Exhibitors' Corner Issue 6

Exhibitors’ Corner

The platform to grow, connect and equip SMME businesses.

August - September 2020 - Issue #6

MANAGING DIRECTOR

(DIAMOND BERRY ENTERPRISES)

Nhlanhla Dabengwa

CHIEF EDITOR Mellisa Tshuma

EDITORIAL TEAM

Jennings Chibike Khayelihle Sibanda Anittah Munyaradzi Chidonhwe Loveness Mpofu

ADMINISTRATION Charllote Mpofu Gugulethu Ncube

MARKETING & SALES Charllote Mpofu

Magazine Design David Papayi

DIAMOND BERRY ENTERPRISES

Office 320 Africa House, 10th Avenue & Fife Street Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

MARKETING & ADVERTISING TEL: +263 29 226 2993 CELL: +263 71 570 0593 EMAIL: newsroom.excomag@gmail.com, info.diamondberry@gmail.com

PUBLISHED BY DIAMOND BERRY ENTERPRISES

Exhibitors Corner www.diamondberry.co.zw / www.excomag.co.zw

Website: www.nutriefoods.com Email: organicfoods@nutriefoods.com

E.N.

EDITORS NOTE Mellisa Tshuma

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T

he world around us is slowly changing, or rather it has changed and we are slowly learning and adapting to the new norms. One may term this “adaption” topic as a cliché now but it is important going forward no-matter the storm that will weather us in times to come. Life can be unpredictable and remembering that will save us our hearts, minds (and pockets too!). Some have found their way but some are still trying to catch on the wagon. Adaptation doesn’t only look at how you are managing to maneuver your way through this difficult time, it’s also about looking at the reality that things might never be the same again. In this, how are you looking to do things in the new ‘normal’? For some, events and conferences have been postponed but ever thought of how long you will keep postponing? Let’s look at the world with a different eye and establish the future turnout of events in an unfamiliar world that will become the norm.

The digital medium adds so much power to our world, as it enables incredible stories and great insight to be shared instantly right across the globe – and it’s thrilling to play a part in developing this new

Aug - Sept. 2020

In this issue we feature an exquisite lady who offers classy and heavenly deco for all functions and gatherings.

world of communication. I believe that the power of digital disruption and innovation will help to continually break down barriers and monopolies to create a world of incredible freedom, prosperity and social evolution. As an entity or business make sure you use technology to your fullest advantage as it enable faster and easier engagements with your target audience.

In this issue we feature an exquisite lady who offers classy and heavenly deco for all functions and gatherings. They say being classy isn’t a choice it’s a lifestyle and here we bring you a story of hard work and passion that shows that sometimes you have to betray the pattern of life and pursue what your heart really desires. Nontonkozo Pinky Dube is a distinct individual who founded the events company Touch of Class. What better way to celebrate your event than with the finest deco that is visually arresting and make you comfortable and feel at home.

Working from home can be overwhelming especially if it is a fresh concept that is new all-together.

The change may have been enigmatic to some and gradual but some have managed to pull it off together

and have realized going out for work is really not a necessity especially for the white collar jobs. Dive in to get to know some tips that might help you going forward if you’ve been finding it hard and wondering what you are doing wrong. You can also share with us at newsroom@ excomag.co.zw how you’ve been able to work from home and how it has worked out and could help other businesses or individual who have been struggling to add the dots.

Remember, if things haven’t been working too well during this corona pandemic don’t beat yourself too hard, it’s about survival and emerging on the other side than looking at the income and profits that you have made. Health matters come first than chasing the revenue. Hope you all stay safe and delight your eyes and fill your mind as we enlighten you on interesting topics in the business environment.

Be motivated, be inspired!

Exhibitors’ Corner | 5

Manager’s Remarks

MANAGER’S REMARKS Nhlanhla Dabengwa

WHY YOU SHOULD OUTSOURCE YOUR SME.

(second left) Nhlanhla Dabengwa. with Pinky Dube (middle) and team.

O

utsourcing is the business practice of contracting with an outside party to take care of certain tasks instead of hiring new employees or assigning those tasks to existing staff. It’s a popular way for businesses to lower operational costs and streamline operations while still handling important functions.

Outsourced tasks may be occasional, such as hiring an accountant to do your taxes once a year.

They may also be a regular part of business operations, such as contracting with a cleaning firm rather than hiring janitors as employees.

Advantages Of Outsourcing.

Focus On Core Activities.

The businesses you outsource to may be independent consultants or other large corporations. No matter the size of the business you work with, contracting out operational tasks can provide a variety of benefits. From sole proprietors to large corporations, businesses of every size can use outsourcing to help their company grow and expand while keeping expenses as low as possible.

The back-office operations of a company tend to expand during periods of rapid growth. This expansion can tie up your human and financial resources at the expense of the core activities that made your company successful in the first place. For example, let’s say your company lands a large contract that will significantly increase the volume of purchasing in a short period of

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Aug - Sept. 2020

Manager’s Remarks

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Outsourcing is a way for businesses to lower operational costs and streamline operations while still handling important functions.

time. By outsourcing purchasing responsibilities, you free up personnel to focus on the contract itself.

Maintain Lower Costs.

Sometimes the expense of purchasing equipment or needing a new location can be prohibitive. In these cases, it’s more cost-effective to outsource than to expand operations internally. If the growth of your business results in an increased need for office space, try outsourcing simple operations such as telemarketing or data entry rather than moving to a new location. It might cost far less than the price of expanding, and it is both more efficient and less expensive than relocating.

Outsourcing can also lower costs by reducing the expenses associated with bringing on new employees, such as: • A hiring search • Healthcare & Other Benefits • Payrolls taxes • Increased need for workers in management & H.R positions.

