Comments on: Big business in South Africa needs a wake up call http://saulk.co.za/2008/04/10/big-business-in-south-africa-needs-a-wake-up-call/?source=rss Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:00:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Nicolas http://saulk.co.za/2008/04/10/big-business-in-south-africa-needs-a-wake-up-call/comment-page-1/#comment-1364 Nicolas Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:54:08 +0000 http://saulk.co.za/2008/04/10/big-business-in-south-africa-needs-a-wake-up-call/#comment-1364 This article captures exactly how I feel about the present situation in South Africa. I have started my own import and export company with the main goal of being an Export Management company but everywhere I turn either big business or the government is blocking me. I was born in 1980 so there was no way for me to be involved in the previous governments actions. Why must I pay for someone else's mistakes? When I contact the DTI they only ignore me. We aren't scared of work we just need a chance, an opportunity.... This article captures exactly how I feel about the present situation in South Africa. I have started my own import and export company with the main goal of being an Export Management company but everywhere I turn either big business or the government is blocking me. I was born in 1980 so there was no way for me to be involved in the previous governments actions. Why must I pay for someone else’s mistakes? When I contact the DTI they only ignore me. We aren’t scared of work we just need a chance, an opportunity….

]]> By: HoTsTePPa http://saulk.co.za/2008/04/10/big-business-in-south-africa-needs-a-wake-up-call/comment-page-1/#comment-473 HoTsTePPa Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:34:06 +0000 http://saulk.co.za/2008/04/10/big-business-in-south-africa-needs-a-wake-up-call/#comment-473 True, big businesses prefer to support big businesses. Its a natural mindset of all South Africans. How often do you buy a product like cereal from a local corner shop? Most of prefer going into a supermarket for these things, a loaf of bread or milk and smokes is different, but most of us don't even bother to check if the local store stocks cereal. True the financial backing is not the key to successful small businesses, but the sad fact is that money is needed to survive. There are start up costs that can not be avoided. I have successfully started up 3 companies and each with no capital, which was great. I ended up making propositions to huge companies in SA, and I too was shot down by a giant here because I was a small player. I think the problem should be addressed at a more grassroots level. Communication is not taught in schools, neither is financial management. A tuck shop on the premises does not mean that the kid is exposed to an economy! At this very grassroots level, it will be much easier to iron out these basic issues and also instill the drive and dismiss common misconceptions. What works for me when handling giant companies, is being more professional than normal. Stand out as being the polite professional guy. And most importantly, ALWAYS be nice to secretaries and PA's cos ultimately they are the deal breakers. True, big businesses prefer to support big businesses. Its a natural mindset of all South Africans. How often do you buy a product like cereal from a local corner shop? Most of prefer going into a supermarket for these things, a loaf of bread or milk and smokes is different, but most of us don’t even bother to check if the local store stocks cereal.

True the financial backing is not the key to successful small businesses, but the sad fact is that money is needed to survive. There are start up costs that can not be avoided. I have successfully started up 3 companies and each with no capital, which was great. I ended up making propositions to huge companies in SA, and I too was shot down by a giant here because I was a small player.

I think the problem should be addressed at a more grassroots level. Communication is not taught in schools, neither is financial management. A tuck shop on the premises does not mean that the kid is exposed to an economy! At this very grassroots level, it will be much easier to iron out these basic issues and also instill the drive and dismiss common misconceptions.

What works for me when handling giant companies, is being more professional than normal. Stand out as being the polite professional guy. And most importantly, ALWAYS be nice to secretaries and PA’s cos ultimately they are the deal breakers.

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