Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

Dear Diary

Please forgive me. I have an addiction. And I am in love..

..With these legs..

…and calves …

..and forearems

All these dedicated, determined, hard-working, gorgeous thigh muscles.

And just in case you didn’t get what thighs are, I took a representative sample of the study population.  I thought you gals may have needed further explanation.

It’s a pleasure.

So I bet you’ve guessed what the addiction is right? Yup,  Le Tour de France . That race with a whole lot of thigh going on. But thighs aside, I really just love this epic race, it’s such a tactical race and it’s always nail-biting stuff to see how things go down. What really makes me happy is when some guy wins who has never smelt glory in any major bike race before. Their glee, utter glee makes the butterflies in my tummy do a little jingle. I also love it when they hitch a 2 second ride when they pick up drinks from the car. Hee Hee!

I am also having a slight infatuation with these eyes..

They’re so sparkly.

Yes, Alberto Contador‘s Irises, Corneas and Pupils. That’s them right there.

And, then there is The Schlek brothers. Aaah, their love for each other, it’s just too adorable. It makes me want to have 50 children in the hope that at least 2 of them will become whipass cyclists and then ride the Tour De France together, win stages together, get overwhelmed by emotion, hug each other in the end and then make their mamma cry for a week.

But wait…

O Armstrong, Armstrong! wherefore art thou Armstrong? I had withdrawal symptoms for 4 whole years.

But I feel much, much better now thanks.

Diary, I’m already missing the race for next year. Can that at all be possible?

Some of these points may seem like minor savings to you but they do all add up. By cutting these costs you might be surprised by what you are actually saving in the long run. We are proud of each and every entrepreneur and small business in South African and want to see them flourish. We want growth and we want success!

• Meet with a tax consultant. There will be an initial cost but the company will save money in the long run as consultants usually have ways and means to save money – all above board, of course. Ask your consultant about qualifying for the SBC (Small Business Corporation) option which means paying less tax.
• Ask employees to only print out necessary documents. If you have a colour printer, print in colour only when the job calls for it, the rest of the time the document settings should be on black and white. Print on both sides of an A4 paper.
• Outsource jobs instead off employing more staff. This way the job will get done, your company will get the recognition and you are making money. Another option might be to employ representatives that work on a basic and commission basis. A sure way of getting your sales up is to introduce a sales incentive to your staff – sit back and watch them perform.
• Cut projects that are not making money and focus on the ones that are paying the rent. By focussing your time and energy on projects with potential your end result will be a solid, profitable product.
• Be creative with your advertising campaigns. There are so many ways to get the word out there without having to pay R6000 for a full page advert. Advertise on websites that are promoting free advertising, launch a competition etc. Get your staff involved in a creative brainstorming session that will bring forth fresh and innovative advertising ideas.
• When arranging a staff meeting that involves a meal, go for a set menu or opt for an in-house meeting with light snacks. No need to go overboard as the aim of the meeting is not to indulge but to have a productive meeting.
• Purchase all refreshments, stationery and cleaning products in bulk. Keep these babies locked up or they will grow wings and fly away.
• If you own a one-man business and are renting your office space you can save by re-locating and working from home. Another option would be to share a spacious office with someone in the same line of work (not competition!). This might work well if you can find someone that compliments your area of expertise and brings new business such as a graphic designer and a printer or an architect and an interior decorator/landscape artist.
• Get in the habit to e-mail rather than phone as this will save on phone costs – it all adds up. Company phones can be issued with a call limit and top-up option. This also cuts out the nuisance of monitoring phone calls at the end of every month.
• Reduce the amount of staff loans by working in conjunction with a trustworthy and dependable loan company that can carry the risk or set a limit on the amount that the company is willing to loan a staff member. Another option would be to charge interest as this in itself will bring down the frequency of staff loans.
• Company vehicles. Now this one will hurt quite a bit but they will eventually get over it. Start introducing a more fuel efficient vehicle instead of costly 4×4’s. By reducing the petrol allowances they might automatically go for a lighter vehicle.
• Plan ahead if you are sending staff on training courses or seminars. By planning ahead you will save money on flights. And while we’re on the subject of flights – there is absolutely nothing wrong with an economic flight. As for the accommodation, set them up with comfortable but basic accommodation instead of an exclusive B&B.
• Review all current agreements like insurance, security and ADSL contracts. Get quotes from other well-known companies and see how it compares. If it means saving money, the way forward might be to go with a different company. If you are satisfied with your current company and their service, you can always negotiate a better deal. Don’t cross over before you’ve done your homework on the other company. Browse HelloPeter’s website to see how this specific South African company in question deals with complaints.
• If your company has quite a few computers on their network that require constant maintenance, a contract in the form of a retainer might be a good idea as opposed to paying the computer technician’s call-out fee every time he pops in.
• If you are looking at buying a new printer, opt for a laser printer instead of an inkjet. Not only are they more economical but they are actually faster which means increased production. You don’t pay for brand-new cartridges as the laser printer’s cartridges get refilled.
• Save on electricity by switching off unnecessary lights during the day and have the staff switch off their computers before they leave for home.

