Articles

This year’s Business of 2023 competition will be in pursuance of the Mossel Bay Business Chamber’s vision for acknowledging excellence. This is in line with the foundation anchoring the Awards namely: IDENTIFYING, ENCOURAGING & REWARDING excellence, while still being highly competitive. At the same time, this Award also seeks to inspire budding entrepreneurs by emulating … Read more

Mossel Bay , Garden Route (July 2023) – The Garden Route International Film Festival (GRIFF) showcases a diverse range of local, national, and international films, including features, short films and documentaries. This year’s festival takes place at Diaz Beach Hotel & Resort in Mossel Bay from August 2 to 5. Read on to find out … Read more

Do you feel pressure to get on the bandwagon of using social media as a marketing tool? Trust me, it is not just a band wagon, it is real, and it can lift your brand from existing to booming. Important to realise that it is not as easy as placing a few advertisements on your … Read more

Let’s be honest, Google became everyone’s friend – the quickest and easiest way to locate whatever information, place, location, menu, detail you are looking for – we Google it. So why not leverage off this power, and ensure that the social presence of your small business is as solid as can be. It is one … Read more

Forget the traditional wine and cheese concept and let the wine do the “talking” on what will tantalize your taste buds.The Wine & Whatever Experience is all about taking your palate on a great tour of discovery with an incredible range of local wines. Date and Time: Friday, 29 October – 14:00 to 19:00 | … Read more

If you own a small business, you need to tell people what you do and why they should be your customer. The best way to do that is through small business marketing. Marketing your small business doesn’t need to be expensive. For a small investment in your time, you can boost your business. Most small … Read more

Amid the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on businesses, and in particular small businesses, bankruptcies have soared. If you were to do an analysis of why many small businesses go under, you are likely to find that a significant number end in financial ruin by making the same or similar mistakes. If your business … Read more

As the initial shock of the coronavirus pandemic subsides, South Africa’s small business leaders must now pick themselves up and begin to rebuild. For many businesses, working remotely and with reduced staff has been incredibly challenging, but technology has played a fundamental role in allowing work to continue. One positive to come from this crisis … Read more

The 2020 GoDaddy Global Entrepreneurship Survey found that entrepreneurs who had a website were less likely to close their businesses during Covid-19 lockdowns than those without one. We also discovered that those with a website were more optimistic about future growth, with 31% projecting growth of at least 50% versus only 23% of those without … Read more

Starting a business is a good way to escape poverty and become your own boss. As unemployment rate soars due to the current pandemic, most people are looking to venture into businesses as a source of income. However, for those who are starting off in life or didn’t have a well-paying job previously, raising capital … Read more

KFC is all about creating meaningful experiences that are relevant and purpose-led which is evident in their latest campaign that sets out to assist young South African Hack-A-Preneurs who have kept their eye on the prize during this pandemic by turning their hustle into real opportunity. On the hunt for South Africa’s ultimate innovators, the … Read more

As a business owner, you have to think about how you’re going to reach smartphone users and build an excellent experience that keeps them coming back for more. Shopping online was once viewed as a novelty. Today, most of us make purchases online through Amazon, eBay, and countless e-commerce websites every week. We were also … Read more

Retrenchment is a word that can strike fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned veterans of the corporate world. In fact, the longer you’ve been with a company, the more daunting retrenchment can seem. Will you ever be able to find another job as good as, or better than, this one? Will you … Read more

Financial distress caused by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has seen the majority of small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) come under severe strain, with their future survival uncertain, new data from TransUnion suggests. The study shows that nine in 10 (90%) small businesses in South Africa are struggling or temporarily closed as a … Read more

Making a small business, or any business, work is no mean feat. This became evident again when Edward Kieswetter, the commissioner of the SA Revenue Service, recently commented to media on the state of the economy. He said that small businesses will take a severe knock due to the effects of lockdown and this will … Read more

Business organisation Sakeliga has published a new report looking at how South African companies are coping with the coronavirus lockdown. 423 respondents participated in the survey which took place from 5 – 9 June as the country moved to level 3 of its Covid-19 regulations. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees accounted for 96% of … Read more

