september chamber bulletin
DESCRIPTION
The official mouthpiece of the East Rand Chamber of Commerce & IndustryTRANSCRIPT
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CHAMBERLINK - PROUD SERVICE PROVIDER TO ERCOC
Being an ERCOC
member is the
smart move
6 Use the BCEA increased threshold to your company’s benefit
September 2014
Grow Your “light bulp” ideas
into something amazing
Grow Your “light bulp” ideas
into something amazing
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Follow us now, read interesting articles such as:
Ÿ A training needs analysis will be a learning curve for allŸ Why amended BBBEE Codes of Good Practice are causing quite a stirŸ What is constructive dismissal?Ÿ Why First Aid training should be top priority in the workplaceŸ Skills development is a constant point of concern in SAŸ Labour law in South Africa is an ever-changing beastŸ DTI BEE: Not an affair with a tall dark strangerŸ How to roll out an occupational health and safety strategyŸ
We want to invite you to join us now and take part in the forum. You are more than welcome to submit subjects for discussion.
For the ultimate networking experience amongst members please follow ERCOC
on the following social networks.
As well the “group ERCOC” on
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I N D E XChamber Bulletin
We want to encourage members of the East Rand Chamber of Commerce & Industry to submit any and all material we can publish within our next Chamber Bulletin.
The purpose of the Chamber Bulletin is to give you the opportunity to put your company, your products and or services into a well compiled document, being sent out to all our members and newsletter subscribers.
We also want to encourage members to make sure that their websites are up to date. if you have new information, or photos, s e n d t h e m t o [email protected] or arrange for a company representative to come visit you. He will also be able to take some photographs we can use in both the Chamber Bulletin and as updates within your website.
Make use of the services you have at your disposal.
If you are unsure what exactly the extent of the services are you qualify for as an ERCOC member, please let us know and we will get you up to date.
As we are nearing the end of 2014, make sure that you have covered all the necessary angles of your company. Make sure everything is up to date so that 2015 can start at full speed.
Business News
Page 4 -
Page 13 -
Page 18 -
Word from the Chairperson
Page 6 - Why being an ERCOC Member is the smart move
Page 8 - Use the BCEA increased threshold to your
company’s benefit
Your B-BBEE Solution
Page 14 - Zuma: 'Give SA a positive spin’
Page 16 - How to unblock the SA economy
Page 17 - Micro-lending industry picks up the pieces
Page 19 - JSE further in the red as iron ore price slumps
Page 20 - Three activities to grow your business
Page 23 - Aluglass Bautech Hosts Agents Indaba under
the theme “Alignment of Intention”
Page 24 - Nurturing a Successful Business
Free 30 Day Trial Membership to the East
Rand Chamber of Commerce
13 6
TH YRE T SCH UDAM NI B DE NR A O EF CCO REMM
What ERCOCMEMBERSHIP
Entail
Word from the Chairperson
Visit our websitenow to download
this
Free Labour Guide
Retrenchments; CCMA
ArbitrationStrikesUnions
Dismissaland more...
http://info.chamberlink.co.za/guide-to-a-
harmonious-workforce-on-the-
east-rand
P4
Decade-membership
African Catering Equipment Supplies.
Actuator Repair Services (PTY) Ltd.
Gentech Services.
Conveyor & Plant Services.
JA Schlimmer t/a J & K Transport.
Multi Fire Power Protection Services cc.
Reliable Truck Mixers.
Terblans Cartage Boksburg t/a D & H Logistics.
Chamberlink as service provider
Arbitration Board and Legal aid
It is with great pride that I can announce the Tenth Anniversary of the East Rand Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Instantaneously I have to admit that it is a humbling thought to think that there are 16 loyal supporting member companies that are also
stcelebrate their 1 membership decade with ERCOC.
I salute the following members, without their 10 years of support the Chamber would not have been the biggest AHI Chamber in South Africa:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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15.
16.
During the first Decade of existence the Chamber surely grew beyond all expectations to a staggering 525 members, indicating a real growth of 52 members per annum. At times the membership numbers were touching the 600 mark but due to the 2008 economic crisis the membership count became static, and it is during these though times that we really appreciate the persistence of the above members.
In 2015 another 39 members will be celebrating their ERCOC Decade Membership.
I would also seize this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to the Staff of Chamberlink. Since inception they relentlessly provided the much needed services to delight the ERCOC members, ensuring continues loyal member-support experienced by the Chamber.
The newest addition to their impressive list of services provided by their sister Company “The East Rand Commercial Arbitration Board” will surely fill a much needed cap in the overloaded judicial services. Affordability was also addressed as they will be offering the service as a “Legal Aid” to member companies, on an inexpensive monthly rate.
4 Seasons Catering and Weddings.
Arc Spray.
Ben's Erection and Fabrication cc.
Compressors 2000 cc.
