Exhibitors' Corner Issue 9

Exhibitors’

9

Corner

The platform to grow, connect and equip SMME businesses.

September - October 2021 - Issue #9

ISSUES STRONG

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

excomag

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BE INSPIRED

EDITORS NOTE

Melisa Tshuma Chief Editor Excomag

S

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ometimes change comes in many forms and we embrace it to make our lives better and more fulfilling. Welcome to our ninth edition we hope you have grown more in your spheres of influence and being the change that the society needs. It has been fulfilling to see more start-ups come forward to network with other SMEs sharing innovative ideas on how to grow and equip themselves in an evolving economy. We hope to keep hearing those exhilarating concepts being challenged in business forums for the progression of the business industry as a whole.

The digital landscape has been influencing the way businesses are run and our profits ultimately. It has become of paramount importance that each business transforms executing digital technologies that the world is adopting. It is a great privilege that our generation is a techno-survey one hence we can adopt many notions to grow our business with a faster pace.

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. Artificial intelligence is becoming a key player in the revolution and it has become interesting how this battle digital battle unfolds in different organisations as they all fight to keep abreast with the times. Don’t get lost in the battlefield or fall from the wagon by ignoring necessary changes you can adopt.

“A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and a healthy mind is the most important tool you can have as business owner” (Agnihotri, 2017). In this issue we profile a game changer who has filled our stomachs with healthy food from many of our indigenous fruits.

Who would have imagined a smoothie in our popular African fruits such as the bird plum umnyi/nyii as it is widely known around the country. We have to take control of how we treat our bodies and be accountable for our health and hygiene as it can affect our mindset in thinking strategically in our businesses. Delve in to know more about how the Yanaya Lifestyle restaurant has been responsible for the sharp minds in the SME sector.

A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and a healthy mind is the most important tool. their growth. It is such testimonials that keep us going and glad that we are able to bring a ray of sunshine in someone’s storm. We hope to keep hearing from you; your hopes, aspirations, challenges and how you overcame them can go long way into changing some else’s story. We as the Exco-mag team are grateful to you all for lingering through this path with us. For comments and feedback please write to us on newsroom@excomag.co.zw.

Be motivated, be inspired!

It is heartening to see how far many start-ups have gone and grown in their journeys, many asserting how this platform has helped them develop and connected them to various organisations that enabled

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HOW TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GET THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES MANAGER’S REMARKS Nhlanhla Dabengwa MD. Diamond Berry Enterprises

S Nhlanhla Dabengwa

mall businesses/SMEs are the heart of our nation. They provide us all with everything from a warm meal, health care to home repair. They provide employment, they sustain the economy and its consumers, and therefore we really need them.

Right now, we as small businesses are suffering. Owing to prolonged lockdowns and disruptions we all are unsure of what the next few months hold and if we will be able to bounce back from this pandemic.

For many of us, the future isn’t looking as bright as it once was.

Luckily, there are things we can do to help or rather any small business owner around you. Why? Because I want to focus on being a brothers helper in these trying times.

Here at Diamond Berry and Exhibitors Corner, we’re thinking a lot about our small business clients and what they may be experiencing right now. We’ve come up with a few ideas of how we all can provide some additional help so that small businesses can survive and thrive once this dark cloud moves on.

HOW TO GIVE BACK TO SMALL BUSINESSES. FOR B2B BUSINESSES WITH SMALL BUSINES CLIENTS.

Here at Diamond Berry and Exhibitors Corner, we’re thinking a lot about our small business clients and what they may be experiencing right now.

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For B2B companies, it’s not only our job to provide our small business customers with the services we promised. It’s also our job to make sure we’re looking out for them and their businesses’ wellbeing. We have a duty to share with them any resource, tool, or strategy that can help them succeed. Here are some ways B2B businesses can help: 1. CREATE & SHARE CONTENT. Talk to your sales team, your account team, and your customer service team. Ask them what their conversations with small businesses are like. Are these small businesses expressing fears right now, and if so, what are they? Where do they need more support?

The feedback they provide should be informing your content

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Manager’s Remarks

→ strategy so that you create content they’ll find useful. Maybe you can gather all your past content that is helpful and create one big guide for them.

2. OFFER MARKETING ADVICE. If you’re a marketing company or marketing is one of your areas of expertise, perhaps you should offer up more advice in that arena. With sales slowing down and less foot traffic due to social distancing, marketing strategies will have to be adjusted. People are going to have to be creative and try different tactics than they may not be used to. That’s where you can come in and offer support.

3. CONSIDER ADJUSTING YOUR PACKAGES. Revenue numbers have suddenly become a crapshoot. When money stops coming in, typically, it has to stop coming out, too. Consider extending any upcoming renewals, and if you’re able to swing it, maybe hold off on monthly charges until the crisis calms down. We know that these favors aren’t possible for every company to offer, but if you crunch your numbers and think it’s something you can pull off, do it. Your small business clients will be so grateful that you offered and that they didn’t have to ask. This kind of gesture could help save your clients’ businesses and result in strong and mutually beneficial partnerships.

