Study shows 90% SMEs buckling in a weak economy. Snupit shows its powerful support to local businesses. A recent study done by Retail Capital, a financial services company, revealed that South Africa’s small businesses are struggling under current economic conditions. The combination of a low-growth economy, increasing operating costs and unreliable utilities is dealing a heavy blow to the SMEs. Snupit, South Africa’s leading online platform for finding local professionals, is proud to play an important role to helps SMEs in such trying times. Avinash Samlall, Snupit’s Founder and CEO, commented, “One thing I can say from experience as an engineer and an entrepreneur is that while economic conditions may change over time, the role and importance of technology will continue to increase. In fact, SMEs use the right technologies and platforms to outsmart and outperform bigger competitors all the time. It’s about recognizing your strengths, among which are agility and personable service for smaller players. And Snupit helps them make the most of these two qualities unique to SMEs.” Since most SMEs aren’t bigger than a three-person crew, updating the business technology-wise isn't a priority for them. These understaffed units are too bogged down with the operational grind work. And this compounds the adverse effects of a tough economy on the business. According to the study, 13% of affected SME employees start a side hustle to supplement their income. This is often done by identifying a gap in the market, usually in niche industries. Snupit is an excellent platform to do this as well. So the platform helps an intimate SME family in multiple ways; Not only giving the business a chance to do better, but helping its individual members a build a supplementary income while things at their company get back on track. Mr. Samlall added, “Moving forward, professionals and businesses, especially SMEs will need to prioritize the use of technology. And we’re proud to …
Startup Grind Stellenbosch hosts Regine Le Roux
Startup Grind Stellenbosch proudly host Regine Le Roux, founder and managing director of Reputation Matters. Come and experience this exciting and insightful speaker's take on business reputation and how it will benefit your business in the market. As a valued stakeholder of Startup Grind, Regine will give you a sneak peek into an additional service offering that they are launching in 2020. Reputation Matters have realised that there is a massive need for people in the communication space, as well as for entrepreneurs to manage their own reputations, but, there is often the assumption that this is a pricey exercise. Reputation Matters are very excited to let you know that they will be sharing their knowledge in this space and are looking forward to launching a reputation mentorship programme. CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Key leadership developments for HR to focus on in 2020 and beyond
A bit of unsolicited advice to business executives trying to explain why their company or their industry is suddenly in the soup: Please spare us the “perfect storm” metaphor. ~ Steven Pearlstein, Journalist Each employee is in fact a leader, at the least of themselves. True, top and senior management carry a greater responsibility that accompanies the authority and reach but at the end of the day good leaders have a multiplier effect but poor leaders literally suck the life out of everyone and everything. “Ignoring the development of leadership and management skills as a critical dimension moving into the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” says John Botha: COO of Global Business Solutions, “will result in the systematic destruction of the business.” This is because of: A focus on self rather than the client The absence of empathy which is the foundation of EQ Disengaged staff A lack of innovation and agility in the face of change Poor ROI Reputational damage. Often when businesses are in distress, it is not a result of a “perfect storm” of financial, technological and legislative conspiracy but rather poor leadership accompanied by average management. No wonder then that The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) list of the top 10 skills for organisations to master in order to cope with rapid change and disruption include people management, emotional intelligence and service orientation. The ones in bold are the ones that have been trending most over the past five years (see below). Three critical competency clusters required to navigate the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) landscape are transformational leadership, human-centric problem-solving models and digital intelligence. Join us at BOOTCAMP FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 2020 as we share how leading organisations are responding to this challenge by: Understanding that you can not transform an organisation, but only the individuals in that organisation Using …
How Delicious Can Love be?