Fluid Pumps cc.
Mag Magic.
PIF Equipment cc.
SA Recycled Plastics cc t/a Plastex.
Business News
P5
Inbound Cyber Marketing
Chamberlink is going National
Chamber Academy with 600 online study courses
Chamlabour.
BBBEE Consulting
The Chamber is also very excited with Chamberlink's Partnership venture with the American company, Hubspot Inbound Marketing. We can assure members that they may look forward to a very exclusive and extremely professional method of inbound marketing, soon to be on offer to all ERCOC members. The name under which Chamberlink will trade to provide this service will be known as “HUBLINK Inbound Marketing Agency”.
It is also envisage that Chamberlink will be offering their services to other AHI chambers country wide. ERCOC would like to use this opportunity to wish them well. We can reassure them that if they provide the same quality services on the internet as what they have done for the past 10 years to ERCOC their efforts will be crowned with great success.
What impressed us most was the “Chamber Academy” now available on our chamber's website. Six hundred study courses were made available by Chamberlink to all members. The study material for the normal 6 OHS training material are now accessible as well on the same site.
As Employers labour aid Chamlabour, has grown to an astounding 125 members.
Not only were these members represented at the CCMA, Labour court and internal hearings, but services like Employment equity. Skills development plans were timeously handed in to the Department of Labour.
The above service delivered to 104 ERCOC members by Chamberlink has now been upgraded with a better working relationship between Cenfed BEE Verification Agency and Chamberlink. A verified scorecard will be made available at the end of each financial period to the contributing member. No longer will there be a difference in the final score between Consulting and Verification, unless Cenfed on the day of the BEE audit, is presented with different documentation and or information to that which was supplied during the consultation period.
To overcome the government's persistence and pressure on business entities to advance black ownership, ERCOC's members can rest assured. The team combination of Chamberlink and Cenfed will provide them with expert legal advice to safeguard that some form of black ownership can be implemented to provide a positive difference on their ROI, implicating that they will not have to lose control of their company.
In closing: The Chamber of Commerce is a service provider and we pride ourselves to the fact that we are and have been capable of making a positive difference to the bottom line of all our members.
Visit our websitenow to download
this
Free Guide
Introduction to Health & Safety
for business
http://info.chamberlink.co.za/introduction-to-
health-and-safety-for-businesses
TH YRE T SCH UDAM NI B DE NR A O EF CCO REMM
ChamberlinkService provider to the
East Rand Chamber of Commerce and Industries
BASIC MEMBERSHIPThe East Rand Chamber of Commerce proud itself in the fact that it is first and foremost a service providing chamber. Inevitably any member of any organisation based on membership will ask the same question, a question an astute businessman should always ask of himself
What’s In It For Me?A negative answer to this question will result in negative growth for the organization. It is for this reason that ERCOC (the acronym for the East Rand Chamber of Commerce) decided to employ Chamberlink right from the chamber’s inception in 2005. Chamberlink has provided expertise and service to all 560 member companies employing +-160000 employees for the past 9 years. Amongst others in the following ways
A ‘positive introduction’ business report on the member company.This report introduce the member’s entity to customers, suppliers, financial institutions and the business community as a whole in such a way that it provides credibility and prestigeThis report is renewable annually, should it be required by the member
A business award ranking from bronze to platinum based on the report done on the member company. To qualify for the highest reward, namely platinum ERCOC will require financial statements and the adjudication will be done in cooperation with ‘Business Partners’. If the member so wishes they may enter the Chamber’s Business of the Year Awards.
Website hosting, design and developmentIncluded in the basic ERCOC membership is a 5 page A4 website (or larger if it is required) specifically designed for the member. Chamberlink employ full-time web designers that designs and hosts these personalised websites utilizing also the ERCOC business report as well as the awarded ranking to amplify the members stance in his/her field. Up to ten email addresses can be created for the company.
Tel: 011 814 7110/1 - Fax: 086 773 8022 - www.chamberlink.co.za
2 Station Road, Nigel
Six OHS annual training sessions is included in the membershipThe courses are: OHS act for management OHS act for supervisors
Health and safety representative courseAccident and Incident investigation courseBasic Fire fighting First aid Level 1
Since 9/11, South Africa legally requested that every organisation from a School, Churches, Clubs, any form of Business must register its personal “Access of Information Manual” with the Commissioner of Human Rights. Included in the membership, every member will be provided with a manual explaining exactly how and what information may be obtained from the entity and at what cost, if any.
Chamberlink ensure that this manual is registered at the required authority.
To summarize the basic ERCOC membership:The Chamber through the service provider Chamberlink ensures that your HR Department complies with all the legal requirements regarding OHS. Secondly, is it possible to reclaim all your basic membership payments from your Industry SETA, as well as improving your BEE scorecard?
