South African manufacturers and suppliers are full-swing into the pre-Christmas production madness, and there is probably only one thought that scares business owners more than no Christmas at all – and that is the thought of empty shelves ahead of Christmas. Manufacturers across all industries are beefing up production in order to get stock onto…

Are manufacturing businesses preparing for the pre-Christmas order rush with a sense of trepidation? Anton Oosthuizen from QuickEasy Software, answers manufacturers’ questions around how to survive the silly season without dropping any balls along the way. Q: During the build-up to Christmas my business struggles to keep track of costs and orders. How can I…

As a business owner myself, I know the struggle is real. There’s a real temptation to be involved in every granular detail of your business, from production to petty cash, from staff interviews to stationery purchases. To work in, rather than work on my business. More than that, while we’re being honest here, you’ll agree…

Are your staff members costing your business? By Candace de Villiers “Productivity and growth of productivity must be the first economic consideration at all times, not the last. That is the source of technological innovation, jobs and wealth.” – William E. Simon The longer I’ve operated my own business, the more I see that business…

If you’re one to keep track of the current financial landscape, South Africa’s economic projections for 2016 are looking pretty bleak. Read these insights on how to grow your business into the future. As a nation, we are facing slower economic growth than ever before and political instability has resulted in the worsening of the Rand. A…

By Candace de Villiers “Think globally, act locally.” At least, that’s how the saying goes. Long have governments implored their people to favour all things local over the international, and not much has changed. The idea of a “homegrown” product where local is lekker continues to drive local political and economic arenas, and, with the current…

The state of South Africa’s economy is a favourite topic of discussion around household dinner tables and parliament boardroom tables alike. This is even more so for signage companies and business owners who are trying to create wealth and employment opportunities on their own steam. Optimistically, marginal growth is expected in the near future, with…

The traditional printing industry in South Africa is under strain. Digital is taking more and more market share of what was traditionally print media, and South Africa is seeing one printing company close after another in the printing industry, as well as leading newspapers and magazines closing over the past decade. People are turning to…

The packaging industry in South Africa has a long-standing reputation for excellence and innovation, both locally and beyond our shores. With South Africa once again being crowned Africa’s largest economy in dollar terms, and financial forecasters predicting an economic boost once the new electricity capacity comes into play, South African businesses will need to ensure policies and systems are…

3 Surefire Ways to Know if Your Business Should Pay a Salary or if a Software Subscription is Enough Entrepreneurs start out by being ‘all things to all men’ – wearing almost every hat in the business and often feeling stretched beyond capacity. Understanding that you could be putting a ceiling on your business’s growth…

There’s an urgent need for the dying breed of skilled estimators in today’s work-force. Government agencies are trying desperately to train people fast enough to fill the employment gap, but the fact of the matter is that the need is growing faster than the demand can be met. The continued growth in the construction industry…

Whether you know it, or not, chances are you are probably already using cloud computing for your everyday transactions: Checking email on your phone, updating your Facebook status, doing internet banking while out and about; all of these are based on the internet – and that is, quite simply, cloud computing. Cloud hosting is fast…

As an entrepreneur, I started a manufacturing business a few years ago. I worked hard, hired staff and invested in equipment. So what on earth do I have to confess? The business did well. I enjoyed a great lifestyle for many years, thanks to my company. I was a successful entrepreneur. So why did I…

As a business owner in South Africa for over 18 years, I know what it’s like to manage a remote team in different locations around the world. I am often out of the country on business, and my team is spread across South Africa and is steadily growing. I’ve advocated remote working for years, with…

As a business owner for the last 18 years, I know how challenging it can be to manage your own accounting if you’re not an actual accountant yourself. For most small business owners the thought of business accounting is both intimidating and depressing. How are you supposed to find the time and resources to grow…

We’ve all been there. Maybe you’re there right now. You charge out your work at a certain hourly rate, but you’re suspicious that you’re either a) being ripped off or b) hitting above your weight. It’s more than likely that the only way you judge if your pricing model is accurate is against what you…

Think back to the best boss and the worst boss you ever had. Deciding on the leadership style you implement this year could be as simple as replicating or avoiding what they did. But, unfortunately, it’s not that simple. 1. Are you a leader or manager or both? Let’s start at the beginning. You’ve probably…

There comes a tipping point in every business’s lifecycle where the challenges that keep the business owner awake at night move from new client acquisition and product delivery, and become focused on staff productivity and motivation. Aside from the fact that you want to protect your investments of time, training and culture you’ve poured into…

Find out how to be safe with cloud computing. Make your business ransomware-proof Ransomware is no longer something that happens in movies by cyber villains – it is a real and present threat for South African businesses. What is ransomware?Ransomware is malicious software designed to block access to a computer system or server until a sum…

Want to become your own boss? Here are five things to consider: 1. Know your ‘Why’. Being a business owner is not for everyone; the reality of being your own boss is the lack of certainty, the financial challenges – usually affecting your personal finances – and the inordinate workload. No matter what anyone says, it…