BUILDideas April 2023

Editor's Note

Ever heard the adage, start before you're ready? Boy, are we living it here!

BUILD was always something I had dreamt of starting. The idea of creating an accelerator of sorts for women-owned businesses in the informal sector was particularly exciting for me. Growing up in what would be classified a "previously disadvantaged community" I have seen many women start out businesses to help supplement the income for their households Not much thought is given to these entities as serious business operations Always shrugged off as a "side hustle, pass-time, hobby, project" - you get the idea.

This needed to change. A lot needed to change, but especially this. Our use of language and our implied perception of these small businesses has created a culture of deeming these entities insignificant.

On the 14th of March 2023, BUILD hosted a workshop consisting mainly of women-owned businesses operating informally. The first step toward shattering these glass ceilings is to understand that they exist. Convening a group of women who want to learn, challenge and grow is as good a starting point as any.

You can read more about what the workshop was about in this issue

So, have I started? Yes! Am I ready? Absolutely not, but I am certainly ready to roll up my sleeves and start making a change!

The BUILD Workshop first

Snippets of our inaugural BUILD Business Foundations Workshop

Find our more on our website at www.build.org.za

BUILD kicked off its Enterprise Development Programme officially on the 14th of March 2023 at the beautiful Daily Coffee in Nicholway.

The first cohort of ladies have signed up for a 4 month business development programme that includes consulting sessions, design aid and workshop training

BUILD is a social enterprise that was started as a need in communities with small businesses in the informal sector that lack the necessary tools and resources to grow sustainably

The BUILD Network aims to create an incubator and accelerator for these small businesses to navigate the nuances of owning and running a business.

BUILD's guests were invited to the beautiful Daily Coffee in Nicholway for the morning As the founder of BUILD and facilitator of the workshops, Zainab Sarang presented the first course on the basic foundations of starting a business

The workshop applied to startups and established businesses alike

The first installment of the Workshop Series covered topics like using design thinking to refine your business idea, how to create a business plan that works for you, legal structures of a business and sources of funding

The guests were also treated to a light breakfast courtesy of BUILD The Daily Coffee graciously offered coffee to all attendees

The next Workshop will be hosted at the beginning of May and looks at business operations and legalities The series consists of 4 workshops. BUILD will be hosting paid for workshops as well for non-members who would like to attend the workshops

"It's such a wonderful platform you have put together for people like me who are truly in need of this kind of assistance. I loved being there.

Aminabusiness owner

SMALL BUSINESS feature

This month BUILDideas caught up with the incredible business mind behind the Green Dot Café. Ameera Cassim shares her business journey with her creative coffee café concept.

What is Green Dot Cafe and how is your brand different?

Green Dot Café is a speciality coffee bar with an acute focus on our take on brunch. What makes us special is our unique but limited menu offering this is for a very critical reason – sustainability which is our core value, as well as QC (Quality Control)

How did GDC come to be? What was the inspiration behind starting your own business?

This is such a personal name for me, green was always a favourite colour of mine When I was little I remember my mum adorning me in a bright lime green dress, this dress was so dear to me I had to wear it every weekend.

Dot resembles the full-stop in my life from an unhealthy lifestyle to a more conscious lifestyle – I was considered overweight when I was in middle to high school, and one afternoon, my mum had brought home an Akhalwayas sandwich for my brother and I for lunch, I immediately said no and opted for a green apple This was my DOT (my full-stop) my transition to a more conscious healthier lifestyle

Café: Resembles the street café culture in Europe Having had the opportunity to travel extensively in my teen years, I was able to broaden my knowledge on coffee culture as well as street cafes That's why it is imperative and part of the GDC brand to secure street locations We could not be more thrilled that we have THEE best street location in JOZI

Who is Ameera outside of GDC?

I am a wife to a very supportive husband and mother of 2 daughters aged 4 and 7 years. They are quite a handful so jugging school rounds, attending to homework and making sure my mind and body is active by getting up at 5am to head to the gym, is really important for me This mentally prepares myself for the rest of the day I enjoy doing outdoor activities - hiking, running, tennis and I thoroughly enjoy playing board games with my family members

It is crucial to give myself time off on weekends, where I have the ability to clear my mind and focus on myself. Realign

Share one of the most triumphant moments in your business journey?