More than  500 000 more people will be able to return to work soon following the government decision to ease lockdown restrictions, allowing small businesses such as restaurants, travel agents and hairdressers to reopen, but the government needs to do more to ease the financial plight of these companies. Sage Africa & Middle East executive vice-president … Read more

Even though many businesses are operating differently than usual these days, productivity still matters. Whether you’re working remotely or trying to make up for lost revenue, your business will be in a better position if you’re able to stay on task each day. To help you and your team get as much done as possible, … Read more

StartupBlink’s 3rd global startup ecosystem report, as part of Startup Blink’s quest to uncover the trends of innovation throughout 1000 cities and 100 countries. The StartupBlink 2020 Global Rankings Report is built on an algorithm developed over the last five years, resulting in the world’s most comprehensive startup ecosystem ranking. The results are composed from a variety … Read more

South Africa will ease lockdown rules next month, allowing millions of people to return to work even as new coronavirus infections continue to climb. These are some of the key provisions published in the government gazette on Thursday that aim to restart the economy: Most businesses, including steel mills, factories and all retail outlets, can … Read more

Whatever the new normal becomes, small-business owners will be at the forefront of shaping life as we know it. Some trends will prove durable long beyond this time. Tigers now have kings. Grandmothers are requesting video meetings. Masks are a fashion statement. Changes are coming quickly, somehow happening for all of us at once, despite … Read more

Do you want to try your hand at and/or grab online business opportunities? The spread of the COVID-19 virus has a lot of businesses closing and shutting down worldwide. One way people are dealing with this crisis is by venturing into eCommerce. In this guide, we’ll help you by providing 10 great eCommerce business ideas. … Read more

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday announced measures to ease the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown restrictions for a phased reopening of business activity to revive the economy. What the full picture of the phased approach would look like is not yet certain. However, it is good news for the business that had to close and made losses … Read more

Control your profiles & keep your customers informed The current health crisis and the subsequent lockdown has resulted in many businesses having to temporarily close their doors or restrict business hours and services. Social distancing precautions also means that most South Africans are searching for information online, which poses the question: have you adjusted your … Read more

You do not need to shut down your business because of the on-going Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. It is possible to make adequate arrangements for your team to work remotely. We have realised that the concept of working remotely can be applied to many types of businesses. This is a good thing because more businesses, small and big, can … Read more

In 2017, Medterra was born out of my own living room with nothing more than a belief that we could disrupt the CBD industry. Three years and nearly 100 employees later, I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve accomplished, or excited to see what lies ahead. While we have had an incredible amount of … Read more

Covid-19 is causing widespread devastation to small businesses. In times of crisis, speed is essential. The more existential the risks facing your business, the faster you need to move in order to cement your survival. To help you respond at speed to the coronavirus and its effects, we’ve developed a Covid-19 Survival Toolkit for the … Read more

In case you are wondering why the highways are more open and free flowing than usual, it is because companies are asking more employees to work from home or remotely, as the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread. Chief executive of the Tshwane Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pieter du Doit, said not all companies … Read more

Small business owners are already feeling the pinch as coronavirus cases rise in the country. Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, entrepreneurs and business people said they were worried that Covid-19 would lead to the unemployment rate increasing in SA. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday declared a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management … Read more

All types of businesses can benefit from blogging, but it takes the right approach. Unfortunately, many business’ blogs are abandoned because they simply don’t get the results they were looking for. Nothing looks worse to a site’s visitors than a blog that hasn’t been updated in a year. Visitors might even wonder if the company … Read more

Creating an effective marketing strategy requires having a strong understanding of your target customers. You need to understand the platforms they use, the messages that will resonate with them, and how they feel about your business. To increase your understanding, here are some tips from members of the online small business community. To find out … Read more

Living in a high-paced world that is also a tech-centric one has brought on a massive change to the marketing and advertising industries. Digital marketing has become the primary tool for product and service promotion, greatly surpassing all forms of traditional marketing. However, when it comes to grabbing people’s attention and encouraging consumers to step … Read more

Building a good company culture takes  work. It becomes one of the keys to small business success. But suppose something’s not right?Does your company culture leave something to be desired? You could find yourself in danger of losing valuable talent and customers. Check  these five tips on how to change company culture. To find out … Read more

