How does one choose the best auction house for your business and why is it important to sell at an auction? Allan Sinclair, Managing Director of Vleissentraal, Bloemfontein and African Farming Digital presenter Bathabile Modutoane discuss auctions.
Israel Nemaorani, a pioneer black farmer, started farming vegetables in Tshivhilwi outside Thohoyandou in the 1990s and took title to his land in 1994. In 1996 he began to transform the 202ha farm into what is today a successful black-owned commercial citrus farm. Sadly, Israel passed on in 2019. His son, Lavhengwa Nemaorani, intends to make his father proud and take the farm to greater heights.
Amos Njoro found his passion for farming by accident as a lack of funds stopped him from following his dream of becoming a teacher. Today, Amos is qualified in agriculture and runs a successful grain operation on several farms in Gauteng. He also runs an AgriSeta accredited company, Ya-rona Temo, which offers training and mentorship to many aspiring farmers across the country.
This week on African Farming Digital, Bathabile Modutoane sits down with Caryn Shacklock of Afrivet. The pair discuss seasonal planning and its importance in farming.
Lioness Weekender spoke to the talented and inspirational Alcinda Cumba Durão about her entrepreneurial journey, her ambitions, and her drive to build strong values-driven businesses.
What does your company do?
IZHA Interior Design: We help busy people who don’t have the time nor the zest to transform their space into the sanctuary of their dreams. We are specialized in interior design and décor of homes, offices and accommodation sector. Our design style is clean, light, minimalist and simplistic, taking into account space functionality and highlighting visual amplitude JD&D Group: We work for the corporate sector and facilitate our clients’ ventures by being a focal point for different types of corporate services, such as legal consulting, administrative, secretarial and HR services, contracts management, as well as brand management and representation.
What inspired you to start your company?
After being at life risk and losing my first daughter at 7 months of pregnancy, due to a severe preeclampsia in 2019, I decided to stop working and stay home during my second pregnancy. I saw myself unemployed and with no luck finding a new job, despite various job applications. During my daughter’s first year of life, I found motherhood SO challenging, that I began to put my life into perspective and to readjust my priorities. When she turned one year old, I felt so strong, empowered and resilient that I made the decision of starting my two businesses, in order to work on my passions and inspire other women to pursue their dreams, despite their past traumas and regardless of being a mom.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
I believe that what makes my businesses and services special is my commitment to serve. I consider myself just, outspoken and result-oriented, and from an early age I’ve always enjoyed being available and resourceful to help others. I take pride in being the person my friends and family look for help, with the certainty that I will do my very best to help them with their concerns. Thus, I’m building businesses and workplaces where I intend to multiply the same vision and principles, in the hope that our clients will feel the same comfort and assurance in working with us in any of our businesses.
Tell us a little about your team
I have an amazing team, composed of 6 people, including me. We have: an administrative assistant who helps us with the day-to-day management; a driver, whose role is to have direct contact with the authorities, to submit and follow up on official documents for the companies and for our clients; a junior legal consultant who assists us with the legal consultancy part of the business; a sales representative, who helps us with our clients’ brand management services; and 2 (two) Executive Directors who are responsible for structuring and implementing a strategic vision in business operations.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I don’t come from an entrepreneurial background, considering that both my parents and my grandparents were employees, and except for my mother, all worked for the Estate. Hence, their guidance was the same: go to school and find an employment until retirement. However, given their experience, the orientation was to work for the private sector, instead of the public sector. And that was my mindset and what I was carrying out. In fact, I was always verbal about how I could never work for myself, because I didn’t have the acumen to be a businesswoman. However, as incredible as it might seem, in 2019, when I was occupying a managerial position at a big company, I saw an invitation to attend one of Lionesses of Africa’s events and, as an avid feminist, I decided to go and see what it was about. I was absolutely fascinated by the stories the speakers talked about their entrepreneurial journey and I decided that one day, it would be me up there, telling my story, hoping to inspire other women that same way I was inspired by all those strong and amazing women at the venue. And I began to study everything related to business. And this is the reason why I identify with and commend this platform so strongly.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I aspire to be a national and international reference in the fields in which I operate, in terms of professionalism, high-standard quality of services and an inclusive work culture inside the company. I’d like to be known for my strong and honest personality and I intend to only give wholehearted and committed young people an opportunity to work for a greater cause than themselves at our businesses. Our mentoring program for adolescents and young people aims at finding and helping this segment of people, so they can feel seen and heard enough to build their self-confidence, go after their dreams and be exceptional at their ventures. I believe that this is the type of people that will help develop of our country and, hopefully, change the world.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
What gives me the most satisfaction as an entrepreneur is to go to sleep every night and wake up every day knowing that I am fortunate enough to, tirelessly, go after my dreams. My aspiration of always looking to become my best self and help others to do the same, either from a business perspective (in case of clients) or at a personal and professional level (in case of employees and beneficiaries of the mentoring program), fills me with joy and purpose. Also, I hope to inspire my daughter and other people to realize that they have within themselves the strength and capacity to be whoever they wish to be and leave a mark in this world, as well as inspire other people to do the same.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
I would advise them to:
Start their self-awareness journey, so they can know themselves deeply and work on their strengths and weaknesses, traumas and triggers.