To receive all the services from the Chamber, member companies Pay a Once of fee of R4500 and receive these services annually
A monthly fee of R495 for the total 1st year value of R23250.00
Price list of Chamber servicesAnnual Chamber ReportBusiness AwardsAccess Of Info Act OHS X 6 training Plus manualDatadex / gaffeneys Entry
MonthlyMembershipBulletin AdvertisingWebsite development & Hosting
Non-Member MemberPriceR2250R1500R900R6000R450R11100PriceR5200R1450R5500R12150
Total:
Total:
Total:
Total:
R4500
R5940 (12 x R495)
Use the BCEA increased threshold to your company’s benefit - By Christine Du Plessis
Business News
The annual earnings threshold was increased by the Minister of Labour, Mildred Oliphant on July 1, 2014. She acted in accordance with the provision in Section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). It was increased from R193 805.00 to R205 433.30.
This means that any employee whose gross salary is more than R17 119.41 per month is excluded from the protection offered by the BCEA in terms of sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17(2) and 18(3).
The ordinary working hours of 45 hours per week (s9) is therefore not applicable to these employees. They will not be
entitled for any overtime payment when working in excess of 45 hours per week (s10). This also influences the limitations on a compressed working week (s11) and the provisions in section 12 which allows for the averaging of a work week.
The Earnings Threshold presents a small window of opportunity for employers desiring more flexibility in scheduling shift-working staff. This also means that companies that require employees to be on standby can schedule staff outside the restrictive parameters of these sections of the BCEA.
Employees earning above the Earnings Threshold may not rely on the BCEA to enforce a right that is available to those employees earning below the Earnings Threshold. Employees who earn above Earnings Threshold are not automatically entitled to payment for overtime, do not have to receive an allowance for performing night work, can work on Sundays, and so forth.
The mandatory provision of a meal interval of not less than 30 minutes for employees who work for longer than 5 hours (s14) is also not applicable. Also excluded are: the provisions which allow for certain mandatory minimum daily and weekly rest periods (s15), an employee's entitlement to increased pay for work on Sundays (s16), the payment of a mandatory allowance for employees who engage in night work (s17(2)), and increased pay for employees who work on public holidays.HOW ARE “EARNINGS” CALCULATED?
Continue on P9
P8
“Earnings” is the regular annual remuneration before deductions. Examples of these deductions are income tax, pension, medical and contributions made by the employer on behalf of the employee.
Subsistence and transport allowances received, achievement awards and payments for overtime worked is not regarded as remuneration for the purpose of calculating remuneration in terms of the threshold.
The increase in the threshold has the effect of increasing the number of employees who may
be entitled to the above-mentioned minimum rights. In other words: an employee who, until the increase, was earning for example R193 805.00 per annum would not have been entitled to overtime pay. WAYS THAT THE EAST RAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAN HELP EMPLOYERS TO CAPATALISE ON THE FLEXIBILITY OFFERED BY THE EARNINGS THRESHOLD
An internal audit can be conducted to determine which staff members earn above the Earnings Threshold, as per the BCEA.
Operations can be managed by separating workers: those who are subject to the restrictive scheduling constraints of the BCEA and those who earn above the threshold. The latter will be managed outside the BCEA restrictions. Once the level of earnings is established, a two-tiered system can be implemented in which staff earning below the Earnings Threshold are subjected to different working hours and shifts than those who earn above it. For instance, a company who is required to employ staff members who have to go out to work on machines that broke down during the night can ensure that those employees receive remuneration that exceeds the threshold. That way companies can also budget for a certain amount for the wage bill every month.
We can also advise you to be aware of provisions of collective agreements. It is very important to know which employees may rely on a contractual (as opposed to a statutory) right to enforce something like payment for overtime.
Negotiating with an employee (or, in certain instances, the trade union) may result in relaxations on some basic conditions contained in the BCEA. For instance, a meal interval may be reduced from 60 minutes to 30 minutes if there is written agreement to do so. There are a number of similar provisions in the BCEA that present further flexibility, but the key is to know where it can be applied. Don King famously said "You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate."
Business News
TH YRE T SCH UDAM NI B DE NR A O EF CCO REMM ChamberlinkA service division of
TH YRE T SCH UDAM NI B DE NR A O EF CCO REMM
ERCOCIntroduces the new
Commercial Legal Aidfor Member Companies
P12
P14
Zuma: 'Give SA a positive spin’
Cape Town – South African diplomats should put all their efforts i n to p romot ing a pos i t i ve environment for economic growth and development to break the back of poverty, unemployment and inequality, President said in Pretoria on Sunday.
“We have set a growth target of 5% by 2019,” he told the country's a m b a s s a d o r s a n d h i g h commissioners. “Such a target would enable us to get more South Africans employed.
"It is not an easy target to meet, given the global economic climate, but as government, business,
labour and society in general we need to use all the expertise and resources at our disposal to meet this goal. We may also need to change our attitudes.”