4. HELP WITH SOCIAL MEDIA. Maintaining a social presence during a crisis isn’t easy for a lot of people. What do you say? How do you post something unrelated without seeming heartless and disengaged? Be a resource to your small business clients as they navigate social media during this new reality. Provide them with some tips, such as: • Content on how they’re handling the pandemic and any safety and hygiene adjustments they’re making to their protocols and procedures • Hours of operation, especially if they have changed or are temporarily closing their storefront • Where customers can go to continue to support them • Ways customers can continue to support them • Other content that is informative and helpful regarding the pandemic.

FOR CONSUMERS. Even though we’re all being advised to stay at home to flatten the curve, there are ways we can still contribute to the success of small businesses as consumers. Here’s how: 1. SHOP ONLINE. Shopping online is convenient and easy, and now, it’s recommended.

Since we can’t really go out and hit up our favorite stores right now, check them out online and purchase from them there. A lot of small shops don’t have a way to shop online, but given the recent climate, all that has changed. So many small businesses are adjusting their websites so they can start to sell their products without relying on in-person shoppers. Make sure you take advantage and | show your support.

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Our community depends on our small businesses, and we depend on them. It’s crucial now, more than ever, that we render that support.

2. GET FOOD DELIVERED. Restaurants are suffering right now, too. Many have had to lay off employees and waitstaff in hopes that they can re-hire them once they can open their doors again. Many have also made getting delivery and pick-up orders an easy option. Instead of dining out, pick a night a week to support your local restaurants by ordering delivery. Or, if you’d like to take a quick car ride to get out of the house, pick-up your order. Just make sure the restaurant you’re ordering from is taking the appropriate hygiene methods for everyone’s safety. Groceries are a necessity, and luckily, you don’t have to worry about heading out to the grocery store right now.

3. PURCHASE GIFT CARDS. If you can’t hit up your favorite bookstore, restaurant, clothing store, or boutique, purchase a gift card now for you to use later once they’re open again. This is a great way to create immediate revenue for these stores, and it will be a nice treat for yourself, or someone else, later when you are able to use it.

4. BE A BIG TIPPER. People who work hourly are used to relying on tips for most of their income. Needless to say, if they’re being laid off or if their hours are being greatly reduced, their income is plummeting. If you have the means, tip them a little more than you might typically when you go to pick up your food or when you add your tip online.

5. DONATE TO A CAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT. Non-profits are taking a hit right now, too. Make sure you consider them when you’re looking to give back. A lot of these organizations are helping those who are in the worst spots through all of this, so they can definitely use the extra help and funds.

6. BE A PARTICIPANT. With hard times come creative measures. A lot of small businesses out there are trying different methods to reach and engage with their customers and audience. Encourage them by participating.

We have many trainers, coaches from business, health to life style, they are also going through a tough time as well. Register for that course or training session and support.

In conclusion we’re all in this together, and we have to look out for one another. Our community depends on our small businesses, and we depend on them. It’s crucial now, more than ever, that we render that support. God Bless us all

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COVER STORY

A HEALTHY LIFESYLE Nyaradzo Moyo Founder and CEO of Yanaya Lifestyle

When I came back home I struggled to get food outlets that were offering tasty and healthy meals. This struggle was the fertile ground for the germination of something big.

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Sept. - Oct. 2021

Cover Story

We are now in an era where people are so much concerned about fitness, wellbeing and healthy life styles. → Perhaps one might say that this was triggered by the prevailing

novel coronavirus pandemic which has ravished the globe. Hygiene and health lifestyles have been identified as measure to reduce the effects of the virus.

People have started to exercise while some have begun to put much thought in the food they eat. Remember, “food maketh a man”.

Medical experts encourage the consumption of fruit and vegetables more than red meat and processed foods. This is because fruit and vegetables contain fiber and nutrient which are instrumental in the prevention and reduction of risk of heart diseases, diabetes and obesity. In light of this a Zimbabwean photographer by profession quickly identified an opportunity to venture into business against calls by medical experts in the pandemic.

“When I came back home I struggled to get food outlets that were offering tasty and healthy meals” said the Nyaradzo Moyo. This struggle was the fertile ground for the germination of something big. The 29 year old Moyo who spent time in the neighboring South Africa’s Stellenbosch University studying photography realized a business gap in the food industry and she quickly took a loan to help her bring her idea to life. To supplement the loan Moyo had to multi task and had her hands in a number of other ventures. “I did photography, sewing and other various small businesses. I grabbed every opportunity that came my way to make money” she said.

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food maketh a man!