Know their own measurement of success.
Develop a passion for constant learning and self-improvement.
Have a sense of serving and helping others, this way it will become easier to add value in their businesses.
Really believe in themselves and learn to block outside “noise”.
To learn more about Alcinda Cumba Durão’s businesses and product/service offerings, send her an email: isacumba0@gmail.com or visit the company’s social media platforms:
Tell us a little about your team
Our team of four includes our highly motivated shop assistants at our two branches; our driver who is responsible for the delivery of stock and products, as well as myself, the owner. We also have independent distributors who distribute our products and make a commission from the sales made. Since its inception, the brand has seen massive growth; empowering the youth nationwide through its distributor programme and hiring opportunities in its physical stores.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I have always sold something on the side (even while still working) to make an extra income. However, nothing was formal at that time. It is for this reason that I believe that I was destined for entrepreneurship; I just needed to tap into what really set my soul on fire.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
With Indoni Perfumes, I am looking to open at least three more physical stores in the coming year. I am also looking to expand and make in-house candles and lotions.
What does your company do?
My company works in the fashion area. we bring quality products, classic, exclusive, current, super versatile, for all kinds of sizes. We sell clothes that fit all sizes from S to XXL. Super fashion clothes can make a woman’s self-esteem higher and gives that feeling of comfort and elegance.
A minha empresa trabalha na área de moda. Trazemos produtos de qualidade, clássicos, exclusivos, actuais , super versatis, para todo tipo de tamanhos, vendemos roupa que serve para todos os tamanhos do S até XXL. Roupa da super fashion consegue fazer com que auto-estima da Mulher fique mais elevada, da aquela sensação de conforto e elegância.
What inspired you to start your company?
There is a reason that inspired me to open my company, it was the following: I have always been a genius in doing business since birth. I have never worked for someone else, always for myself. At the age of 17 I already had an aviary where I produced 1500 chickens per batch, but I only did it three times and closed the deal. So I decided to open my company in the area I liked the most, which is the fashion branch, where I opened Super Fashion. At the time I opened my company, in Nampula in Mozambique there was a lack of quality, exclusive clothes and a lack of large clothes for the ladies who wear plus sizes. There was a great lack of good lasting products with excellent quality, and I always wanted to sell good clothes! So I decided to launch my business, Super Fashion, Lda, where the woman from Nampula will always find clothes of her own taste, size, and which will always be exclusive.
Há razão que me inspirou para abrir a minha empresa, foi a seguinte: sempre tive um génio desde nascença em fazer negócio , nunca trabalhei para outra pessoa sempre para mim própria, aos 17 anos de idade já tinha um aviário onde produzia 1500 frangos por lote, mas só fiz três vezes e fechei o negócio. Então decidi abrir a minha empresa no ramo que gostava mais é o ramo da moda, onde abro a Super Fashion, na altura que abri a minha empresa, em Nampula havia falta de roupas de qualidade, exclusivas e falta de roupa grandes para as senhoras que vestem Plus Size. notava-se muita falta de produtos bons duradoiros, com excelente qualidade e sempre quis vender roupa boa ! então decidi fundar a Super Fashion,Lda onde a mulher de Nampula irá sempre encontrar roupa do seu gosto, tamanho e sempre irá ficar exclusiva.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
The reasons that make my product special are: My products are all classic, with high quality material that many stores here in Nampula don’t have. It is exclusive, i.e. we work with unique pieces and you won’t find them in other stores. We work with all types of material, i.e. we have linen, viscose, elastane, knitting, chiffon, silk, and all of them of the highest quality. We ship to all provinces of Mozambique. We work with all sizes.