Being awarded a multi facet corporate tender whilst up against the biggest name players in the coffee industry. This was truly a remarkable and memorable achievement for me and my business

S M A L L B U S I N E S S f e a t u r

Share with us something in your business model that didn’t work, that you needed to pivot. Did you yield a better result?

Misreading the market where our first corporate site was We went in with the mindset of fancy, but realised very quickly in a corporate setting, clients want GRAB & GO and hence we developed our very own Grab & Go Range We now successfully supply many stores across JHB, with this Grab & Go concept

S M A L L B U S I N E S S f e a

Did you have any unsuccessful business ventures prior to GDC?

I had previously run a recruitment agency however whilst it was successful it wasn’t my passion I firmly believe that everything you do must come from a burning passion inside of oneself to ensure the longevity and success.

(Bearing in mind success is different for each and every individual)

What, in your opinion is something that is often over-looked as a small business, but that you have learnt is really important to pay attention to, for the success of your business?

Investing in oneself by means of having a functional mind The mind is a VERY powerful tool and if trained correctly you are on your way to greatness

A simple rule I follow – I look at three circles with each circle being larger than the previous. The smallest circle is what I myself am in control of, the second circle is partial control and the third (biggest) circle you have no control

Now if you focus on the smallest circle you will find infinite change, when focusing on the largest circle you will find yourself chasing your tail

S M A L L B U S I N E S S f e a t

Our target audience is small women-owned businesses, which you can relate to. Would you like to share any advice or insight for other aspiring businesswomen, that you both learnt from owning and running Chilli Chocolate Chefs?

With passion you can pursue anything Don’t let finance or the “BUT” get in the way When you fail, you LEARN; First Attempt In Learning (FAIL)

I had failed many times before and I probably will in the future, if we didn’t fail life would be boring and nothing to challenge ourselves. A leader leads and speaks last, a boss will eat first and speak over others, to be a leader is truly inspiring I got awarded the opportunity to mentor a few younger students, because through actions your leadership will stand out

GREEN DOT CAFE

Green Dot is a beautiful coffee shop reminiscent of street-style cafes in Europe The space is clean and minimalist, yet yields a cosy a warmth

You can steal a few hours here and work without any distractions, except the wafting of #damngoodcoffee.

The perfect brunch spot for families or catchups with old friends. Green Dot Cafe is halaal certified and is situated in Sandton and Rosebank

Visit their Instagram @green_dot_cafe for more information

S M A L L B U S I N E S S f e a t u r e

WinACupofCoffee

F O R Y O U & A F R I E N D !

Here's your chance to win a cup of coffee for you and friend at Green Dot Cafe. Details will be posted on our social media pages

Small Business Owners Project Management Resources

Biggerbusinesseshavethebenefitofhavingadedicatedprojectmanagerforeachbusiness unitordepartment(andoftenmanymoreprojectmanagerswithineachofthosesegments) SmallbusinessownerswearthehatsofeachofthesedepartmentsANDaretheproject managersforeach.Havingaprojectmanagementtoolthatcanrunacrossdifferent functionsofyourbusinesswillhelpyougreatlywithefficiencyandalsopeaceofmind.Here areourpicks

ASANA

I used Asana for awhile and I really liked the ease of use that this software had There are free and paid versions and you can see what features you prefer, but you should be able to do what you need to on the free version

Paymo

This is more billing based. So you can set up your projects per client It includes a timer that tell s you how much of time you spent on a client It manages billing invoices etc

Free and paid

Wrike

I liked the look and feel of Wrike. It also integrates to your email Sometimes, project planning happens in email and with Wrike you can mail the tasks to your dashboard.