He told delegates attending the Heads of Mission Conference that South Africa should continue telling the good story of success. “In only 20 years we have moved from being a pariah in the world to a key player that is recognised and respected,” he said.
“We have consolidated democracy and begun to build a new society based on a progressive constitution that promotes human rights, equality and justice for all.”
“This work is not yet completed, which is why we still see unhappy communities in some parts of the country,” he said. “Each day, we try to reach another community without water, electricity, decent shelter, decent schools and so forth.
"We pride ourselves on being a government that is concerned about ensuring a better life for all our people especially the poor and workers.”
Open opportunities abroadZuma said government wanted to open more opportunities abroad for goods and services and wanted to attract more investment towards South Africa in the next five years. “Missions should gear themselves to support the economic cluster and our business community in opening up prospects for engagement,” he said.
“We want more markets for South African goods abroad and we want more investments to pour towards South Africa. We want you to play your role in this regard.”
On energy, Zuma said there was a strong push in South Africa for an energy mix that includes nuclear, solar, shale gas, wind and coal. “We will be looking for partnerships for this strategic project …,” he said.
On regional politics, he said that the people of the DRC, Central African Republic, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia and parts of North Africa and Nigeria deserve to live in peace. “We must also as Africa work closely together to fight the consequences of globalisation such as international terrorism, transnational crime and cyber terrorism, which remain a serious threat.”
Jacob Zuma
Zuma stamps property rates, labour actsJohannesburg - President has signed into law the Local Government Municipal Property Rates Amendment Act as well as the Labour Relations Amendment Act, the Presidency said on Sunday.
Spokesperson said that the act regulated the categories of property in respect of which rates may be levied, the time frames of publication of the resolutions levying rates, and what must be contained in the promulgated resolution.
It also provides for the exclusion from the rates of certain categories of public service infrastructure.It further give powers to a municipality to levy different rates on vacant land.
The Act would also give power to the MEC of local government to extend the period of validity of a valuation roll by an additional two years.
The Labour Relations Amendment Act sought to respond to the increased informalisation of labour to ensure that vulnerable groups received adequate protection and were employed in conditions of decent work, said Maharaj.
The Act is to ensure that labour legislation gives effect to fundamental constitutional rights. This includes the right to fair labour practices, to engage in collective bargaining, and the right to equality and protection from unfair discrimination.
Jacob Zuma
Mac Maharaj
P15
Worried EU leaders call jobs, growth summitEuropean Union leaders are set to hold an emergency summit on promoting growth and jobs at the suggestion of Italy in October. They will be highlighting their concerns over the fragile economic recovery in the 28-country bloc.
"In recent weeks economic data have confirmed that the recovery, particularly in the euro area, is weak, inflation exceptionally low and unemployment unacceptably high," read the statement issued after all 28 EU leaders met in Brussels late on Saturday.
The emergency summit will focus on "employment, especially youth employment", which remains a big thorn in Europe's side as it seeks to revive a stagnating economy.
Italy has been at the forefront of calls for greater flexibility from strict EU rules on budget deficits. They are alongside countries
such as France, arguing that an excessive focus on German-style austerity has hampered Europe's recovery.
"Europe must be more than the (bond) spread, rules and economic budgets," Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi told reporters after the meeting in Brussels.
The latest inflation data for the euro zone showed that the single currency area was inching ever closer to zero inflation. This is a worrying situation considering its double-digit unemployment rate, stuttering growth and increasing signs of reform fatigue among euro zone governments.
A spokesperson for Renzi said the emergency summit is to tackle the economic situation and would be held on October 7. A separate summit for the 18 euro zone members would also be held in the autumn.
How to unblock the SA economyTHERE is no way to dress it up — 0.6% growth after a quarter of contraction means South Africa is squandering its potential. Three of the country's leading economic thinkers discuss what can be done.Kevin Lings, chief economist at Stanlib
The government could embrace the concept of “ready-to-go” projects. These infrastructure-related projects can be started reasonably quickly (ideally within six to nine months), can be funded through existing budgets, will meet local infrastructure needs and can be completed in two years.
Typically, these projects do not require an extensive engineering design or a protracted environmental assessment. The growing constraints on government finance are reflected in the rising debt levels as well as the recent credit rating downgrades. This suggests that many large infrastructure projects could be initiated and potentially fast-tracked, using private-public partnerships.
These have proved to be successful in the renewable energy sector, and it would appear that the private investor community has an appetite to invest in such projects. Adrian Saville, chief investment officer at Cannon Asset Managers
There are three key ingredients. First, the government needs to produce the infrastructure spend that is in the pipeline, which is taking a long time to materialise. The beauty of that spend is that it has a very high backward and forward linkages, a large spill over effect and it is a productive spend. The installed infrastructure stays behind and facilitates business, and builds the competitive capabilities and capacity of the economy and businesses that operate in it.