Cape Town, January, 2020 - “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” Virginia Woolf Cape Town’s leading family destination, Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay is all about the very essence of family – sharing, laughing, secretly admiring, stealing a wink and creating those tiny moments that are remembered for a lifetime. “A family that eats together, stays together.” Right? The market boasts an intimate atmosphere with live music - perfect for the family to gather at this time of year. When paired with delicious nibbly bits, you have all the ingredients for a memorable experience. And it doesn’t stop there – throw in a pinch of craftsmanship, artistic flair and colour that pops in every corner… and finally, add some local wines, craft beers and cocktails. Now stir gently! “It’s all about the variety of cuisine,” says Bay Harbour Market spokesperson, Lyn Mance, when asked how the market has for so many years brought generations together. “From Mediterranean and Spanish to traditional Asian and Mexican, we have a dish for every palette and every mood. That’s why we are a great destination for the whole family – from toddler to grandma, we have you covered!” Mance continues, “We get about 25 000 visitors per month, making us one of the most visited markets in the Mother City by both locals and tourists. We also won the award this year for the best market in Cape Town – so we are very proud to be associated with Cape Town’s leading destinations.” Apart from Bay Harbour Market, the region has more to offer as well… Take a walk down to Hout Bay beach or perhaps a drive around Chapman’s Peak for the world-renown scenery. World of Birds, the largest bird park in Africa, is as old as the hills and still extremely popular especially for the younger ones. For the more adventurous, take a boat cruise and explore the coastline from a different perspective. So there you have it! Make this festive season the most memorable – big …
How to Manage the Risks When Buying To Rent
The current buyers’ market offers a good opportunity for investors looking for properties to rent out, especially with the prospect of a potential rental-growth recovery in the latter part of 2020. But investors need to remain cautious. Every opportunity comes with risks… Growth in the rental market was below inflation for the greater part of 2019, with a slight uptick in Q3 2019. Have we seen the bottom of the cycle? Just Property CEO Paul Stevens thinks so; while he predicts growth will remain flat for the next six months, he is optimistic about a rental-growth recovery in the second half of 2020. Generally speaking, property prices are increasing at a rate below inflation, which means that in real terms, there is actually negative growth in the South African property market. “This places us in a buyer’s market, where demand is low and sellers have to be more realistic when pricing their properties for a timely sale,” says Barbara Ingerisch of Just Property Blouberg who has more than 21 years’ experience and is a as a certified property practitioner. “This is good news for buy-to-let property investors; if they buy right, they may benefit from a good return on their investment in time.” It’s a good time to look for properties that could be rented out but be aware of the risks inherent in the market and take what action you can to mitigate them. Identifying the Risks Buy-to-let-property should be regarded as a business purchase. “This is not just a passive investment. Like any business proposition, it requires structure and it carries risk”, says Ingerisch who is a consummate professional and trusted by her clients. She advises that the following risks should be seriously considered before investing in buy-to-let property: Tenants. If you’re looking at a property that already has tenants in it, investigate their payment history, and ask for a damage record. Do they pay on time and do they look after the property? Vacancies. If the …
Entrepreneurial skills key to bolstering SA’s construction industry
According to Stats SA, the construction industry in South Africa is firmly in recession, contracting for the fourth quarter in a row. However, there is cause for optimism with the Government’s economic stimulus plan reported to inject billions into infrastructure development. Should this come into play, there will be increased opportunities for local small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) that will ultimately be supporting big business in managing the anticipated uptick. “It is vital that we make sure our SMEs in the industry are primed, armed and ready to hit the ground running and we are already making inroads in this space,” says Anthony Keal, group skills facilitator at Master Builders Association Western Cape (MBAWC). “In November 2018, we announced the launch of our Entrepreneurship for Contractors Development Programme, which is hosted in partnership with the University of the Western Cape’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Our goals were to equip established entrepreneurs operating in our sector with the skills they need to successfully run their own businesses and, this month, we’re celebrating the first of our course graduates.” “Over the past six months, the programme has empowered entrepreneurs by upskilling their understanding in various key areas, including: running a small business, pricing and claims, human resources, health and safety, contractual and legal requirements in the workplace and running an efficient project. These were examined through individual as well as group assignments and assessments.” “These are skills usually learned over time, but which are vital to SME success in the construction industry. What we’re effectively offering delegates is an opportunity to leapfrog their business growth plans by quite a margin,” he says. Keal points out that the feedback from entrepreneurs that attended the first six month course is testament to the importance of programmes like this. Faith Mabena, Director of …
The Newest Addition to Mac Brothers