Working with contractors rather than employees can minimize these costs, allowing your business to get the same amount done for less.

Promote Growth.

The overhead costs of some operations are extremely high, but you might want to offer them to satisfy customers, expand your business model, or compete in the marketplace. Outsourcing can be a good option if the cost of expanding to handle those operations yourself is too expensive, would take too long to effect, or would create inefficiencies in your business model.

For instance, your small doctor’s office wants to accept a variety of insurance plans, but one staff member can’t keep up with all

Aug - Sept. 2020

the different providers and rules.

Outsourcing to a firm that specializes in medical billing will cost less than hiring additional skilled staff or training existing personnel, while still increasing the benefit to your customers.

Maintain Operational Control.

Operations with rising costs should be considered for outsourcing. Departments that might have evolved over time into uncontrolled and poorly managed areas are good candidates. An outsourcing company can often bring better management skills to your company than what would otherwise be available without significant restructuring.

For example, let’s say your IT department has too many projects, not enough people, and a budget that far exceeds its contribution to your organization. An outsourcing agreement with an IT contractor will force management to prioritize their requests, bringing projects and spending back under control.

Offering Staffing Flexibility.

Outsourcing allows operations or departments that have cyclical demands to bring in additional resources when they’re necessary.

The outsourcing company can then be released when things slow down again, maintaining a company’s flexibility.

Providing Continuity & Risk Management.

Periods of high employee turnover can add uncertainty and inconsistency to a business. Outsourcing provides a level of continuity to the company while reducing the risk that a substandard level of operation could bring, even over a short period of time.

For instance, your HR manager is on

extended medical leave and her administrative assistant is leaving for a new job. Outsourcing the human resource function reduces risk and allows the company to keep operating while the manager is unavailable. It also gives you time to hire a new assistant without rushing the decision because the office is understaffed.

Develop Internal Staff.

A large project can require skills that your staff does not possess. Onsite outsourcing, where you bring in contractors to operate at your own location, can provide you with the people who possess the skills you need while your people work beside them to acquire a new skill set.

How To Get The Most Out Of Outsourcing.

Businesses often think about outsourcing purely in terms of cost savings, but outsourcing can do more than just lower expenses. As your business grows, outsourcing can be a way to promote innovation, disrupt your industry, and access new skill sets that reposition your company in the market.

When considering how outsourcing can help you grow, don’t limit yourself to looking at the cost of hiring outside contractors versus handling a task with your current staff. Focus on the value a contractor’s expertise adds to your company. Whether through expanding production, marketing your company more extensively, or disrupting the way your industry does business, outsourcing can provide an opportunity for you to innovate, grow, and rise above the competition.

Exhibitors’ Corner | 7

NONTOKOZO P. DUBE FOUNDER - TOUCH OF CLASS

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Cover Story

TOUCH OF CLASS

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he business world is synonymous with hardworking and ever thinking individuals who can resist the desire to take a nap just to make sure everything is going according to plan. A work table littered with papers, laptops, calculators…it is not a pleasant sight for non-goal getters, believe you me.

Dozens of emails to read and respond, unending calls, site visits and long meetings…the list is endless.

After all successful businesses require attention, constant checking, and re-strategizing in line with the market’s needs. How do you expect them to enjoy sleep in the midst of a storm?

Despite all the huddles and scuffles entrepreneurs see themselves in some have colourful characters and personalities. You wouldn’t believe the work load on their shoulders.

With a taste for eye candy and high end settings coupled with a bright personality is the woman behind Touch of Class Events and Deco, Nontokozo Dube. Maybe you have heard of Pinky Events Designer, well its one and the same person, Nontokozo Pinky Dube.

The Middlesex University graduate has surely taken the events and

deco industry by storm thanks to her unique, attractive and exquisite touch of class in her products and services.

“After spending time in the United Kingdom and Cyprus I decided to return home and start a boutique shop selling clothes and hair. Later I decided to venture into the deco business” she said.

With zeal coupled with passion she decided to further her knowledge about deco and events management.

“I attended the School of wedding and floral so that I widen my knowledge of the design industry which I was introduced to by my mother who runs an events company in the UK” she added.

“The next thing was to buy furniture which I hire out and it opened many doors for me” said Pinky.

Touch of class offers services for events such as weddings, birthday parties, graduation parties, anniversary celebrations, funerals and cooperate events.

“We offer our services for a wide variety of events. We have very good packages for our clients and at the moment we are one of the few companies who offer fresh flowers which are tailor made for a particular event” she said as she let out a beautiful

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Be resilient, be persistent - you will turn your dreams into reality.

smile which dissected her face exposing her snow white teeth.

The Accounting graduate who is a wife and mother of two says her desire is to see the Touch of Class brand penetrating borders.

“We have set our sight on South Africa and Botswana. Soon we will be offering our services to clients who want to host events in those countries” said Pinky.

Touch of Class has worked with esteemed organisations such as Ernest & Young, CBZ, Econet Wireless and Nesbitt Castle.

The company has over the years been involved in helping clients during their functions for a reduced fee or sometimes no fee at all as a way of giving back to the community.

She called upon upcoming entrepreneurs to be resilient.

“Be resilient, be persistent- you will turn your dreams into reality”.

Pinky Dube and Team

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Exhibitors’ Corner | 9

Finance

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Morris Mpala (Managing Director MOB Capital).

What is financial management?

Financial management refers to the strategic planning, organising, directing, and controlling of financial activities such as procurement, utilization of funds, accounting, payments, risk management and every other money related activity within an organisation.

Objectives of financial management.