Second, we live in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world, but we do relatively little business with our neighbours. On the policy front, the visa restrictions for travel with Kenya hinder us doing business with neighbours.
South Africa seems to be very good at getting in its own way. It has impressive capabilities to contribute to the development of the region and our businesses have the prospect of playing a very big role. Third, we need to improve the ease of doing business. For every new piece of legislation that is ushered in, two have to be ushered out.
If you put these three ingredients together, it is well within the country's capability to get to 6% growth. This will be inclusive because it will foster an environment in which small businesses are built, and smaller businesses are the engine of job creation.Azar Jammine, chief economist at Econometrix
Foremost, South Africa has to improve its educational outcomes. Everything else would fall into place if people were better educated. They would be more employable, be able to produce more and, as a consequence, the country would be less reliant on imports.
If people were more employable and productive, they would earn more. As a result, we would not have the adversarial labour relations that are engulfing South Africa.
If people were better educated and better trained, they would have a greater proclivity to set up their own businesses — and small businesses proportionately create far more jobs than big businesses.
Improved cooperation between public and private sectors is also desperately needed. In particular, the public sector needs to recognise that the private sector has a higher proportion of skills and that it is only through the combination of these two that progress can be made.
P16
Micro-lending industry picks up the pieces
THE collapse of African Bank, which provided 40% of South Africa's unsecured loans, has sent aftershocks throughout the micro-lending sector.
Hennie Ferreira, CEO of Microfinance South Africa (MFSA), which represents providers of small loans, said the ramifications were “huge and very serious on many levels”.
African Bank used the same databases as many microfinance companies. This enabled Leon Kirkinis's failed Midrand-based bank to pick and choose the best customers — clients that had a good track record of repaying loans.
Mr Ferreira said the bank's reckless lending had severe repercussions, with many people now over their heads in debt.
“Those individuals will not be allowed to access credit. That has a ripple effect on the guys who provide short-term loans,” Mr Ferreira said.
Sean Emery, CEO of Rainfin, an online lending platform that processes about 18 loans a day, said that lenders had become reluctant.
“There is structural change because of African Bank,” he said.Lenders had tightened their lending criteria.
Rainfin, for example, was demanding that borrowers had zero defaults, judgments or outstanding loans.It remains to be seen which lender can grab African Bank's customers, but Capitec is probably at the front of the queue.Neil Grobbelaar, CEO of Real People Investments, said that investors were understandably “nervous and concerned” about the industry, because most of them had been exposed to African Bank.He said access to capital funding would be more difficult until investors regained confidence.Real People Investment has a loan book of about R2bn and 350,000 customers.
The flip side is that as the more upright operators tighten up, loan sharks with fewer scruples may get a boost.To prevent this, microfinance organisations are asking the National Credit Regulator to increase the cap on interest rates and fees beyond the current 32%.
Intuitively, this would seem to be a licence to rip customers off further. Lenders could just charge more thus allowing people to sink deeper into debt.
A study done by Econometrix — commissioned by MFSA — shows that the current cap has in fact acted as a form of “price control”, affecting borrowers negatively.
In the past 18 months, more than 30% of MFSA members closed down, Mr Ferreira said.Rob Jeffrey, Econometrix MD said: “Caps are not an effective way of addressing the real or alleged problems with regard to reckless lending, and they also potentially serve to encourage excessive and misinformed borrowing.”
But borrowers mired in debt, thanks to the likes of African Bank, might disagree. Allowing lenders to charge higher fees will not help.
P17
TH YRE T SCH UDAM NI B DE NR A O EF CCO REMM
ChamberlinkService provider to the
East Rand Chamber of Commerce and Industries
Free 30 Day Trial Membership to the East Rand Chamber of CommerceApply Now for your Free Trial and Receive Services worth R5,000!
Business Growth, Training and Legal Compliance with Free Trial.Your Free Trial Membership will Include':
Access Of Information (AOI) Manual registered with the Commissioner of Human Rights (Compulsory) Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Manual for you company (Compulsory to be printed and ready for Manpower inspector) Four Free E-Manuals: Ultimate National Guide for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Introduction to Health and Safety for Businesses Guide To A Harmonious Workforce On The East Rand Guide to Staff Training and Development for Business East Rand Chamber of Commerce Membership Manual 30 Min BEE assessment on Skype pre-booked 30 Min Labour assessment on Skype pre-booked SEO Report on your website complete with improvement recommendations Free entry on our Datadex Business directory
Sign up now and make your company legally compliant.
Visit www.chamberlink.co.za now and sign up, or phone us today on
011 814 7110 / 1
P18
JSE further in the red as iron ore price slumps
THE JSE all share further retreated in the red at midday on Friday as resources, platinum and gold shares slumped; in reaction to lower iron ore prices.