Mac-Care, the newest addition to Mac Brothers’ offerings, focuses on the pathology industry and the provision of sanitary ware and medical equipment. After many consultations with end users, architects and engineers, the idea to improve hygiene and safety by creating sustainable, systematic and world-class working environments was born. There are three main ranges offered by Mac-Care, namely: the medical range, the mortuary and pathology range and washroom accessories. The Medical Range The medical range includes new innovations to make the respective employee’s working environment more sustainable, safe and effective. One of these innovations is a safer Sluice Sink. After consulting with both end-users and field experts, Mac-Care realised that an upgraded Sluice Sink design was required. To make the equipment more effective, accidental discharge has been prevented by making the bedpan and bottle wash spray units operate on-demand. The bottle or pan is pressed onto the spray unit nozzle. The company has several different options to suit a number of applications. The Mortuary and Pathology Range To ensure the quality of the products in this range, Mac-Care has partnered with a reputable European manufacturer to produce tried and tested mortuary equipment. Not only will their products be top-quality, but they will gain an international reputation as a result of said partnership. Thereby ensuring customers will be met with a safe and compliant final product. Some of the products that make up this range include ventilated autopsy tables, scissor trolley jacks, body storage racking and body trays. The Washroom Accessories (Proox) The Proox Range includes several stainless steel washroom accessories, such as paper dispensers, soap foam disinfectant dispensers, toilet paper dispensers and waste bins. These can be used in a number of industries, as they can be used in any washroom. Mac Brothers’ fully qualified team of designers created these ranges to …
Collaborative Consumption – an Emerging Property Trend for 2020 and Beyond
“The Real Estate industry is going through significant change for the first time in my 20-year history in this business. And it is technology-driven,” Paul Stevens, CEO of Just Property, says. “I expect that more and more, players in our industry will adapt their business models to ensure that they stay relevant in times to come. And this includes the developers, who will need to meet the tech-driven demands of a new consumer – one who, very interestingly, while located in the Boomer, GenX or millennial grouping, has very similar needs.” Emerging Trends in Real Estate: United States and Canada 2020, a recent publication by PWC, echoes Stevens, saying that “we may be about to see a shift of generational proportions toward [an]… array of real estate demands, ironically induced – at least partially – by technology. Overcoming isolation is becoming increasingly imperative, as seen in such trends as coworking and co-living.” While South Africa may lag the US with regard to some trends, Stevens notes that co-working is established in the country, with more and more of the population taking on freelance jobs, “side hustles” or “gigs”. But it’s not enough to simply fill a room with hot desks and supply good Wi-Fi. Stevens advises businesses offering shared workspaces specifically for the gig economy, to include areas for collaboration – these users regard networking as an essential. Better still, locate your workspaces near where they live and play, or can live and play, says Stevens. “South Africans have embraced live-work-play environments and as a result, these have enjoyed good real estate investment returns. Interestingly, there is a generational shift happening in the US, and I believe it has gained momentum in South Africa too. “Just as co-working environments are not only populated by the young, we are finding older people being driven by very similar needs when it comes to living arrangements. The generations are not as different as they like to think,” …
HAW expands its range of Intertraco hydraulic hose
Hydraulic and Automation Warehouse (HAW) recently expanded its range of Intertraco hydraulic hose with the addition of three new wire spiral hydraulic hoses, bringing its range of Intertraco spiral hoses to seven. The additions to the range consist of the Intertraco 4ST and 4ST+, each with a four-wire spiral, and the 6ST which consists of a six wire spiral. The 4ST is designed for high-pressure hydraulic systems, for use with mineral and biological hydraulic oils, polyglycol base oils, water-oil emulsions and water. Both the 4ST+ and 6ST variants have the same features, but for high-pressure hydraulic systems with extreme high pressure peaks. Used mainly on earth moving machines and underground mining machines, all three hoses have a hydraulic oil temperature range of -40° to 121° C, with occasional peaks up to 125° C. “The hoses are made of synthetic rubber tube, either four or six wire spirals as denoted by the hose name, and an abrasion-resistant synthetic rubber cover which is MSHA flame retardant approved,” explains Neville Alberts, HAW Johannesburg Branch Manager. Internal hose diameter on the 4ST range is from 5/8” to 2” with working pressure ranging from 3600 to 5000 psi and bend radius from 100 to 315 mm. The 4ST+ has internal hose diameter ranging from 3/8” to 1.1/4”, working pressure varying from 6000 to 6500 psi and bend radius from 80 to 250 mm. Internal hose diameter on the 6ST measures from 1.1/4” to 2”, working pressure is from 6000 to 6500 psi, while the bend radius is from 260 to 395 mm. HAW’s entire range of Intertraco hydraulic hoses is available from all HAW branches countrywide. HAW is a Bosch Rexroth South Africa Group Company CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
Rockwell Automation to Acquire Avnet to Expand Cybersecurity Expertise
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) recently announced it has signed an agreement to acquire privately held Avnet Data Security, LTD, an Israeli-based cybersecurity provider with over 20 years’ experience providing cybersecurity services. Avnet offers a full set of IT/OT cyber services and solutions ranging from assessments, penetration testing, network and security solutions, and training to converged IT/OT managed services. The acquisition will enhance Rockwell Automation’s ability to deliver IT/OT cybersecurity services globally. “Avnet’s combination of service delivery, training, research, and managed services will enable us to service a much larger set of customers globally while also continuing to accelerate our portfolio development in this rapidly developing market,” said Michelle Junius, Marketing Communications Specialist, Sub Saharan Africa & Mining EMEA at Rockwell Automation. Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing parts of Rockwell Automation’s services business. As the manufacturing industry has evolved and become more connected than ever before, legacy physical security strategies are no longer enough to protect production operations. To help customers develop, maintain, and evolve proactive cybersecurity strategies, Rockwell Automation provides a comprehensive set of services and solutions. The extensive knowledge and experience of the Avnet team will support Rockwell Automation’s strategic objective to achieve double digit growth in Information Solutions and Connected Services by expanding IT/OT cyber and network expertise globally. “We are excited to join Rockwell Automation to further expand their already robust cyber offering,” said Igal Cohen, CEO of Avnet. “We are continuing to serve our existing clients while expanding our reach to service a much broader range of customers. Our passion and mission has always been to help as many organisations as possible secure their data from internal and external threats.” The …