Às razões que fazem o meu produto ser especial, são: -o meu produto é todo ele clássico, com material de alta qualidade isso muitas lojas aqui em Nampula não tem; -ela é exclusiva ou seja trabalhamos com peças únicas e não iras encontrar em outras lojas; -trabalhamos com todo tipo de material ou seja temos linho , viscosa, elastam, tricô, chifom, seda e todos eles de altíssima qualidade; -enviamos para todas as províncias de Moçambique; – trabalhamos com toda numeração.
Tell us a little about your team
My team member is wonderful, I’m training her to be more flexible with sales, now we work with digital marketing, where we have a cell phone available in the store to make our posts on our social networks. I’ve been having a meeting every week to see the level of sales evolve.
A minha time é maravilhosa estou treinar a ela para ser mais flexível com as vendas, agora trabalhamos com o Marketing digital, onde temos um telemóvel disponível na loja para fazer nossas postagens nas nossas redes socais. tenho feito reunião todas as semanas para ver o nível de venda se evolui.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Talking about my entrepreneurial journey, it’s very nice! I first started selling chickens when I was 17 with few resources and I learned a lot, but I ended up closing it because I didn’t have many financial resources. There were times when there was a lack of feed to give the chicks, it was really difficult, so I decided to close the business. But I didn’t stop there. I then opened the company Super Fashion, which is linked to the fashion industry, and with this company I learned a lot, developed many skills and agility. Throughout the course of my work I felt the need to open another branch which is on the Island of Mozambique and also in migrating to other businesses. Today I have two stores in the fashion industry and two new companies in different areas. With all these businesses life is not easy, it takes a lot of dedication, but it brings good results!
Falar da minha viagem empreendedora, é muito gostoso! eu comecei primeiramente vendendo frangos aos 17 anos, lá com poucos recursos aprendi muita coisa, acabei fechado porque não tinha muitos recursos financeiros, chegava vezes que tinha falta de ração para dar os pintos, estava mesmo muito difícil então decidi fechar o negócio. Mas não parei por ai em seguida abri a empresa Super Fashion que esta ligada a àrea de moda, com está empresa aprendi muita coisa, desenvolvi muitas habilidades e agilidades, ao longo do percurso do meu trabalho senti a necessidade de abrir mais uma sucursal que esta na Ilha de Moçambique e também em migrar para outros negócios . hoje disponho de duas lojas na área de moda e mais duas novas empresas de diferentes áreas. com tudo a vida de empresarial não e fácil precisa-se de muita dedicação mas ela trás bons frutos!
The book ‘Once Upon A Sign: Ayen’s First Day’ will be officially launched in September 2022 which is Deaf Awareness Month, and the story will help to create greater awareness of this important theme. This first book introduces a new series which is aimed at celebrating and representing diversity through characters of different abilities, races and backgrounds.
Speaking about what makes this book launch different, Nancy says:
“I have written a children’s book about a Deaf girl, Ayen who goes to a hearing school and the challenges she faces on her first day being different. I am hoping for this book to be part of a series of books which is aimed at representing diversity through the characters of different abilities, races and backgrounds.”
The new book, ‘Once Upon A Sign: Ayen’s First Day’, is published by LAPA Publishers, an Imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa. A launch event is being planned for September 2022 to officially introduce the book to customers and readers. The book will be available in bookshops from September and Nancy’s hope is to also have this book introduced into primary schools.
Nancy’s aspirations for the new book are to help people learn sign language, which is now recognised as the 12th official language of South Africa, and also learn about different disabilities in our world. She wants readers to appreciate that people are all different and we need to learn to understand how we can all work together. She says, “One person’s weakness is another person’s strength.”