The benchmark iron ore price fell to a two-year low of $87 per ton on Thursday. It is down 36% so far this year after trading at about $140 per ton in January.
Overall sentiment also turned negative on higher than expected credit extension data released in the morning, pointing to a possible further interest rate hike next month.
Total credit extension in July rose to 9.35% year on year from 8.55% in June.
At 12.21pm the all share was 0.53% down at 50,864.59 points and the blue-chip top 40 lost 0.59%. Platinum were 1.23% lower, with gold losing 0.46%. Resources softened 0.44%. Industrials were down 0.58%, mainly on Naspers losing value for the second consecutive day, with financials losing 0.41%. Banks were down 0.37%.
Vestact director Sasha Naryshkine said the lower iron price was hitting the market hard. "It is also getting tougher and tougher for platinum, with high stockpiling levels not moving commodity prices."
The credit extension data was not helping credit sensitive stocks, with retailers down and banks mixed. "Further hikes will not be positive for retailers, but not necessarily for banks which are not that expensive," he said.
Iron ore producers all traded lower, led by Arcelor Mittal losing 1.25% to R39.50. Kumba Iron Ore was down 0.30% to R318.43.
Among hard-hit industrials, Bidvest retreated 1.63% to R284.08 with Imperial off 1.13% to R191.14.
Diversified pharmaceutical group Aspen was 0.69% higher at R299.91 after saying on Friday full-year normalised diluted headline earnings per share would be between 25% and 31% higher than the previous comparable period‚ helped by the sale of certain noncore products and foreign exchange gains.Resources giant Glencore Xstrata softened 0.25% to R63.69.
Global gold producer AngloGold Ashanti was down 0.90% to R178.66.
Among retailers Massmart was 0.55% down at R131.16 with Shoprite retreating 0.66% to R147.03. Woolies traded 0.29% off at R78.83.
Naspers was down 1.43% to R1, 355.34.
P19
Three activities to grow your business
It is said that business is simple, but it is definitely not easy. This article aims to highlight three ways in how businesses can grow.
1. Recruit new clients (This is the most difficult and most e x p e n s i v e o p t i o n a n d the va lue your bus iness offers. The ability of your sales staff, your marketing strategy and the extent to which the quality of your product /serv ice meets or e x c e e d s t h a t o f t h e competition; are determining factors in the arsenal of tools a t y o u r d i s p o s a l i n persuading consumers to
buy from your business.)
2. Sell more to existing clients(Follow an aggressive price strategy. In other words, package a service/product at special discounted prices – you do not need to recruit new clients.)
3. Sell to existing clients more often.(Consider a loyalty card or a discount strategy for frequent purchases.)
In order to make informed decisions with regards to a suitable strategy, especially to sell more to existing clients, the following dimensions for
business growth must be taken into consideration:
· The underlying assumption is that reliable client and management information is available.
· The size of the existing client base.· Average spending per client.· Frequency of spending.· Doing a sensitivity analysis –What would the business' turnover be if
there is for example an increase of 5, 10, 15, 20 or 50% in client spending?Consider proposals to increase the transaction value. (Ways of "up-selling".)
· Consider proposals to increase the frequency of purchases.
There are many side-line activities that can be considered to increase a business' turnover and profit. However, these three tools/activities form the basis for further consideration.
Article written by Jannie Rossouw, Head: Sanlam Business Market
Business News
P20
Visit our websitenow to download
this
Free Guide
Broad BasedBlack
EconomicEmpowerment
http://info.chamberlink.co.za/ultimate-national-guide-for-broad-based-
black-economic-empowerment
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P21
Aluglass Bautech Hosts Agents Indaba under the theme “Alignment of Intention”
The Agents Indaba, heralds Aluglass Bautech Agents, representing different areas of business from distribution to agent, for the best with the best.
The Indaba served as an opportunity for like-minded businesses namely KR Enterprises (Mozambique), Gridline (PE), Aluglass Middelburg, VIP (Vereeniging), Showerflex (KZN) and Varilux (Western Cape) to align towards a shared intention, of customer delight and further unpacking transactional marketing, which seeks to achieve and maintain: a win-win relationship, develop and grow a common culture while protecting Aluglass Bautech's reputation of 40 years. Continue to comply with good governance processes and practices along
identified non-negotiables, full participation in all required and provided training, develop and maintain personal strategic plan. Whilst, the mini-exhibition component was a significant arrangement for introducing new products and allowing participants to view and interact with products on display.
The Indaba was a success and a defining moment for future indaba's, growing to become a regular process and a platform that welcomes innovative, sustainable solutions, for insights, experiences and challenges faced, as well as new ideas. Consequently and importantly exploring the vast business opportunities across the country.