Easy to use

Paid and free versions

ClickUp

This tool for me, was a little more challenging. It took me awhile to figure out how everything works. I will say it has customizable everything with tons of features! Paid and free

nTask

A relatively simple and fuss free option. Has paid and free, but one of the cheaper paid options

Trello

This one I found to be the easiest to understand Not too fussy to start putting your Kanban cards together. This also has a free and paid version You can get away with a free version for basic management

Monday.Com

This is an upgrade from making notes everywhere Keep all your tasks and projects in one place. You can add team members as well

Nifty

This simple to use software has a lot of features You can choose from a variety of views for your projects I find having options useful as not all projects are run in the same way This has paid and free versions

Smartsheet

Who am I kidding? I am totally swayed by aesthetics! I loved how this software looked and the clean lines make it easier to use and understand Paid and free

Teamwork

This is more suited for businesses that are more client-based Makes client account management much simpler Free and paid

Lessons for South Africa Rwanda

Despite being one of the poorest countries in Africa, and even in the world, the growth and positive drive of Rwanda is awesomely inspiring.

Marred by the horrific genocide of 1994, Rwandans refer to events or milestones as either pre or post genocide. But almost 30years later the country is on a positive trajectory towards greater growth

Located in the central region of Africa, Rwanda is a landlocked country with the most breathtaking mountainous scenery. It is extremely popular with tourists for its mountain gorillas. Tourists travel to spend time in the mountains with these magnificent creatures Bucket-list stuff

In less than 30 years since their tragic genocide past, Rwanda has been able to realign on to a growth trajectory that is currently seeing an 8% consistent GDP growth (obviously slowed during Covid).

One of the things that stands out about Rwanda is how incredibly clean the country is There are regular cleanup drives that are advocated by the presidency, and in which he actually participates Rwandans pride themselves in their cleanliness

Another element of extreme pride is their incredible coffee Coffee aficionados can attest to the remarkable quality of the Rwandan coffee beans.

Rwanda’s parliament has the largest majority of women of any other parliament globally. In addition to that the average age of the ministers that form the president’s cabinet is 47 There are clear measurables for these leaders and if they are unable to meet the standard they are out Corruption is absolutely not tolerated

Rwanda’s leaders are highly educated, and many are graduates from prestigious universities around the world. They are tech savvy and ambitious and have progressive plans in place

Of course, the country is found wanting in resources, which South Africa is abundant in. But this does not detract them from staying their path to growth and development It is a poor country, many of the farming that is done in Rwanda is subsistence farming.

There isn’t much land to produce agriculture on the kind of scale that other countries do. This is why Rwanda is trying to diversify its options. Rwanda sustains 90% of its budget, as it believes that foreign aid comes with too many conditions.

Rwanda believes in investing in its people, on its terms It has hand-picked leaders that it believes best drive this agenda forward.

There are many lessons for South Africa to learn from this small yet dynamic country.

It's focus on ensuring there are younger leaders, is probably one of the key factors fast-tracking the country's growth.

The effort that is put into the environmental health of the country is paramount and this has as a result become a huge attraction for tourists Rwanda has much natural beauty, as does South Africa. Tourists are keen on travelling to Rwanda because of the safety factor Imagine what South Africa could achieve if we took a few lessons and positively used the plethora of resources we have access to.

What is

n

B u s i n e s s

An acronym for Environmental, Social and Governance - ESG is a concept that has gained a lot of traction in recent years.

The ESG framework helps an entity measure itself against risks and opportunities related to environmental, social and governance factors (ESG factors)

Initially ESG measurement was designed for investors looking to invest in an entity. They would measure risk and opportunity against certain standards However, the concept has evolved and many stakeholders - customers, suppliers, employees all became interested in understanding how sustainable an entity is.

Sustainability, within the ESG framework, assumes that this is more than just environmentally sustainable. The ESG framework looks at diversity and inclusion within an organisation, social impact within the communities they operate in, shareholder rights, transparency and accountability in leadership and many other considerations The approach is more holistic, than traditionally.

HOW ARE ESG SCORES MEASURED?

