Page 11 - KZN Top Business Women 2019 eBook

I love South Africa and don’t plan to leave, we have to conform

and survive the challenges and strive to make it work.

to Johannesburg to focus on growing the business my son Ross, who also works in the business, and
Chief Executive Officer, for their new company, Expressway. show him the value of hard work and perseverance.
of Expressway
Finding a niche in the market, Expressway’s key I’ve also aimed to build a business that might create
ransport and trucking tends to be a male business is offering Johannesburg logistics companies opportunities for him one day too, and hopefully
dominated field, but that hasn’t stopped access to a broad KwaZulu-Natal footprint. “There I’ve achieved that.”
TSharon Butler from developing Expressway are plenty of transport businesses that don’t have Sharon works with a life coach, Lynne McNamara,
into a successful logistics company together with their own infrastructure in KZN,” says Sharon. “And who she credits with giving her the confidence to
the KZN D&H Deliveries, with seven depots and 90 this is where we succeeded, partnering with them chase her goals. “I’ve always set goals, but she has
trucks across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. And as and ensuring Expressway provides their clients held me accountable and challenged me. She has
she says, there’s no reason why women can’t run a and efficient and reliable delivery service in KZN. also had a very calming effect on me when needed,
successful transport business. Expressway is a third party wholesale carrier.” which was very comforting. I believe that when
you’re prepared to push the boundaries, the sky is
“Women have stepped up to the plate over the last Sharon’s role includes managing the marketing, the limit. And I’ve proved to myself that I can do
20 years, and several successful transport companies finance, insurance and administration, while Darryl things I never really thought possible. I truly value
are run by women. It’s a tough industry, especially and his team handle the operations and fleet. “I her advice.”
right now with the attacks on truck drivers, but wouldn’t be here today without Darryl,” says Sharon.
men face the exact the same struggles that we do. “He’s a brilliant business partner and we work very Another new beginning?
Success boils down to hard work, perseverance and well together.” A farm girl at heart, Sharon can’t wait to get back
believing in yourself.” Inspired by many people, her administration manager to her home in the KZN Midlands after a week

Trained as a secretary, Sharon found her entre- in Johannesburg stands out. “Erika Venter is a little in Johannesburg. But it’s not just to relax and
preneurial spirit as a young mother. She’d loved dynamo. She’s full of ambition and fastidious about recharge. Always the entrepreneur, she’d spotted
her secretarial job but once her son Ross was born, deadlines, scheduling and filling trucks. She has the that berries were becoming a growth area in the
she didn’t want to go back to work. Instead, she same values and drive as I do, and her loyalty and fresh fruit market and planted 2 000 gooseberry
seedlings in her rather large three hectare property
created a business from home – a fresh vegetable commitment are inspiring, as a woman in a tough at the beginning of the year. “After a little research
pack house. Buying produce straight from the business.” I learnt that gooseberries are hardy and they don’t
market, she developed a range of convenience Focused on her goals need tunnels. Basically, you’re growing weeds!”
packs; cleaned, sliced and packaged vegetables Sharon is clearly proud of her achievements, and she laughs.
for coleslaw, soups, stir-fries and a large microwave the way they’ve grown the business, but there’s no
range. Now commonplace, this was a new concept doubt that it’s taken a lot of work. “No, I don’t really But this is more than just a weekend hobby. Despite
and it wasn’t long before she was supplying have a life-work balance,” she admits. “I spend a lot the intervening years since she’d had her vegetable
hypermarkets and supermarkets in Howick, Hilton, more time at work than I do at play, but it takes a pack house, Sharon managed to reconnect with
Pietermaritzburg and throughout Durban. some of her old contacts who offered useful advice
lot to build and maintain a business. So, I’m proud and her first crop yielded 3 000 punnets .
Building a new business of what I’ve achieved and I’m lucky to have a very
supportive family, which has helped me along the Sharon focused on the fresh fruit while her mother
After a chance meeting with Darryl Ouzman, who made gooseberry jam – that rapidly sold out in
owns D&H Deliveries, Sharon changed course way. But it takes focus and perseverance.” farmers markets and wholesalers in KZN. “But this isn’t
going to work for him as a sales rep. Spotting A strong believer in goals, Sharon points out that a once-off,” she says, pointing out that her second
business opportunities in Gauteng, she negotiated this has helped her focus. “I have a good work ethic, crop is due in November. “Maybe I’ve discovered my
a partnership and moved her ambition in business and I’ve always strived to set a good example for exit plan,” she smiles.

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