Entrepreneur and author, Nancy Gaylard, is the founder of Not Just Consulting in South Africa. She was born in the country’s highveld, where she spent her formative years. Leaving school, she entered the hospitality industry and spent more than 20 years in customer facing roles. This experience highlighted the value of communication, in all its forms, and the impact this has not only on business but also on basic human interaction. Nancy later started her own consultancy, specializing in customer service, Not Just Consulting. It was during this time that Nancy was exposed to the impact that people with different disabilities have in the workplace, and began working with deaf people. In doing so, she found her passion! Nancy lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband, son, and dog Steven. Once Upon a Sign: Ayen’s First Day is her debut book.
To find out more about the book or to speak to author Nancy Gaylard, send an email to: gaylard.nancy@gmail.com. To contact LAPA Publishers: An imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa, visit the website: www.lapauitgewers.co.za
by Safiyyah Boolay-Jappie
A critical part of your journey to purpose is to discover the small ways in which you can accommodate your purpose in your life and to begin implementing changes that help to align your daily life with your underlying purpose. Our brains pull out all the stops when we try to do this by conjuring up the most magnificent ways in which to make purpose manifest in our lives. Grand and elaborate ideas come to mind. Things that are so spectacular, that it sends our nervous system into a tailspin. And we stay stuck. Frustrated and disillusioned. We lose a bit of ourselves when have a sense of our purpose, and feel unable to move in its direction.
Again, Keep it Simple Sweetheart. Make the littlest of changes. Things that feel unradical, mundane and pedestrian. But aligned nonetheless. By making the littlest of changes in your day-to-day life, you will start the process of living in alignment with your purpose each and every day. Your logical mind will rebel and even dismiss your attempts at integrating your purpose into your life in small ways, but pay it no mind. Stay on course.
I believe that Small Shifts culminate in Big Changes. It might take a while, but by becoming aware, intentional and deliberate about this integration, you will certainly start to feel the difference in your enthusiasm for life as a whole, and your clarity about your purpose will emerge incrementally. If you’ve come to see how important being amidst nature is for you, plan out your week around nature. Redefine what being in nature means for you. One client of mine took the meaning that eating her lunch under the blue skies at work would be her nature stipend for the day and her walk in the mornings become an escape among the trees in her neighbourhood and an opportunity to be in the open.
Maybe an outing with your children could be enough to recover your energy.
If you enjoy helping those in need, start to look for opportunities to volunteer in your community. Or, you might even want to change your job, or start a new business that is more in line with your mission. Perhaps this is a bigger step you can take over time, but there is no reason why you cannot do this, especially if you’ve given yourself the space to make your purpose more prevalent in your life on a day to day basis.
So there you have it!
By following along with the steps outlined above, you could easily be on your way to finding and living out your purpose.
by Kathryn Main
If you don’t re look and re-do your budget to cater for these additional expenses, you will very quickly start spending more than you earn. When you spend more than you earn you will get into debt very quickly.
How many months are you away from bankruptcy? If you are a savvy saver you might have 6 – 12 months living expenses saved up in the bank. If you are not a saver and have no savings, you are closer to bankruptcy that you think.
It’s not the worst thing in the world to relook your budget and make sure you are spending your money on the right things. The things you value, your family’s needs and saving for retirement.
When we take the time to examine our spending habits and have a spending plan for our money its much easier for us to spend less and plan our finances better.
Write down your expenses as you think they are.
Review your bank statements and write a true budget. Work over 3 months so you don’t miss odd expenses. Review all of your bank statements and credit card statements.
Review current providers (Insurance, WI-FI, entertainment budgets)
Change mindset/ lifestyle changes – what can you do differently to use less money?
Make a new family plan and stick to it!
Prioritise paying off your debt. With increasing interest rates your debt will keep growing.
Prioritise saving.
Challenge yourself to a no spend week/ weekend.
If you don’t start to manage the money you do have better you will never live the life of your dreams. You will only live the life of your means.!
#getmoneysavvy #moneysavvy #moneysavvyhumans #moneysavvybudget
If you have never done a budget before you can download a free budget sheet here.