Maintaining enough supply of funds for the organisation to run smoothly Calculating the capital required: The amount of funds an organisation requires is calculated depending upon the policies of the firm with regards to expected expenses and profits. The objective of the company is to increase its earning capability therefore the capital amount required has to be estimated in such a way that the objective will be met.

Formation of capital structure: A capital structure is formed based on the estimated amount of capital required by the organisation. There are different capital structures which are dependent on the current capital the organisation owns and the amount that needs to be raised particularly via external sources. The structure can involve debt and or equity considering if the funds are required for the short-term and or the long-term.

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Creating real and safe investment opportunities to invest in - Investing the capital: To raise more capital and gain regular returns (especially passively) the organisation needs to invest money. Hence, the funds need to be invested in safe and profitable ventures taking into consideration the organisation’s risk appetite. The shareholders of the organisation are always looking out to get good returns on their investment.

Optimum and efficient utilization of funds Effective management of money: This department is also responsible for effectively managing the firm’s money.

Money is required for various purposes in the firm such as payment of salaries and bills, maintaining stock, meeting liabilities, and the purchase of any materials or equipment.

Allocation of profits: When the organisation has earned a good amount of net profit it will have to be efficiently allocated. The net profit can be used for contingency, innovation, or expansion purposes, while another part of the profit can be used to provide dividends to the shareholders.

Financial control: Not only does financial management involve planning, organising, and acquiring funds, but it also includes controlling and analysing

the organisation’s finances in the shortterm and the long-term. This can be done using financial tools such as financial forecasting, ratio analysis, risk management, and profit and cost control.

Why is Financial Management important?

1. Helps organisations in financial planning This is the process of calculating the amount of capital that is required by an organisation and then determining its allocation. A financial plan includes certain key objectives, which are:

• Determining the amount of capital required; • Determining the capital organisation and structure; • Framing of the organisation’s financial policies and regulations • Financial control 1. Assists organisations in the planning and acquisition of funds 2. Helps organisations in effectively utilising and allocating the funds received or acquired 3. Assists organisations in making critical financial decisions 4. Helps in improving the profitability of organisations 5. Increases the overall value of the organisations 6. Provides economic stability.

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Profile

APP A COMBO

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n online restaurant that officially opened in Bulawayo on Monday 27 July 2020.

The restaurant comes at a time when people have hard times getting in queues to get their favourite meals due to fears of contacting the corona virus.

The restaurant was founded

by Bulawayo based Hwange artist, Junior Garnet M Dube and his friend who is also a Dj, Kingsley “King SG” Tozvireva, judging from their other careers, one couldn’t have expected something this innovative to come out of them.

App A Combo brought about the idea of clients getting to order their meals online in combinations, by simple clicking a link that directs the client to the restaurant WhatsApp platform which is always online to respond quick and record the orders, then the meals are delivered a few moments later.

The meals can also be ordered via Twitter and Facebook, with twitter producing most of the clients they have served since opening and one could easily love them for the way they engage with their online family, a gesture you rarely can find in any traditional big name restaurant in the whole of Zimbabwe.

Junior Garnet, the founder of the initiative says he identified the smallest of things that service providers don’t give to their customers and he built his whole idea on that.

A customer has to feel special all

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the time, they must not feel like they are being done any favours or anything that makes them feel less of a human, Junior wasn’t given all that in most eating centres that he has been to, except the food of course.

Imagine after standing in the queue for a pie and then when you argue that it is not the size you want the service provider gets angry at you and starts shouting at you? Imagine going back for a refund or replacement for a meal gone bad and they refuse to grant that, a sign that they don’t trust a client, let alone caring if they are satisfied or not. So after the whole idea was drafted down the founders started approaching possible investors to get the business running, they went on and on until after 6 months they decoded they should start with the little they had, way little than the proposed usd $2500 , and guess what? Bulawayo loved them.

App A Combo Restaurant has promotions that allow the clients to have the meals in a week and pay once the weekends, at a discount too and the group of people that subscribe to that are called the Combo Family. The restaurant also awards the client of the week considering the number of products they have bought; referrals and social media socialise. The winners are usually posted on their Twitter,Facebook and Instagram pages. They aim at going an extra mile for their clients.

Meals available at App A Combo are as follows: Pizza Beef Burger Beef Burger + Chips Chicken Burger Chicken + Chips And they deliver the meals to your homes while you just relax. For more information you can check them on their social media platforms Twitter @AppAComboZW Instagram @appacombozw Facebook App A Combo ZW Call/Whatsapp +263783227946

Exhibitors’ Corner | 11

Profile

AFRICA TRADE MATTERS

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frica Trade Matters, is made up of ordinary black professionals in business, Marketing, Banking, Finance, and Trade Policy. We all have experience working in America, UK and Africa.

We have recognised the call to action to answer the question of ‘What next from the protests?’ in the UK, America and the world over calling for justice and the black economic empowerment that has been long overdue. We asked ourselves, ’How do we keep the legacy going for meaningful change in black communities across the globe?’.

We wanted to play our part in the answering of this question and propose solutions against ending systemic racism, imperialism, white supremacy and toxic anti-black economic empowerment.

We thought long and hard for a long-term economic strategy and imagined the value and respect black people would have with a developed and prosperous Africa, our home. This is how Africa Trade Matters was born and we call upon every black person to have a stake and a vested interest in a strong, stable and developed Africa, to bring the

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diaspora home if and when they are treated unjustly, unequally, or held in economic captivity and build the continent alongside fellow Africans.