Currently this is not standardised in South Africa, as it is for example with the BEE Codes of Good Practice However, there are generally accepted standards that various entities look at when measuring or assessing ESG factors

Globally these standards may look slightly different For instance, in South Africa as part of the Social aspect of ESG, entities may consider looking at a company's BEE implementation to measure diversity, social impact etc

There is somewhat of a convergence of standards, guidelines and recommendations on what ESG factors and data companies should be disclosing.

However, looking at global trends, it is only a matter of time before there is an agreed mandatory requirement for ESG compliance.

The expectation is that financial reporting in future will include an integrated ESG report. This means that all the moving parts of an entity need to be aligned to the common ESG goals. CEOs, CFOs, Chief Sustainability Officers will all be working towards achieving whatever ESG goals the company sets out for itself

Regardless of how small your entity may be, you may want to start researching options.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE DOING IN TERMS OF ESG?

While ESG generally applies to larger companies and more expected of JSE listed entities, it is always a good idea to integrate ESG goals and measurements into your entity You can identify the parameters of what they may look like. If you are a bigger entity there are many applicable legislations that include some sort of ESG considerations. Migrating towards a "net zero" commitment means you're creating a responsible identity for your business and will yield greater sustainably for your business If you need more information there are many ESG specialists that can help your business with your ESG goals

W H A T I S Y O U R W O R K P L A C E

Conflict

Turtle: Avoid Teddy Bear:

Accommodate

Turtles avoid conflict altogether. The good thing is sometimes the conflict resolves itself. The bad this is sometimes it festers and gets worse

Teddy bears are likeable and not easy to offend. The good is that conflicts are usually resolved calmly. The bad is that teddy bears are taken advantage of

Sharks: Competitive

Strong and eager to bring conflicts into the open. Sometimes, they can be seen as being too pushy and difficult to approach

Owl: Collaborative

Eager to find pragmatic solutions, Owls are patient and well respected. Sometimes the other party is not willing, and the process can be long-drawn.

On Sale Now!

Purposeful Giving has teamed up with your favourite food bloggers to bring you the ultimate culinary collection, showcasing a diversity of tastes, ingredients and personalities

With its lush, vibrant photography and over 80 easy-to-follow recipes, this unique compilation redefines the art of cooking, providing you with the inspiration for creating delicious meals to share with the people you love!

There are many reasons you might want to update your home Perhaps your space needs a fresh new look, sometimes you may consider an update to commemorate a big life event or in some cases you may be wanting to the increase the value of your home when you list it on the market

Whatever your reason may be, doing it on a budget is always an appealing option! Depending on how big a change you want to effect, here are some quick and relatively easy ideas

PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CUPBOARDS

This is to achieve more of a dramatic change and will require a little more effort and time. First you need to determine if your cabinetry is suitable for painting. If it has a veneer it will most likely not be suitable for painting You would need to ask your hardware store for paint that is suitable for cabinetry

EASY WAYS TO UpdateYour Home

Choose trendy colours, but colours that will not date quickly You are not likely to go wrong with neutral colours that can easily be complimented with any colour scheme in your kitchen.

You would need to have some know how about painting, and also getting the correct tools to do the job This can be an ideal weekend job if you have the time and energy for it

The results are definitely worth the effort for this one

CHANGE THE KITCHEN HARDWARE

If painting seems a little daunting, another easy way to get an update in your kitchen is to change the handles on the cabinetry to something more modern It will not create as dramatic an impact but there will definitely be a noticeable change. Be sure to match the colour of the handles to the hinges of the cabinet doors

ADD MORE PLANTS

If you have the space, indoor plants add a lovely fresh look to your home Be sure to get plants that are suitable for indoors Also check if they need to be close to windows to get the most sunlight etc. You want to be sure that the plants work in your space, if they are blocking out natural light or creating a cluttered feeling you may need to reconsider it.

You can now purchase smaller bottles of sample paints, so if you are not entirely sure about the colour in your space, you can get a few samples and try it and see which colour best creates the mood you are trying to inject into the room

Feature walls don’t have to be solid colours. Stripes on a wall in complimentary colours work very well, and give the space a trendier feel You can even divide the wall in two horizontally (or vertically if you have a clear design objective) and paint them into different colours The options here are endless, the wall really is your canvass.