Businesses have a better chance of making it through the tough first years if they can forecast things like cash flow and expenses, while also putting contingency plans in place for things they can’t forecast – like unexpected financial knocks or insurance-related events. Yet many small businesses make the same mistakes early on that come … Read more

There are many joys we attribute to owning a small business. Often these varied pleasures are very personal: Perhaps we finally attained the freedom of being our own boss; maybe we are thrilled to bring an innovative product or service to a marketplace; or we are simply pleased with the success of our growing company. … Read more

If you are like most small business owners, you lie awake in bed constantly thinking about how to acquire new customers, increase revenue and retain clientele. That’s the rub when it comes to owning a small business — you greatly enjoy the flexibility and being your own boss, but you’re on the clock 24/7. It … Read more

Many South Africans would have decided to make 2020 the year that they start their own business – which is great as small businesses are needed and wanted in South Africa. However, it’s not as easy as just waking up one morning and hitting the ground running. To find out more about this article please … Read more

As the year winds down, it is normal to want to celebrate and reflect. While it is important to do so, it is even more important for small businesses to be proactive and start the new year on the front foot. 2020 is a few weeks away which means very little time left to map … Read more

Corporate events don’t happen on their own. The best corporate events require meticulous planning way ahead of schedule. Simple decisions such as the venue and date can make a huge difference on whether the event is deemed successful or derided for months. So if you’ve just been put in charge of planning your business’s first … Read more

Are you looking to grow your business in 2020? If you answered’ yes’ then you’ve got a winner’s mindset. But here’s the downside, odds are your competition all said ‘yes’ to the same question. So, what’s the one thing that can help you overcome your rivals and dominate your local area? It’s not having the … Read more

Ghost kitchens, a hot trend in food delivery, are now also gaining traction in South Africa. Also called ‘dark’, ‘virtual’ or ‘cloud’ kitchens, they are shared cooking spaces that serve as hubs for online deliveries. Different brands prepare their food in the same space, which are then sent out as ordered. The kitchens don’t offer … Read more

Registering your small business can seem like a big step, but for new entrepreneurs, it’s a smart choice. As a small to medium-sized business (SMB) owner, you want to establish and protect your unique brand. You also want to ensure that if anything happens to your business, your personal finances aren’t affected. There are several … Read more

A new study by financial services company Retail Capital shows that small businesses in South Africa are buckling – knocked by a low-growth economy, unreliable utilities and rising operating costs. The study, entitled: Roll With The Punches, found, among other things, that business is only good for 10% of our SMEs, while the other 90% are … Read more

Christmas and the holiday season is the perfect time to thank your employees for all their hard work and effort over the past twelve months. It is, therefore, a wise idea to present them with a thoughtful gift, word, or action, which can reward employees and make them feel valued by the business and can … Read more

Marketing practices have always been determined by technology. Printing technology enabled the rise of popular newspapers in the mid-19th century, which allowed advertisers to target consumer audiences based on their demographics, education, political preferences and interests. Early brand marketers realized that they could differentiate from their competitors by speaking to the right audiences rather than just the … Read more

If you are an entrepreneur, you know how competitive the business world can be. In order to stay on top, you need to have your finger on the pulse of modern technology and keep up with the latest innovations. With that in mind, here are five unique trends that are expected to drive business growth … Read more

With more than 645 million users, across more than 200 countries and territories, LinkedIn hosts the largest database of professional and career insights, and connects people and businesses to share discussions about industry trends, inspiration, management techniques, and a lot more. LinkedIn has actually added nearly 150 million new members in the past two years, and along … Read more

Distinguishing yourself from the competition is challenging, and if you’re a small business or startup, this hurdle is even harder to overcome. As the new business on the block, it can also be difficult to gain credibility and market share when you don’t yet have a strong track record of delivering what you’ve promised. Winning … Read more

Have you ever worried about an upcoming professional conference that you have to attend? Are you concerned about what other people at the conference think about you? If the answer is yes to either or both of these questions, you’re not alone. The business conference offers attendees an opportunity to show professionalism, knowledge and job skills … Read more

For your business to flourish and grow, it is of paramount importance that you continually attract new customers to your business. This is where marketing plays a fundamental role. Whilst most companies engage in some form of marketing activities – for example, producing brochures or attending trade shows – the online world also provides some … Read more