We identified supply chain trade and development opportunities, connecting companies that can carry out intra-Africa trade as well as supply to Black businesses in the UK and America and the wider demographic.

billion in current prices (2015-2017) The share of exports from Africa to the rest of the world ranged from 80% to 90% in 2000 –2017 in Africa’s total trade Africa is uniquely positioned to further leverage its rich agricultural resources, for post Brexit Britain as the UK drops the Common Agricultural Policy (Imposed by Europe to slow Africa’s agricultural exports)

This vision is closer to attaining than most may think and here is why:

Urgency of Black Unity:

In Trade and Development: 9 of the top 20 fastest growing economies in the world are African States (IMF) 9 African economies score better in corruption than China (which gets billions of FDI’s yearly), providing a safer environment for investments (Transparency CPI 2019) African States have come together to form the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) forming the largest free trade area in the world Total trade from Africa to the rest of the world averaged $760

The Black Lives Matter movement has been firmly supported with protests in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, and the rest of the continent on social media.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission has urged the authorities in the United States of America to intensify their efforts to ensure the total elimination of all forms of discrimination based on race or ethnic origin.

South African politician Julius Malema held a Black Lives Matter rally outside the American Embassy and said “The problem of black people is not a problem of South Africa. A black man is hated, be it Aug - Sept. 2020

Profile

Management Africa Forum) -Serena Williams (funded the construction of schools in Kenya and Uganda)

Our Execution Trade:

in China, France and everywhere.

We are one family. The border was created by colonisers… The White police didn’t hear George Floyd say I CAN’T BREATHE. George Floyd is going to breathe through these speakers today, you will hear George Floyd today, you will hear all the lives of Black people you have killed in America and all over the world” The Year of Return, 2019, was linked to the 400th anniversary of slaves landing in the US; it’s the first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans in the Americas, and has inspired Nigeria to start planning their year of return for the diaspora.

Disheartened by Racial Violence in the U.S., Inspired by Brexit, Blaxit has been a way to at least find roots in Africa and either return, invest or maintain a stake.

Notable Black Diaspora Stakeholders of Africa: -Oprah Winfrey (Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa) -Steve Harvey (Family Feud South Africa Show) -Eddie Brown (Brown Capital Aug - Sept. 2020

As we all have worked in Africa in one form or another, we have extensive networks of businesses with world class products that need support in getting their products to market As wages rise in Asia, global value chains need new production platforms so Africa can benefit from this trend The political rift and mistrust between the West and China also provides opportunity for Africa, particularly with China’s reputation in the west as lacking IP protection for western companies Tackle supply chain shortages, to make it cheaper for these businesses to export to UK and America, connecting them to Black businesses and the wider demographic Introduce proven technological solutions in the supply chains for efficient exports of goods e.g fast track clearance systems at border, Purity Software can do this.

Connect African Businesses to UK and American Trade shows e.g Spring and Autumn fair for B2B business Empower African businesses with tech innovations for growth and an e-commerce platforms for efficient access to global markets In order to capture business from the full $2.1trillion household consumption by 2025, ($2.5trillion by 2030 - Brookings Institute), we need to ensure that our tech innovation systems are in every transaction that occurs on the continent:

Our Phase 1 2025 Vision: Purity Software with PurityPay: This software will be accessible to all our African companies (offline and online) to organise their inventory and the data it offers will allow

them to organise their supply chains and position their sales strategy as well as effectively (it’s the closest thing to having a system that runs your business for you all the business owner does is check and input what’s needed, but decisions on what to sell and when are made easier, with the data provided) PurityPay : A payment method hardware which will be given for free (eliminating barriers to entry) to all businesses which runs on Purity Software (cost of all this to the business will just be 10% on every sell made) We will offer Purity software to Black Businesses in America, the UK and the world over.

Big caveat will be that in order to gain access their companies will have to be registered in an African address, and will have to be taxed under African codes (eventually taxes won’t be needed though at the Purity Limitless stage) We trial run in Kenya and Eastern African markets like Tanzania and Rwanda to learn the full extent of the softwares capabilities and full potential and how African companies react to it Rough timeline for this will be 3-5 years, before starting expansion to other African Markets, and the global black business community registered in Africa Our target will be to reach a subscription of 546,000 merchants across Africa making over £100,000 in revenue a year, before we moving on to phase 2 of our venture We encourage SMEs and big business in African markets to follow us on all our social medias and stay tuned on the venture’s progress as well as access to our products such as the software to enable faster growth of their business and our PurityPay hard way for seamless payment transfers. We look forward to serving your business’s growth by continuing to tack SME supply chains in Africa through innovation and technology.

Exhibitors’ Corner | 13

Tips

FIGHTING BUSINESS BURNOUT Do deadlines rule your life? Is time your worst enemy?

More than ever the pace of business is changing, and while new tools and technology claim to help us keep pace with evolving demands, they often work to the contrary.

For business owners and entrepreneurs in particular, the sense of urgency to get as much accomplished in as little time as possible can become all consuming. Whether it’s answering every email the instant it hits your Inbox, pre-empting every deadline, or getting into a sheer panic over the volume of work you need to do. Throw in the added pressure of maintaining a realistic work / life balance and you might just be looking at a serious case of business burn out.

Unchecked, burn out hampers your ability to make smart decisions, kills creativity, and even leads to medical issues.

Here are six tips that can help you fight business burn out and put a kick back in your step!

1. IDENTIFY THE TRIGGERS. As business owner, you are responsible for all aspects of your business, and realistically speaking this is no mean feat for any human being. So it’s no surprise that certain aspects of running your business can quickly become sticking points that weigh you down with anxiety and inertia.

Start by taking stock of tasks and situations that regularly cause you anxiety or stress. Does your Inbox rule your life? Do you dread business presentations or sales calls?

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Aug - Sept. 2020

Tips

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Unchecked, burn out hampers your ability to make smart decisions, kills creativity, and even leads to medical issues.

