Page 2 - KZN Business Sense - KZN Chamber

The seduction with now…
By Akash Singh, the KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
It is incredible
how often
I see new
businessmen and
businesswomen
who want to
join a chamber of
commerce
and industry
and they
expect an
immediate
change
or benefit
to their
business.
Today’s society, both young
and old, is seduced with instant
gratification. Think about it……
you want your email now, you
order a new mobile phone and
can’t wait till it arrives, and you get
pretty upset with sales assistants
if they don’t have any stock. My
favourite, you scream and shout
at the computer when an online
payment takes a few seconds
A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP
The KwaZulu-Natal Business
Chambers Council (KBCC)
has recently seen a change
of leadership, as the previously
elected committee members’
terms of office have expired.
Taking over the reins from
Akash Singh is Dominic
Collett who is the newly elected
chairperson of the KBCC. Collett
is also the president of the iLembe
Chamber of Commerce, Industry
and Tourism.
Collett is a civil engineer
by trade and is the Principal
and Market Segment Leader:
Urban Drainage and Sanitation
with Royal HaskoningDHV.
He has been a member of
the iLembe Chamber’s executive
committee for the past five years
and represents the Chamber
at the critical infrastructure
forums and working groups at
both local, district and provincial
government level.
The vice-chairperson is Judith
Nzimande, first female president
of the Zululand Chamber of
Commerce and Industry and
general manager of Human
Resources for Richards Bay
Coal Terminal. Melanie Veness,
chief executive officer of the
KZN Business Sense
Published by: KZN Top Business, 71 Underwood Road, Hatton Estates
Features & Advertising: Grant Adlam: 083 262 9529
Editorial: Gayle McLennan-Smith: 083 653 0465 | 031 267 1977 | gayle@topbusiness.co.za made to present up-to-date and accurate information, we cannot guarantee that
Accounts: Tracy Engelbrecht: 031 823 1445 | tracy@topbusiness.co.za
Design and Layout: Kezlea Graphics | kezlea@mweb.co.za
Website: www.kznchamber.co.za
2
longer to process.
Building a solid business or
career takes a long time and effort.
Its hard work and dedication,
which would ensure that a
business or career is built on solid
foundation, and will be sustainable
to the highs and lows of the
economy.
Maybe its laziness that has crept
into society and now fed deeply
into the fabric of our businessmen,
businesswomen, employees and
entrepreneurs. I often come face
to face with entrepreneurs that
want to start a new business. After
digesting a small portion of what’s
on their mind and their business
plan (everyone has a business
plan, one that is often copied
from another!), I often realise that
it’s just a replication of another
business and one with limited
barriers to entry.
A good case in point is teachers
and civil servants wanting to take
early retirement to foray into the
business world. They take their
Pietermaritzburg Chamber of
Business, was elected as treasurer.
Akash Singh congratulated the
new committee members. He
said, “I wish you all the best in
making the KBCC the preferred
business organisation in KZN.”
KwaZulu-Natal is the only
province in South Africa that
has an umbrella structure for the
various chambers of commerce
and business organisations
The new KBCC Chairperson Dominic Collett is congratulated by outgoing chairperson Akash Singh.
hard earned retirement savings more than likely to succeed. KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS
money to buy a truck or a coffee So work hard to overcome the CHAMBERS COUNCIL :
shop/restaurant. barriers, don’t choose a business
or a job that is easy to enter. Hard Chairman: Dominic Collett
The truck does well for a few work does not kill, it just builds Secretariat: Charmaine Nundalall
months (as you have to undercut character! Tel: +27 (0)87 350 6747
the competitors on price when Address: 3rd Floor, The Boulevard
entering the market), but then as Coupled with the seduction for Umhlanga, 19 Park Lane,
maintenance and costs rise, you now, is the seduction for free… Umhlanga Rocks, 4319, KwaZulu-
start cutting corners by replacing Lots of people want services or Natal, South Africa
tyres with retreads, paying lower goods for free. I think this is a Website: www.kznchamber.co.za
wages to cheaper and often not symptom of the “seduction for
committed staff….. the writing now” phenomenon. Not having heard about a brilliant business
starts to come onto the wall….. to want to work for rewards but idea that is unique, brand new and
breakdowns, accidents, non or expecting them for free. This has never though off!
late-deliveries and finally loosing created entry level business people
clients. that are starting up businesses that So to all the budding business
are generally in industries that are people out there (and employees),
The same applies to coffee easier to enter and are built on a think long and hard before you
shop/restaurants; many people hand out mentality. enter the business world or choose
think that buying a coffee shop/ your career or job. Be prepared to
restaurant is a ticket to a successful These wrong ingredients (the be different, innovative and work
business. Have you ever opened seduction for now and free) are the hard (but also smart). n
the Sunday paper and taken a look core to why many businesses do
at the “business for sale” section? not succeed or if they do operate,
There are mostly coffee shops and it’s at a very marginal level. The
restaurants for sale. I wonder why? last statistic I heard was that 60%
of businesses started don’t go
The barriers to entry are there beyond eight years. It has killed
to ensure that few entrepreneurs innovation and the nurturing of
enter and those that are in are new ideas. When last have you
present in the region. Current A current aim of the KBCC is the province, represents member
members include the Durban to grow the membership in the chambers, and provides an
Chamber of Commerce and province to include other active integrated platform for provincial
Industry, the Minara Chamber of business organisations. government to engage with the
Commerce, the Pietermaritzburg KZN business chambers and
Chamber of Business, iLembe Collett said, “The KBCC is a organisations as a collective.
Chamber of Commerce, young chamber and my goal is to Through our active role on the
Industry and Tourism, the KZN follow the lead of my predecessor, KZN Economic Council, input
Growth Coalition, the Zululand Akash Singh, and continue to on economic growth and strategy
Chamber of Commerce and build on and implement KBCC’s is also provided to the KZN
Industry, the Ladysmith Chamber mandate so that we maintain our provincial government. We are
of Commerce, Kokstad Chamber current strong momentum.” He able to sit down with business,
of Commerce, the KZN Youth added, “The KBCC is a voice for government and labour and
Chamber, FABCOS and NAFCOC. matters pertaining to business in straight away attempt to resolve
matters of concern.”
The KBCC has a strategy session
planned for November, wherein
the members will propose new
methods of engaging with
business and government in order
to promote a stronger economy in
the province.
“KwaZulu-Natal has a number
of growth nodes, which include
Durban and the north coast. It is
important that we build on the
potential inherent in these regions
so that we can get ahead of the
pack. Growing our powerbase
will ensure that we increase
our competitive advantage over
Gauteng, which will promote
much desired socio-economic
growth, to the benefit of all,”
concluded Collett. n
© Copyright of all material is reserved and no part of KZN Business Sense may be COMMENTS:
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of We welcome comments and seek a lively discussion. Comments that
KZN Top Business. raise questions, clarify content, constitute serious rebuttals, and promote
While every care has been taken in the compilation of this information and every attempt discussion are welcomed and encouraged but will be moderated.
Moderation of comments may include but are not necessarily limited to
inaccuracies will not occur. KZN Top Business will not be held responsible for any loss, non publishing of comments, removal of offending material, or editing
damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any inaccuracy or error within these pages. for spelling or grammar, at the sole discretion of the editorial board of
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors alone KZN Business Sense.
and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers, the KwaZulu-Natal Business Please send your queries to gayle@topbusiness.co.za
Chambers Council, its members, staff or funding agencies and advertisers. We look forward to hearing from you!
KZN Business Sense is brought to you by KZN Top Business.