For event updates please have a look at our website: http://www.aluglass.co.za/ and to view our pic-story do visit us on our Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aluglass.co.za
www.aluglass.co.za
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Nurturing a Successful Business
Many people start a business thinking that they'll turn on their computers or open their doors and start making - only to find that making money in a business is much more difficult than they thought. You can avoid this in your business ventures by taking your time and planning out all the necessary steps you need to reach, to achieve success. To succeed in today, you need to be flexible and have good planning and organizational skills. Read on to find out how.
1. Get Organized - To be successful in business you need to be organized. Organization will help you
complete tasks and stay on top of things to be done. A good way to do this is to create a to-do list each day - as you complete each item, check it off your list. This will ensure that you're not forgetting anything and you're completing all the tasks that are essential to the survival of your business.
2. Keep Detailed Records - All successful businesses keep detailed records. By keeping detailed records, you'll know where the business stands financially and what potential challenges you could be facing. Just knowing this gives you time to create strategies to overcome the obstacles that can prevent you from being successful and growing your business.
3. Analyze Your Competition - Competition raises the best results. To be successful, you can't be afraid to study and learn from your competitors. After all, they may be doing something right that you can implement in your business to make more money.
4. Understand the Risks and Rewards - The key to being successful is too take calculated to help your business grow. A good question to ask is: "What's the downside?" If you can answer this question, then you know what the worst-case scenario is. This knowledge will allow you to take the kinds of calculated risks that can generate tremendous rewards for your business.
5. Be Creative - Always be on the lookout for ways to improve your business and to make it stand out from the opposition. Recognize that you don't know everything and be open to new ideas and new approaches to your business.
6. Stay Focused - The old saying that "Rome was not built in a day" applies here. Just because you open a business doesn't mean that you're immediately going to start making money. It takes time to let people know who you are, so stay focused on achieving your short-term goals and give the rest time to come together on its own.
7. Prepare to Make Sacrifices - The lead-up to starting a business is hard work, but after you open your doors, your work has just begun. In many cases, you have to put in more time than you would if you were working for someone else. In turn, you have to make sacrifices, such as spending less time with family and friends in order to be successful.
8. Provide Great Service - There are many successful businesses that forget that providing great customer service is important. If you provide high-quality service for your customers, they'll be more inclined to come back to you, the next time they need something, instead of going to your competitor.
9. Be Consistent - Consistency is a key component to making money in business. You have to consistently keep doing the things necessary to be successful, day in and day out. This will create long-term positive habits that will help you make money over the long term.
ConclusionStarting and running a successful business can be rewarding and challenging. Success requires focus, discipline and perseverance. However, success will not come over night. It requires long-term emphasis and you have to remain unswerving in challenging environments.
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JCP STEEL SUPPLIES opened it's doors for business in 1992. It soon became clear that there was a need for a devoted chromadek supplier who was able to offer good service in the South African market. JCP have become just that.
JCP STEEL has serviced the steel industry with flatsteel products for more than 16 years. JCP STEEL SUPPLIES is a distributor of C o l o r l u m e , C h r o m a d e k , Galvanised and Zincalume to the rainwater,refrigeration, signage and various other industries
CONTACT UST: +27 11 814-1898F: +27 11 814-2166
PHYSICAL ADDRESSCnr Fourth Ave & 3rd StreetVorsterkroonNigel 1490
We are known for our Vehicle Branding - where no job is too big or too small. Banners & Digital printing is our speciality
Street Address: 28b Central Avenue, Eastleigh, Edenvale Landline: 011 452 5553 Fax: 011 4525554 Cell: 082 579 7021 Cell: 082 461 3462 Email: [email protected]
Wieland SA is a local supplier of high-quality semi-finished products in copper and copper based alloys. We specialise in high performance low-and-high-finned mono- and bi-metal tubes.We are also an approved slitting centre for aluminium strip
56 Plantation RoadEastleighEdenvaleJohannesburg, 2008
OfficePhone: +27 (0)10 248-5000Fax: +27 (0)11 [email protected]@wielandsa.comCONTACT US :
TEL: 011 908 0620
Tel: 011 867-5419Tel: 011 867-3794Fax: 011 867-6681email: web: http://procamcctv.co.za/
As the East Rand Chamber of Commerce & Industry we want to welcome all our
new members.
New Members
WE BELIEVE OUR SERVICES WILL ASSIST YOU GRATELY
Botanichem was founded by Robyn Brown. The company started operating in 2006 as a stability testing laboratory due to a consumer demand to run stability tests on cosmetics. It was found that some of the formulations needed adjustments and to make that a reality a formulation laboratory was started.
A year later, Robyn was given the opportunity to work with a new agency which was part of Cognis. French Management asked her if she was willing to take over the agency. She replied yes. This was the birth of Botanichem.
The agency Laboratoires-Serobiologiques merged in 2011 with BASF Beauty Care Solutions to form the now BASF Beauty Creations. Botanichem handles three agencies of their own and they manage five agencies for another local cosmetic company.