Working with difficult customers can also be extremely stressful.

Once you’ve identified these you can start to tackle them.

2. REFRAME YOUR REACTION. In most instances, humans over-react to stress, to the point that they distort the object of the stress, whether it’s a harmless grass snake or a deadline that really isn’t life or death. Experts advise us to try to counter our reactions to an uncomfortable situation by stepping back and telling ourselves that it’s not the object of your stress that’s crippling you (whether it’s a difficult deadline, or a tricky customer) but what you’re telling yourself about the stress.

So instead of thinking “If I don’t meet this deadline, I’ll surely lose this customer/investor?” try to reframe your reaction. Then walk through some steps that can help you get a better grasp of that stress-catalyst.

In this case, is the deadline realistic? Work with your team/client to reassess workload/priorities, and so on.

The same applies to answering emails, no one will die if you don’t answer all your emails the moment, they come in. Try to allocate blocks of time during the day to take care of pressures like managing your Inbox, making collection calls, and so on.

3. DELEGATE Delegation takes an enormous strain off your shoulders; it also empowers employees to take a vested interest and role in your business success. Consider shedding some of your responsibilities to employees who have specific skills, are quick learners or who are showing leadership potential.

and your employee’s 100 percent of the time. Even if you’re not “at it” 100 percent of the time, simple interruptions such as taking calls or answering emails after hours, can disrupt quality “me” time.

If you struggle to find time for yourself during the week, try to manage your “me” time in blocks.

Whether it’s an hour at the gym or a Friday afternoon game of golf, mark it in your calendar and manage your business around those times. Friday’s tend to be light on meetings and, let’s face it, productivity levels are not at their highest – maximize this time by blocking it in your calendar, you’ll feel surprisingly refreshed for it.

5. FIND NEW CHALLENGES. Take your mind off stress factors by finding new challenges! Shake it up a bit and reinvigorate your business by exploring new markets, new sales strategies, or new products. Alternatively, focus on making simple changes such as team-building exercises with employees, a new lick of paint to your home-based office, or getting out on the road to meet more customers.

6. LEARN FROM OTHERS. Whether you are networking at a local Chamber of Commerce event or catching up with fellow business owners over lunch, getting out there and sharing your experiences and concerns with like-minded entrepreneurs can provide a sense of connection, motivation and wellbeing.

If you have experienced Burnout before, kindly share with us on how it was for you on newsroom@excomag.co.zw

4. SCHEDULE “ME” TIME. This is easier said than done, especially when you feel you responsible for being there for your customers

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Exhibitors’ Corner | 15

Inspiration

IN THE MEANTIME...

Lady Profound

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R

eality is a dark hole for a bleeding soul. A vacant hold where many travellers are scared to go. More often than not, parents prepare us for the future because they have the best interests for us but they never prepare us for the meantime, which is the most crucial phase to learn a lot about life itself, patience, perseverance, integrity and humility. It is a rise or fall phase because your success is determined by how you handle yourself in the meantime.

In most cases, our beliefs about ourselves are learnt internalized thoughts that evolve into behaviours that take over how we operate in our day to day lives. Somewhere along the way we grow accustomed to our self-perceptions and we allow them to become oppositions to our gifts and opportunities.

Perhaps you are one in a million who is still waiting for an opportunity, but the sad reality is that, an opportunity will never come to your doorstep and knock. Hence your life has to be more than just waiting for the right opportunity to come

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Being honest helps you deal with whatever the truth may be either negative or positive.

along and find you. Your life has to be more than just months giving birth to years, watching others make progress and you wondering when your turn is coming. Perhaps your vison is unclear, your purpose is still undefined or you know where you want to be but you do not know where to start or how to get there rather.

What do you do then?

This is what l call the “in the meantime” phase. Where you have to do what you have to do in order to get where you want to be. Starting with simple things like being authentic with yourself about where you are helps you make haunting decisions, tough but rewarding.

Being honest helps you deal with whatever the truth may be either negative or positive. If you uncover the negatives about yourself, you have a chance to improve. The only thing that is standing between you and your goal is the things you tell yourself as to why you cannot achieve it.Your excuses are as empty now as they were when you

started using them. You are blocking yourself from the opportunities that could easily have been yours, way earlier than expected. Your excuses are the lies you convince yourself are true to avoid proving you are worthy of the opportunity given, knowingly or unknowingly.

In the meantime, find your niche, explore, sharpen your skill, be creative and constantly challenge yourself to grow out of your comfort zone, once you get comfortable, the process still goes on and on until you get to where you want to be. Sometimes nothing is going to change until you get sick and tired of being sick and tired of waiting for an opportunity. Those little things we do in the meantime, prepare us for the opportunities to come so we may greatly appreciate the journey.

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SMME Corner

RUMYET ENTERPRISES

Rumyet Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd. Is a wholly indigenous owned Engineering and commodity Broking firm with a global business scope. Since its establishment in 1998, the company has successfully built a tremendous reputation based upon timeous delivery and supply of acceptable quality goods, works and services.

We are in a synergic partnership with Msepe Construction to offer a wide range of plumbing and construction services.

Msepe Construction services includes general construction, plumbing, tilling, gardening and landscape amongst others. All work we do to the satisfaction of the customer.

SKIES LAS PALMAS FC

Skies Las Palmas FC Youth Academy was founded in October 2015 by Marvelous Bonasi holder of the US Soccer 11v11 and 9v9 Coaching Licenses as well as Electrical Engineering Techncian and Gremah Siphosenkosi Ndebele holder of the Brazilian Level 4 Coaching License.

Skies Las Palmas FC Youth Academy is an affiliate of Zimbabwe Football Association Bulawayo Province U20 league.