Please send us your thoughts on this. We’d like to hear your weird, wacky and wonderful ideas on how to make small businesses survive the recession!

Mooi, a fusion of modern South African design and retro style, is part of the EarthMother Organic family and specialises in unique, homegrown fashions and accessories. Business partners Fiona Galetti and Lauren Ann Berry’s philosophy is to restore, revive and recycle. Fiona tells us more about how Mooi supports the community and how it has evolved since its inception.

When Lauren’s label Tigerlily needed to be moved upwards into a store from Essenwood market, Fiona had just returned from London – having lived and worked there for 11 years. “I needed a creative outlet,” she says. “I have always loved old retro design and found Durban and surrounds to be an endless supply of things I loved.” This led to the desire to buy old and restore to new and exciting designs. “We are both quite conscious of consumerism and the effect it’s having on our planet, which resulted in the recycling restoring element of the store,” explains Fiona.

Initial capital was important, but not the be all and end all. “We had found a perfect small venue within and organic food store and café, whose rental included all monthly expenses. We wanted to test the market to our idea before running up too many bills and expenses, and we had a small budget to start with as well as a small space to fill,” says Fiona. “Our turnover has constantly increased, thanks to all the support. We have learnt that our formula is a simple but successful one. Our next step is to increase the net profit of the business.”

Mooi is all about South African designers, community based projects, charities and retro ware. It all comes together in a fresh space and gives everyone a chance to get their product or brand exposure. “Everyone that comes into the store says they have never seen anything like it, which makes me think it’s unique in some way,” says Fiona. However she says it’s difficult when it’s your own creation to view it non-critically, especially when being fairly new to the world of retail. “But we have something for everyone, a price to suit everyone, and we are purely South African.”

The biggest evolvement since Mooi’s inception has been the growth of the supplier base. “We have refined our outlook and desire for the future of the store. We outgrew our first smaller space within six months, so we have recently opened our newest store. This corner store is a lot bigger and has allowed us to really create the look we wanted,” says Fiona.

For now Mooi only has one staff member, but a gorgeous one at that. “She was a gorgeous, young student when she first joined us, but fairly shy. Now she is still the same gorgeous, young student, but with an air of confidence – which makes me feel like a proud mum,” says Fiona.

Mooi supports a few community based projects and one charity. “This is a side of the business we both feel strongly about and would like to increase. Knowing we support local communities, empower African women and assist them in gaining knowledge and an income, is a very good feeling,” says Fiona.

Maintaining a good level of exciting new stock can be challenging for Fiona and Lauren, and financials are always a concern – such as paying all the bills, suppliers and security, and keeping all records up to date. “But seeing the happy faces of the customers when they arrive and leave, makes it worthwhile,” says Fiona.

As for becoming successful, Fiona maintains it’s important to love what you do and sell. Her best business advice is to follow your dream, but always remember that research is key!

For more info contact Fiona on 072 402 6689 or e-mail fleabagz@hotmail.com