BASF is now the largest chemical company in the world.
The innovation of new cosmetics is the primary reason for this cosmetic formulation company's existence.
Being one of the most successful chemical cosmetic companies in South-Africa, Botanichem prides itself in working with top cosmetic companies to discover, test, produce and distribute the cosmetic actives that form part of cosmetic products.
The nature of the business is cosmetics and the company renders excellent service in consulting and in the formulation aspects.
Nature of Business
Combined experience
Reason for being in business
Security
Botanichem has a combined experience amongst staff and management of over 50 years.
Robyn has been in the cosmetic industry for over 20 years. She worked in the technical and sales department for various larges multinational companies in the chemical and cosmetic industry.
The staff consists of an experienced Laboratory Manager who has been in the industry for 32 years and has held various senior R&D positions, a lab technician, internal sales specialist, office assistant and a sales representative.
Botanchem's aim is to provide quality customer service in the cosmetic industry and desires on-going innovation.The approach is always to add value to cosmetic products and to go the extra mile in order to achieve the ultimate product.
Not only does this entity provide a safe and secure working environment for staff, but visitors and customers are also well secured whilst on the premises of Botanichem. Only trained staff is allowed in the laboratory facility.
In the most unlikely event of a total loss of premises and equipment Botanichem is properly insured an although it will not be possible to outsource the making up of samples side of the operation, all on-site work will be resumed as soon as equipment and material can be replaced.
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A full time and highly qualified Safety Officer is on site at all times to ensure the proper implementation of safety policies and procedures.
A traditional marketing strategy has been followed. Potential as well as existing customers have been visited on demand.
Editorials and adverts are submitted to magazines on a regular basis to find prospective clients.
Wherever it is possible Botanichem proudly funds events to be acquainted with clients and to scout for new ones.
After sales are done by monitoring the usages. The company always aim at attaining the highest professional standards in its work therefore customers are visited on a frequent basis to ensure satisfaction.
Management is properly equipped with qualifications amongst themselves such as:
· 3 year National Diploma in Laboratory · 2 year Part Time High Diploma· BSC in Sport Science· BSC in Teaching· Knowledge of physiology and training
Marketing
After sales Service
Professionalism
Human Resources Priorities
Transparency
Company culture and style
The company is very small at present but there is potential in growth. Staff turn-over are low with a stable workforce.
Botanichem will in the near future make use of the OHS training program, provided by the East Rand Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The company provides in-house training as well as external training to employees of Botanichem.
Staff is awarded performance-related bonuses, while salaries are said to be market related and geared towards rewarding top achievers.
Botanichem realises that communication plays a huge part in success therefore company goals and strategies are discussed on a frequent bases.
The leadership at Botanichem sees itself as totally accountable to staff and is intent on providing an environment where people can flourish.
Botanichem is willing to go the extra mile in order to achieve excellent results. The aim is to involve staff in all decisions and make them understand it is their business as well.
Clients are treated like partners, with the philosophy that long-term relationships are critical to Botanichems' ongoing success.
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Company Goals
Achievements
Flexibility
Social issues
There is every reason to believe that Botanichem will continue to grow from strength to strength. The possibility of expanding and obtaining a bigger and better premise are being looked at as well as employing extra staff.
The company produce a positive forecast and budgets for a 5 – 10% growth rate on or before 2020.
During 2014 Botanichem has received their biggest orders recently since starting up.
During 2013 a 45% increase to customers was implemented due to the exchange rate. With a stronger Rand the company are hoping to give customers a decrease before the end of 2014.
Due to certain botanical products being used in manufacturing chemicals, seasons play a huge roll in obtaining them.
Being a specialised industry the management of Botanichem is astute enough to stay ahead of technology. Computers are used on a daily basis. Should the unfortunate happen, back-ups programs and data are available.
Botanichems turnover is less than R5 000 000. They do supply the required BBBEEE Certificate to companies that require it.
Other Comments
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Botanichem is competing in a small industry and the Chamber is aware of the following difficulties: To find the finance for a required professional business plan to and to impress the finance houses to obtain the essential working capital.
We however strongly recommend that time and funds must be made available to produce an impressive business plan to approach financial institution with more confidence. More so, if you want to realise the real latent potential of your company and what the chamber believes to be a fantastic investment.
www.botanichem.co.za
Robyn BrownGeneral Managercell- 084 599 0063
email -
Lina SimoesLaboratory Manager
(011) 397 4455 ext 218email –
Carla CronjeInternal Sales & Orders
cell - 082 681 0179email -
Accounts [email protected]
Office line - 011 425 -2206Fax to email - 086 520 4585
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Delivering services to membersbased in and around the
East Rand
For more information, pleasevisit
or give us a call on 011 814 7110 / 1www.chamberlink.co.za
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