About Us Skies Las Palmas FC Youth Academy is a sports academy which seeks to provide a platform for young people to showcase their talent through sports and education. With the main sport being soccer/football we seek to introduce more sports so as to accommodate a diversity of sports. The academy seeks to promote a sober character, good conduct amongst youth. The academy also seeks to create a God fearing society as well as promote and preach the gospel of education through sports. Since 2015 the academy has gained popularity with the young individuals both female and male of the local communities around the city of Bulawayo.

SHAYBILL ENERGY

SMART VENDING

ShayBill Energy is an electrical power engineering company established in Bulawayo and specialises in electrical and energy solutions with services mainly consisting of Electrical installations, electrical maintenance, complete solar solutions, Fault Finding and power factor correction amongst other electrical needs.

A morden Fintech innovation connecting African SMEs

What We Do. • Borehole Water Survey • DC Pump Installation • Solar Installation (AC) • Supply of water storage tanks • Tank stands and plant equipment • Free Installations.

Applications.

• Agriculture Water Supply • Drinking Water Supply • Drip Irrigation • Livestock Watering • Rural Electrification Contact Details.

100 S. Parirenyatwa.

Corner 10th Ave, Bulawayo. +263 292 887 440 +263 773 535 106 +263 774 786 743 Info.rumyet@gmail.com Facebook – Rumyet Enterprises

18 | Exhibitors’ Corner

Aug - Sept. 2020

Profile

GEMWITTS ENTERPRISES

G

emwitts is a green energy implementer that provides a full range of sustainable energy solutions, with emphasis to Solar.

When it comes to Solar Solutions nothing is too big nor too small for us. We supply and install high quality professional scalable turn-key Backup and Renewable Energy Solutions which include On-grid and Off-grid Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems and Industrial Electrical Installations, all tailored to every customer’s specific needs.

At Gemwitts we pride ourselves in being one of Industry’s leading experienced Solar Industrial Electrical Power System experts.

Gemwitts brings the “bright lights” to rural and peri urban communities by providing energy efficient, reliable, and affordable Solar and LED Lighting Solutions. This reduces reliance on conventional fuel sources such as firewood hence reducing deforestation and reducing our carbon footprint.

Gemwitts is one of the few companies converging to and promoting Sustainable Development in Zimbabwe, in particular Bulawayo, the City of Kings.

In addition to our goals of providing cost effective, environment friendly and clean energy solutions to individuals and businesses, we

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also distribute LED Lighting products some of which we have Exclusive Distributorship Rights in Zimbabwe for.

We have expanded our distribution channels to sell Solar Products and Hardware accessories from our growing network of Retail outlets. You can also visit our Online store www.gemwitts.com/ shop and keep up with our specials and promotions.

VISION. To improve quality of life in rural communities through the implementation of affordable, renewable, sustainable solar lighting & energy solutions whilst creating employment for the Youth in Zimbabwe.

MISSION. To continually satisfy customer needs through the supply of appropriate sustainable lighting and energy solutions for today’s ever-changing global village so as to help them achieve their strategic goals.

VALUES. • Total Quality • Professionalism • Mutual Respect

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Profile

IKHEKHELETHU.

I

khekhelethu/Our Cake is a registered Pvt Ltd company specialising in bespoke celebration cakes. Our beautiful cakes will add an authentic ethnic touch to your event. Every slice is magical and promotes togetherness as you share special moments with your loved ones.

Ikhekhelethu/Our Cake has emerged as an ingenious and creative way of celebrating the beautiful story of the Ndebele culture and heritage. Our magnificent cake brand seeks to preserve and showcase one of the cherished African cultures and people. Our culturally themed cakes seek to convey a rich story about our way of life.

Bake me a story, an authentic Ndebele story The Ndebele ingenuity and creativity is unparalleled. As a people we sing, dance, ululate and are bound by the spirit of Ubuntu and

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togetherness. We love peace, unity and tranquillity. Ikhekhelethu simply means Our Cake and we would like to portray our cultural values as a timeless tasty cake that everyone will desire to get a slice of. Cakes never go out of fashion; they have stood the test of time and so is our beautiful culture. This creative invention seeks to celebrate a beautiful cultural story, language and people. The Ndebele people are part of the beautiful African continent and our cake is therefore a microcosm of what our motherland has to offer.

From the city of Kings and Queens to the world. We promulgate peace and tranquillity. With open arms we say “come and have a taste”, a taste of cultural etiquette, art and prestige. All these elements form a part of our cake brand. Our culturally themed cake encapsulates a beautiful story and set of principles.

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Tips

7 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

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n the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time.

Even if you’ve done it before, working from home because of coronavirus might feel like a whole new world: It’s probably sudden. It might be for an extended period of time rather than a day here and there (and you’re not at all sure how long it’ll last). Your whole company is involved. And you can’t necessarily socialize in person outside of work.

These tips will help you make sure that you’re successful, both at getting your work done and at maintaining your mental well-being:

1. GET DRESSED. It might seem like a simple tip, but it’s a crucial one. Before going to work, spend some time to prepare

22 | Exhibitors’ Corner

for work even though you may have been used to working from home. It is always tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day, but if you taking stock any day you give into the night garment temptation it always is much slower to start and less productive overall.

You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done. Don’t underestimate the power of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing. It makes you feel human and confident and helps draw the line between being at work and being at home.

Feeling human might seem like an odd thing to have to actively think of, but it’s especially important at a time like this, when the breakdown of your everyday routines might make you feel cut off from your “normal” life and the “real” world.

Getting dressed also applies to other appearance-based tasks: Take a shower, brush your hair, even

put on makeup if that’s what you’d usually do. You don’t need to go as all out as you would for the office if you don’t want to, but waking up and taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself.