CHANGING LIGHT-FITTINGS

PAINT A FEATURE WALL

Feature walls create an instant update. And since it is usually just one wall in a room, it won’t be as time-consuming at painting an entire room. Feature walls are generally darker shades. And darker shade paint usually costs a little more than lighter colours so make sure you research the price first before you go out and buy it.

Nothing impacts the ambience of a room quite like a light-fitting does. Lowhanging lights are very trendy in dining areas and kitchens Be sure to have an idea of what you are trying to create before you head out to buy light-fittings. The options for these are endless and you may start to feel overwhelmed by all the choices. If you have a certain look in mind that will help you narrow down the options

CURB APPEAL

If you ’ re looking to facelift the outside of your home a little bit, there’s nothing like a lick of paint on the driveway or patio to achieve instant curb appeal Adding pebbles and stones around potted plants, very easily creates a more attractive entranceway. If you have an interesting door at your entrance, try painting it in a bold colour A door in a different colour has a big impact but is also very easy to change again Adding some potted plants at the entrance adds a very homey and welcoming touch.

Many retail stores sell just the cushion covers, so if your cushions are still in good condition this may be a better option for you

Alternatively, if you have any skill with a sewing machine, cushion covers are relatively easy to sew and the plus side is that you can get exactly the kind of fabric, colour or print you are looking for

Changing the linen in your room is a big impact change You can add throws and cushions to theme your boudoir more precisely If you have the budget for it, changing pedestals is also an instant room revamp

OPEN SHELVING

Open shelves are very on trend If you have the space for them, they make lovely additions to the décor of your rooms.

In your kitchen if you have a wall you can put up some shelves on, have a go. Add some recipe books and style the shelf with potted plants, interesting crockery pieces and frames You can be as random as you would like to but make the look of it cohesive

In a study or living area, open shelves for books and frames are very attractive Have a look at Pinterest on open shelving ideas Choose a style that goes with your room and see where it would work best. Open shelves in your bathroom also work very well Especially if you add some eyecatching storage baskets.

CUSHIONS AND LINEN

Changing the cushions in your living space is a quick and easy fix If you have the budget you can opt to buy new cushions, and for even more of a saving you can buy just the cushion covers

5QuickBreakfast ideas

EASY CHEESY OMELETTE

Credit: Jamie Oliver

Ingredients:

2 large eggs

Paprika/Mixed herbs

Cheese (mozzarella/cheddar)

Tomatoes, peppers, olives

Olive Oil

Method:

Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl, season with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, then beat well with a fork until fully combined. Place a small non-stick frying pan on a low heat to warm up Heat oil

Add paprika and mixed herbs in the pan Pour the eggs

When the omelette begins to cook and firm up, but still has a little raw egg on top, sprinkle over the cheese. Fold over and enjoy!

B LUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

Credit: Martha Stewart

Ingredients:

1 banana

1/2 cup plant-based milk

1 tsp peanut butter

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

Method

Add all the ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth Serve immediately

You can vary the fruit you use here and mix up the flavours This works well with any other berries You can also add strawberries

AVO ON TOAST

Credit: Jamie Oliver

Ingredients:

2 slices of whole-wheat bread

1 ready to eat avocado

black pepper/paprika

cream cheese

lemon juice

Method:

Toast your bread to your liking

Cut your avocado and mash it or slice

Sprinkle black pepper and paprika

Spoon a tablespoon of cream cheese to the avo and combine

Spread over your toast

Squeeze some lemon juice over

ALMOND BUTTER BAGELS

Credit: A Couple Cooks

Ingredients:

1 multigrain bagel

almond butter

Nuts and seeds of your choice

Sliced fruit of your choice

Method

Slice and toast your bagels

Spread a generous helping of almond butter

Add your sliced fruit

Sprinkle nuts

Done! Told you these were quick and easy ideas

Ingredients:

Double think yoghurt

Banana

Granola

Honey

DOUBLE THICK YOGHURT & GRANOLA

Credit: The Horse Fund Shop

Scoop out yoghurt into a bowl

Layer a generous serving of granola on top

Slice a banana

Drizzle with honey

This delicious and nutritious breakfast can be switched up with different types of fruit depending on seasonal availability and personal preference. Add some seeds and nuts in addition to the granola to make it a crunchier meal.

