If you have been thinking about starting your own business, here are a few tips to help you on your journey from those who have travelled before you.
Adam and Precious Ngwenya own Thunder Valley Speedway, a go-karting track at Graceland Hotel Casino and Country Club Resort in Secunda, Mpumalanga. The couple saw a need in the community for recreational facilities for young people and realised that the boredom experienced by youth was a fertile ground for addictions to alcohol and drugs as well as vandalism.
Their passion to provide a safe, entertaining outlet for children and their families led to the creation of Thunder Valley Speedway in 2015. It is a family-friendly environment, with community inclusivity and education through play at its core.
“Our unstructured play zone helps children learn how to work in groups, negotiate, behave appropriately and speak for themselves,” Adam explains. “Nothing like this ever existed in our area. We had to travel to places in Gauteng if we wanted to do fun activities like this.”
TIP: A dream without a plan is just a wish. “My dream was to have a go-kart racetrack and build my own state-of-the-art go-karts. I started small and it took a while, but I am in the process of achieving all those dreams.”
Kuvonakala Mavunda also has a dream. She wants to build Sizanimavoko Enterprise, the sewing business her mother started in Giyani Township, Limpopo, into a national supplier of school uniforms.
Kuvonakala’s mantra is “focus on what I can control, not what I can’t”. This positive attitude helped her weather the difficult times this year, especially when she had to temporarily close her business. It also helped her adapt to the changing needs of her customers and diversify her product offering to include clothes, masks and balaclavas.
She says the move away from custom-made uniforms and sportswear during lockdown helped her keep her business open and pay her employees.
Kuvonakala knew she needed guidance to run the business more efficiently. So, she applied to participate in the SAB Foundation Tholoana business development programme. This initiative supports over 150 high-potential entrepreneurs at any given time across South Africa. She received access to skills training, peer networks, brand development as well as an experienced business mentor.
“Being on the programme changed me and the way I do business. I gained confidence in sales and marketing, and learnt how to cost and price accurately.”
Kuvonakala’s determination to succeed turned a small home business into a recognised clothing supplier in Giyani.
TIP: “You will never achieve anything in comfort zone.”
Giving up is not an option for Monaheng Tladi who understands that agility is a key component of business. When lockdown forced the closure of House of Havens, a coffin and casket manufacturing business in Kroonstad in the Free State, he pivoted to insurance.
“Even though House of Havens was considered an essential service, our suppliers were closed and without resources and material we had to shut down,” says Monaheng.
“The closure was a real challenge, but there were also amazing and new opportunities. Lockdown gave me the opportunity to research and understand the market better. I can now offer clients more value through our funeral insurance products as it meets their specific needs when a loved one passes away.
“It’s tough keeping things afloat at times, but I always remember why I started. Persevering through the tough times often leads to great rewards.
“I am very fortunate to have a family that supports me at all times. I can always rely on someone to remind me that if I quit at any time, it won’t make life any easier.”
TIP: Work. Work. Work. Nothing happens without working for it. You need to consistently work on closing sales, marketing, refining your product and more. Sitting there and hoping people will flock in and buy should never be an option.”
Being successful means learning from those who have achieved their dreams. These entrepreneurs have shown that hard work, vision and perseverance are just some of the tools that will get you there.
Terrena Rathanlall is a media officer at Fetola.
We are starting an exciting new series on how to start a business next month. Stay tuned for more!
Monaheng Tladi, Kuvonakala Mavunda and Adam Ngwenya reveal how they achieved their dreams.
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