Besides, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean that no one from work will see you.

It’s 2020 and we’re all about to have a lot of video meetings.

2. ALLOCATE A WORKING SPACE OR HOME OFFICE. One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. For some people it becomes very blurry, and distracting. If you never fully disconnect from work, your work productivity will suffer and your home life can take a hit as well.

If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, Aug - Sept. 2020

Tips

spread yourself across your home— while it might seem great to be able to move from desk to couch to bed, if you let your laptop creep into your downtime space, it makes it harder to keep your work separate from your home life. If you’re working at a table you need to use outside of work or a room you spend a lot of time in, pack up your work each evening to make the end of your day decisive

3. KEEP CLEARLY DEFINED WORKING HOURS.

and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home.

You may scoff at the idea of a separate room for a home office if, like you live in a small apartment. Your workspace doesn’t have to be its own room but it should feel as separate from the rest of your home as possible.

Try to make your workspace comfortable with a chair you can sit in for eight hours a day and a few decorations. Find an area with good natural lighting if at all possible. Even if you don’t usually spend a lot of time outdoors, losing out on the time you spend outdoors during your commute can start to weigh on you quickly, and it will only happen faster if you don’t have natural light coming in.

Entering your workspace will help you turn “on” at the beginning of the day and get down to work. On the flipside, leaving your workspace will also help you turn “off” at the end of the day and fully disengage.

That’s why it’s also important not to Aug - Sept. 2020

Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours. Plus, if your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your co-workers makes everything much easier.

The biggest difference between working from home and working in the office is that you are in charge of your environment and have to treat yourself like an employee. This means holding yourself accountable, but also recognizing when enough is enough, just as a good manager might. If you feel yourself extending your work hours because you aren’t doing anything in the evening tell yourself it’s time to put work away, recharge, and start tomorrow with a fresh mind. The work will be there in the morning.

If you live with other people, this separation is even more critical.

Communicate with the people you live with to establish boundaries so you can cut down on distractions during the workday and then disconnect and give the people you care about your full attention. Having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life.

4. BUILD TRANSACTIONS INTO (AND OUT OF) WORK. Your morning commute not only

gets you to work—from one physical location to another—but it also gives your brain time to prepare for work.

Just because you’re not traveling doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carve out equivalent routines to help you ease into your workday.

Maybe you usually read or listen to music on your commute. You can do that at home. Or maybe you can spend some time with a pet or loved one. You can even add in a workout (preferably at home because of the new coronavirus, but see what is being recommended where you live) or spend some time on a hobby (again, make sure it’s appropriate given the health recommendations where you are).

At the other end of the day, the evening commute does the reverse.

Commuters often take for granted the time they have in the car or on the kombi to wind down from a hectic workday and mentally prepare themselves for their evening routine. Generally, you’re not going from getting a huge presentation done right to making dinner or doing chores. If you try to jump directly, your brain doesn’t have time to hit the reset button, which can make you less present as you transition back into your personal life.

Give yourself something that will signal the end of work and serve as a buffer.

5. AVOID DISTRACTIONS. Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home, especially people who aren’t used to it. Your home is right in front of you, that means that whatever you’re usually thinking about getting home to after work is now with you.

It’s human to get distracted. But you need to be wary of how much you let yourself get distracted.

You probably already take a few breaks throughout the day at the office, and that’s fine to do at home, too. Using that time to throw in a load of laundry is OK, but try not to look at your new work arrangement as an opportunity to finally clean out that closet or anything else that Exhibitors’ Corner | 23

Tips

7 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

1. Get Dressed 2. Allocate a Working Space or Home Office 3. Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours 4. Build Transactions Into (and Out Of) Work 5. Avoid Distractions 6. Comunicate 7. Don’t Forget to Socialise

takes a lot of sustained focus.

Right now, one of the biggest distractions is the news. And if you’re working remotely because of the new coronavirus, checking in on COVID-19 updates is going to be at the front of your mind. It’s good to stay informed, of course, but it’s also easy to scroll yourself into an anxious mess.

I suggest setting timers for any breaks you take. You don’t want to get too immersed and forget that you’re at work altogether. If you’re someone who’s susceptible to getting distracted every time you get a news alert, turn your notifications off during the workday, too. The news will still be there after 5 PM.

6. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE. If you don’t usually work from home, chances are there will be some bumps in the road if you have to suddenly go fully remote. The key to steering through these bumps is communication, especially with your manager and direct reports.

Either before you make the switch or as soon as you know it’s happening, come up with a plan that lays out expectations for how often you should check in and how you’ll convey any changes or new assignments to one another. Do the same with anyone you usually work collaboratively with throughout the day.

This plan is likely to change as you go. And that’s OK. This is a new situation for everyone. So make sure to circle back and change the plan if problems come up. You’ll also encounter unique challenges as you try to do your job remotely, which can vary greatly depending on the type of work you do. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the same people you would usually turn to for help, even if you’re not in the same building as them.

And you don’t have to stick with only text-based communication. Do not default to email if you would have spoken to a co-worker face-to-face while at the office. You might find it’s best to check in with

24 | Exhibitors’ Corner

your boss and co-workers over the phone or through video chat. This will cut down on miscommunication and break up some of the social isolation that can come from working from home.

7. DON’T FORGET TO SOCIALISE When the whole office suddenly starts working from home, you’re cutting off a lot of the casual social interactions you’re used to having throughout the day that help you feel less lonely and break up the monotony of work. People forget they need to be around others because it’s the small talk and random fire alarms that keep your days feeling unique and prevent that hamster-wheel feeling. When you work from home, you don’t have that.