BonAppetit!

OnOurBookshelf What

we ' re reading

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman

The first in a series, The Thursday Murder Club is a record breaking best seller for very good reason. Trully a witty, intelligent and utterly captivating read. The Thursday Murder Club is one of those books that are difficult to put down and get anything else done!

There are also Thursday Murder Club movies expected to be out soon, so we can't be wrong about how good this is!

Set in a peaceful retirement village in England, it tells the tale of four unlikely friends who meet once a week to discuss unsolved cold cases. However, when a murder happens right in their cozy little community, the four surprisingly agile septuagenarians become involved in their first real case. With an intelligent plot, quirky characters and signature British humour, you really can't go wrong with The Thursday Murder Club.

Bulletproof Problem Solving

Charles Conn, Robert McLean

Salma Rahim

(Disclaimer: Still reading this from last month!) This book was highly recommended by the instructor of an online course that I did. The book is written by ex-McKinsey consultants and has a very refreshing look at how successful consultants take on problems. I am currently halfway through this book, but have found immense value thus far. Not only in a consulting role, but equally valuable for business owners.

What my Kids are Reading....

Not sure if this is an occurrence in every home, but if I can't find my kids, the most likely probability is that they're stuck in a book! Two of my kids are avid readers and one needs to be coaxed. Here's what they're reading and enjoying...

St Clare's

Enid Blyton and Pamela Cox

Another Enid Blyton favourite in our home, the St. Clare's 9 book series is a boarding school set story. Twin sisters, Pat and Isabel O'Sullivan are the lead characters in this book. The stories are funny and compelling. A school full of girls is bound to have a lot of adventure and St. Clare's definitely lives up to that expectation. Definitely recommend for kids between 7-12 years

Code Name Bananas

David Walliams

David Walliams is one of the bestselling children's book authors globally. He has a witty and fun style of writing. My daughter lapped this book up in no time (despite it's rather intimidating page quantity!) Set in World War II, this book follows the adventures of a little boy and his friend Gertrude (the Gorilla). It is a hoot, recommended for kids 8-13 years

Agatha Oddly

Lena Jones

The fussiest reader in our home loves amateur sleuth stories and this one did not disappoint. Agatha is a bit of an oddball but her curious mind and adventurous spirit leads her on a path of mystery and intrigue. It is a fun read and doesn't get too serious or frightening. Certainly a page turner. There are 3 books in this series and we are eagerly awaiting more!

Do You Want to Join the BUILD Network?

Who?

If you are a small (really small) business, not formally registered, running a business from home, and you are looking to grow your business/brand but have no idea how to get started and what tools you need - this is for you.

How?

Our first cohort of women-owned businesses is ready to go. If you are keen to join the next one which starts in May 2023, drop us a mail and we will forward an application and informational guide. It's that simple.

What?

As a social enterprise BUILD is offering its business consulting services to small women-owned businesses at no cost As part of a 4 month programme you get free consulting sessions, design packages and access to workshops

Do You Want to Support the BUILD Network?

Who?

Any sized business or organisation that would like to invest its Enterprise Development funding or any other funding towards the development of these small businesses that are part of our network.

How?

Enterprise Development Funds: If you have funds ring-fenced for this purpose they can be used at BUILD for full ED Recognition

Sponsorship: You can sponsor towards the programmes in whichever capacity you choose.

Advertising: Advertise with us. Revenue goes towards the business development of the BUILD Network members

Paid Services

If you are small business that just needs some business consulting but does not want to be part of the 4 month programme, we can help you for a nominal fee. Contact us for more information.