids Plumbing, who won the Medium Business Entrepreneur of the Year® award.

The Job Creator of the Year title was awarded to Madelé Ferreira of Mooihoek Boerdery and Stuart Forrest of Triggerfish Animation Studios was awarded the Innovator of the Year title.

Nimo says that all of the winners demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial skills and submitted promising entry forms. “All of the 2012 winners were subjected to strict judging criteria to ensure that their businesses were not only sustainable, but also profitable and ethical. The winners were selected from a group of 22 finalists by the competition judges.

“By successfully uplifting local entrepreneurial role models, as the Sanlam / Business Entrepreneur of the Year® competition aims to do, South Africa will be able to build a society that celebrates entrepreneurial activity and success.

“Creating an entrepreneurial society is crucial in stimulating job creation in our country, as well as ensuring that South Africa becomes economically competitive globally,” concludes Nimo.

Lucky chance leads to entrepreneurial success

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Webmaster

South Africa’s top entrepreneur of 2012 revealed

In a field of 22 finalists, William Duk, owner of The Plantation Shutter Co., has been honoured with the title of the overall 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year® award in the annual Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition.

william William managed to successfully transformed The Plantation Shutter Co. – a previously bankrupt business – into a leading market player with a national footprint and healthy profits, in just over the space of five years.

According to Kobus Engelbrecht, a member of the judging panel of the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® awards, William illustrates the traits of a tremendously talented entrepreneur and is a worthy winner and representative of the competition. “We are very impressed with William’s achievement of transforming an insolvent business into a profitable and sustainable business. His strategy for the future, with specific reference to how he plans to harvest a different market segment, sets him apart from the rest.”

William’s entrepreneurial success began with a classic stroke of luck. He was contemplating purchasing an industrial building in Atlantis, 45km from Cape Town, and little did he know that he would come across a small bankrupt company, operating within the proposed premises. This business specialised in the design, manufacturing and installation of superior quality, custom-designed adjustable louvre window and door shutters.

In the spur of the moment, he decided to take over the debts and liabilities in exchange for a 50% share of the business. Within five years, he has managed to double The Plantation Shutter Co.’s work force and increased its turnover tenfold.

He says that effective leadership, combined with financial prowess, has helped him turn the company around and refocus the existing management to a new vision that has produced impressive achievements. He believes that it is the company’s focus on relentlessly serving their sophisticated market that is the critical factor underlying the business’s success.

For more information on The Plantation Shutter Co. visit www.plantation.co.za

SA’s top entrepreneurial competition finalists revealed

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Webmaster

The 22 finalists of South Africa’s premier entrepreneurial platform, the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, have been announced.

According to Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, this year has set a benchmark in terms of celebrating entrepreneurial excellence in the country, resulting in encouraging entries from very talented South African entrepreneurs. “The calibre of entrants and quality of preparation packs received in 2012, which is a combination of all necessary details required in order to assess the entrepreneurs, has improved tremendously in comparison to the 2011 entries.”

The 22 finalists going through to the judging phase are:

Emerging category:

Imran Khan, Attitution: a national education company that offers extra lessons to school children, as well as university learners in their first three years of studies.
Tabisa Nomnganga, Bravo Promotions: a full spectrum below the line marketing and communications agency.
Kamille Padayachee, ThoughtFire Events: an events management company that also offers clients a wide range of public relations services.
Quinten Dickerson, True Water: a company specialising in the distribution and installation of high quality water filtration, disinfection and sanitation equipment.

Small category:

Fritz Strydom, Blomo Plastics: a company specialising in technical blow moulding.
Martin Brown, Radical Mobility: a company that designs, manufactures and markets power wheelchairs, which maximise mobility and comfort for disabled people.
Stuart Forrest, Triggerfish Animation Studios: a Cape Town-based media and entertainment company.
Mike Eilertsen, LIVEOUTLOUD: an all-encompassing luxury lifestyle brand, comprising of a magazine, events company and travel agency.
George Ferreira, TJ’S Lekka Braai: a braai-focused business that supplies wood, charcoal, briquettes, firelighters, paraffin and related products.
Madelé Ferreira, Mooihoek Boerdery: a producer of spinach, leeks and strawberries on a 40 ha farm in the Gamtoos Valley in the Eastern Cape.
Suretha Barnard, The Junior Academy: a pre-school operating in the East of Johannesburg.
Hennie Burger, MSEC Security: provider of security to individual clients, as well as corporates in the Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, George and the entire Garden Route area.
Gianmarco Lorenzi, Cleardata: a provider of secure on- and off-site document destruction services for the corporate market.
Michélle Booysen, Pétanque Consultancy: a management consultancy offering strategy formulation, strategy delivery and project management services.
Warren Graver, Enviro Deck: a company that sells and services environmentally friendly decking and finishing products in the real estate industry segment.
Anthea Ambursley, AnanziBiz: a company satisfying the needs of the discerning corporate traveller, namely guest house and self-catering accommodation, tours and transfer services, corporate catering and events management.

Medium category:

Bengy and Shereen Premrajh, UKD Marketing: a manufacturer of custom made kitchen and bedroom furniture for private homes and free standing kitchen units for retail stores.
William Duk, The Plantation Shutter: specialist in the design, manufacturing and installation of superior quality, custom-designed adjustable louvre window and door shutters.
Justin Hawes, Scan Display Solutions: a leader in the Southern African exhibition and display market.
Trevor Davids, Trevor Davids Plumbing: a company providing a broad range of services to the construction industry in the Western Cape.
Carol Wearing, Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group: one of Southern Africa’s most forward thinking and successful exhibition, special project, event and conferencing companies.
Leon Mienie, Ebenhaeser Engineering: a full-service engineering and machine shop.

The Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® winners will be announced on 6 September 2012 at the official awards breakfast in Johannesburg. “We are very excited to venture into the final stages of the 2012 competition and wish all of the finalists the best of luck,” says Naidoo.

Exciting times ahead for competition entrants

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Webmaster

Entries into the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition have officially closed and we are fast approaching the awards breakfast where the overall Entrepreneur of the Year® for 2012 will be crowned. The entry forms and preparation packs submitted by the various entrepreneurs are now on the way to the competition judges who have the difficult task of choosing the category winners from an exceptional group of finalists.

According to Nimo Naidoo, project manager for the 2012 Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, the calibre of entrants and quality of preparation packs received in 2012, which is a combination of all necessary details required in order to assess the entrepreneurs, has improved tremendously in comparison to the 2011 entries.

She says that they have also noticed an increase in entries from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal regions, and received more entries from female entrepreneurs in comparison to 2011.

“The Entrepreneur of the Year® competition has set a benchmark in terms of celebrating entrepreneurial excellence in the country, resulting in encouraging entries from very talented South African entrepreneurs.”

She says that it has been a remarkable six months for the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® team, who have thus far successfully completed 11 seminars around the country with the assistance of excellent speakers and support from the entrepreneurial community. “All delegates arrived hungry for information and left the various seminars with a vast amount of relevant information that will assist them in their individual capacity.”

Naidoo says that the various social media platforms created around the 2012 competition were a wonderful compliment to the competition and allowed for relaxed communication among competition entrants and seminar delegates. “We received an overwhelming response from the entrepreneurial community via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, and will continue to use these communication tools to keep our followers up to date with the 2012 competition and awards ceremony, as well as the launch of the 2013 competition.

World entrepreneurship day a rallying call to aspiring SA entrepreneurs

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Webmaster

Aspiring South African entrepreneurs need to take note of the successes being celebrated by their global counterparts on World Entrepreneurship Day (WED), 15 April 2012, as well as use the day as motivation to get better at spotting and taking advantage of ‘entrepreneurial gaps’ in specific industries, in order to create sustainable businesses.

This was the message from Nimo Naidoo, project manager of the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year ® competition, in the run-up to WED, who says that South Africa’s economic prosperity relies heavily on the actions and successes of the country’s existing and future entrepreneurs.

“The Global Entrepreneurship and Development Index (GEDI) recently revealed that South Africa’s global entrepreneurial ranking has fallen from 39 in 2011 to 45 in 2012, losing pace with smaller GDP countries such as Colombia and Peru. Entrepreneurship serves as a catalyst for economic growth and national competitiveness, and for an emerging economy such as ours this ranking is simply too low,” says Naidoo.

She says that in order to foster a culture of entrepreneurship locally, prospective entrepreneurs need to overcome barriers such as fear of failure and funding. “Tackling the first barrier is not always so simple, as South Africa’s society has a culture that neglects entrepreneurial activities, especially individuals who have failed in the past.”

Naidoo suggests that more needs to be done to identify and profile entrepreneurial role models, in order to give aspiring entrepreneurs an idea of the rewards and benefits of enterprise creation and reduce the stigma of failure.

“Initiatives such as entrepreneurial competitions, formation of bodies, government-sponsored awards and recognition from the private sector would all contribute to raising the profile of South Africa’s most innovative and successful entrepreneurs. In addition, these actions would also assist with creating a society that values and respects entrepreneurial spirit.

“Initiatives already in place to promote and grow entrepreneurship, such as Global Entrepreneurship Week in November and The Jobs Fund, under the custodianship of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, which co-finances projects by public, private and non-governmental organisations, have already had a positive effect with regards to job creation and entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa.”

She adds that role models are also key to educating South Africa’s youth about entrepreneurship. “There is a great opportunity for our youth to choose entrepreneurship as a career and become job creators rather than job seekers. Our education system should also promote entrepreneurship as a career. Entrepreneurship will then also address unemployment issues at a youth level by providing an outlet for the talents of many highly educated young people, such as college and university graduates, especially in globally-growing industries such as information technology.”

On the barrier of funding, she says that more support and attention in fiscal and government policy is necessary to stimulate entrepreneurial activity, which can ultimately lead to the country’s economic recovery. “We also need to investigate the implementation of new finance models and methods in order to broaden the access of finance to more entrepreneurs.”

Naidoo adds that the inclusion of structural policies that determines and clarifies the overall economic framework in which the local business sector operates, such as policies affecting labour markets, tax, competition, financial markets and bankruptcy laws, will also be conducive to entrepreneurial growth.

“As a group, entrepreneurs represent the best hope of creating sustained economic growth in South Africa. As we celebrate WED, we can see the tangible economic benefits that pro-entrepreneurial policies in emerging economies such as Brazil and India have achieved.

“It is now our country’s turn to create an entrepreneurship climate to create employment and build sustainable, high growth companies,” concludes Naidoo.

World Entrepreneurship Day a rallying call to aspiring SA entrepreneurs

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Webmaster