Combat this by talking with your co-workers throughout the day through WhatsApp, calls, text, Zoom, or however your company communicates. If you usually ask your co-workers about their weekends, keep that up. If you’d usually comment to them about a specific topic, reach out. These little interactions go a long way.

You can also schedule morning video call kick-offs with your whole team so you make space for that first-getting-into-work small talk, or carve out time for other check-ins throughout the day. While you’re at it, don’t just check in with co-workers about this project or that TV show you both like really check in, lots of us are feeling anxious and uncertain right now, and suddenly being isolated at home can amplify these feelings. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a co-worker just to ask how they’re doing.

All this doesn’t just apply to the workday and people you work with.

You may not be able to meet up with friends for chats after work, but you can organize a group of people to discuss a book or TV show or just to catch up over WhatsApp or something else.

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Tips

THE FUTURE OF EVENTS.

F

our and a half months into the COVID-19 (coronavirus) global pandemic and almost everyone has had some kind of major event cancelled or postponed. From birthdays to weddings, concerts, vacations, and everything in between, no event is safe. Each event industry affected has had to pivot to see themselves through these uncertain times and ensure they can successfully come out on the other end, which is uncertain to some degree.

The $1.5 trillion global business event industry has been majorly affected as well with events being postponed, made virtual, or cancelled entirely. Here at Diamond Berry, our own annual Winter Affair Festival was moved from July 16 to August the 24th with virtual programs and event held in its original place.

With so many events now going virtual, what does it mean for the future of big business events? This article explores what the post-coronavirus era could look like for marketing conferences in 2020 and beyond.

ARE IN-PERSON CONFERENCES WORTH THE TROUBLE? At the top of the list of concerns for event-goers now, and for the unforeseeable future, is their health.

Jetlag, overscheduling, alcohol, and tight travel plans under normal circumstances can lead to stress and elevated anxiety levels causing attendees to be more vulnerable to illness and burnout.

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Add in a pandemic and concern can’t really get much higher. There is also trepidation around public transportation, even after social distancing restrictions are lifted. Data Connectors reports that 15% of travellers plan to avoid transportation and large cities post-coronavirus. Additionally, as people attending business events search the web for health and safety instructions, they can become more vulnerable to phishing attack emails.

Expects state that “Coronavirus phishing tricks began coursing in January, going after dread and disarray about the virus, they’ve just multiplied since. Hackers of all stripes are finding the conditions perfect to worm their way into individual and corporate accounts.”

Lastly, rising costs could be a deterrent for conference-goers.

You could see ticket sales spike as businesses try to make up for some of the lost costs from cancelling or increased precautions. That cancellation cost has now surpassed $1.1 billion from more than 10 major tech conferences, world over with our own ZITF show cancelled with major financial implications.

Any in-person events that happen immediately post-quarantine will really have to step up the bar. Not only will the number of people allowed to gather be limited, lowering the benefit for sponsors looking for leads, we’ll have to convince those who do attend to risk traveling AND to pay for flights and hotels after seeing that virtual events truly can be effective.

EMBRACING THE VIRTUAL WORLD. As many conferences have had to cancel their in-person events, resulting in millions of dollars lost, pivoting to a virtual platform has helped ease some of that burden.

It is projected that, in 2021, video, including web conferencing, will account for over 80% of all internet traffic. This means that conferences that embrace the virtual world could see it really pay off.

Some of the benefits to going digital include: • Higher Engagement Rates: 86% of online participants report higher engagement levels than in-person events.

• Unique Features: Some of these can include, talks, discussions, panels, and surveys that are live and interactive.

• Cost Savings: Online events means the ability to eliminate travel costs, reduce the ticket price, eliminate vendor costs and invest more in key speakers.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN LIFE GETS BACK TO “NORMAL” One thing that has become very clear is that “normal” life is potentially a long way in the future. With unemployment rates and fear high, people are likely going to be unwilling to travel or spend the extra money to attend large and distant events like Shoko festival, ZITF and Mine-Entra to mention a few.

Exhibitors’ Corner | 25

Law

WHAT ARE COPYRIGHT

LAWS?

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f you have ever written anything original in your life, you’re protected by copyright laws. In this article, you’ll learn about copyright laws and some of their key concepts.

COPYRIGHT DEFINATION. In order to receive copyright protection, a piece of work must meet the following requirements:

1. Original Expression: The work must be a unique expression of thought or idea that isn’t already published in the public domain. Basically, the work must be significantly new and different from other works. For example, you cannot rip the title page off of a Harry Potter book, rename it Harold Zotter and claim a copyright over the material. You also should note that you cannot copyright an idea, just the expression of an idea. For example, you can’t copyright the idea of superstring theory, but you can have a copyright on your essay explaining superstring theory.

2. Reduced To Tangible Form: You must reduce your work into a tangible form, as in a physical form, such as printing your novel or writing music onto sheet paper or putting it in an audio recording.

If you hold a copyright over a piece of work, your exclusive rights include:

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• Reproducing, which typically means recreating and re-releasing the work.

• Creating, which is a right given to you by copyright that allows you to create derivative work from your original work.

• Distributing, which is a right given to you by copyright that allows you to sell or give away your work to others.

• Performing your work, which is a right granted by copyright allowing you to do things like reading a chapter of your book at a local library event.

• Displaying your work, which is

a right granted by copyright allowing you to show your work at places such as an art gallery.

CONCLUSION Of course, you’re free to license or sell the copyright to your own work.

You don’t have to transfer all your rights. For example, an artist may give an art gallery permission to show the artists work but not to reproduce the work. You can give us (excomag) a magazine your short story or commentary but only for one-time publication.

Aug - Sept. 2020