In the year 2019 Moyo who is a member of the Seventh Day Church opened a shop in the capital Harare at Joina City. The shop which serves plant based food was named Yanaya a Shona word which means “it has rained – freshness has come”. The shop which has spread its wings to Bulawayo now boasts of seven branches. “We now have seven branches that serve food that is plant-based food such as sweet potatoes and barley. However, we sometimes serve meat through in small portions” she said.

“On top of that we serve very health and less sugary smoothies made up of local, traditional fruits such as masawu, tsubvu and baobab. Also, our non-dairy yogurt have hit supermarkets shelves” she added.

Moyo though cognizant of the devastating impact of the Covid19 pandemic she feels it was the much needed jumpstart for her business. “Of course it has crippled our economy but for Yanaya I unexpectedly brought in more customers who wanted to lead healthy lifestyles. I hope we will soon win the fight against this virus” she said.

She implored citizens to lead healthy lives and consume healthy foods as they are important in arming the body with necessary nutrients which help fight off Covidd19 infections.

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IMPACT OF ICT IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.

FINANCE

MoB Capital Pvt. Ltd.

→ ICT is an abbreviation for Information Communication Technology and it is a broad term which consists of almost all communication devices such as radio, cellular phones, computer network, satellite systems, television etc. It includes service and applications like video conferencing and distance learning. The globalization revolution has led to many countries considering advancing technology, which has led to electronic finance becoming an important aspect in all economic and financial sectors.

The emergence of the ICT sector in society has enabled multiple aspects of companies operations, which are able to interact and conduct business activities more efficiently through their digital networks. ICT has also significantly resolved issues related to time constraints and distance to increase the efficiency of financial and economic business activities. ICT allows for an improved collection of information, which can be used to efficiently determine applicant creditworthiness to help facilitate deposits.

Therefore information technology and communication networks can efficiently improve access to the community institutions. ICT has led to telephone banking, a service provided by a financial institution, which permit its customers to access their account over the telephone at any time of the day. Telephone banking is a cost saving technique for banks as they can transfer expensive branch-based transactions to automated system. This facility helps the banks to reduce the operational cost and increase their revenues.

Another type of service which is almost similar to telephone banking is internet banking. It is a type of self service banking whereby a customer accesses their account with the help of internet through intelligent communication gadgets. Customers find it time saving and convenient and for bankers it is cost saving. Customers can access their account through their personal laptops, smart phones, tablets etc. Mostly every country in the world has put their efforts in establishing organizations for the development of advance communication techniques, increasing productivity and modernization.

Technological advancement has brought about the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). This is an alternative banking channel which provides banking facilities to customers without any bank teller. It is an electronic computerized telecommunication device that allow customers to access their bank account from other places apart from bank premises. The good thing about ATM is that it provides 24 hour cash withdrawal facility and account balance inquiry without having long queues. Through this channel the transactions occur quickly as sliding a card is faster than writing a cheque and it is also more accurate than paying with cash.

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“” ICT has now been accepted as the backbone for all organizations ranging from small to big, public to private, micro to macro scale industries, education to finance sector etc.

ICT has the ability to enhance, coordinate and control the operations of many organizations and can also increase the use of financial management. Financial institutions thrive well when their business activities are recorded and reported timely. Generally ICT is considered one of the most reliable means of providing a strong platform for effective system of internal control over financial reporting. It stands to reason that a sound ICT system provides a sure and guarantee medium of financial information delivery that covers the entire accounting circle of the firm. ICT creates conductive atmosphere that integrates all financial transactions with the help of accounting software to generate financial report which would have been difficult to prepare The ICT sector is an important sector because it contributes to cost reductions of financial intermediation services, including commercial banks and microfinance institutions, to expand business activities. ICT facilitates the operations of bank branches by increasing their flexibility of operations as well as banking risk disclosures to ensure the banking sector works safely and cannot be easily compromised. A larger proportion in the Zimbabwean economy comprises of the informal sector which includes street vendors.

ICT has improved efficiency in the running of day to day business of these informal traders as they can receive payment using services such as Ecocash. The services are accessed using mobile phones and it makes it easier for vendors to save their money without having to go their bank physically. ICT also helps these informal traders in their advertisement as they can create catalogues on Whatsapp and they can share them in groups, thereby reaching a broader potential customer base. In conclusion ICT has now been accepted as the backbone for all organizations ranging from small to big, public to private, micro to macro scale industries, education to finance sector etc.

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FOOD DESIGN & CATERING SERVICES

PROFILE: MAYI CATERING

Founder Mayibongwinkosi Ncube

→ Vision

At Mayi our vision is to provide exquisite food-design and catering services, offering high end quality experiences to our client events across Africa.

Mission

1. To provide excellent corporate catering services that will bring people together.

2. To cater the needs of individuals who need equipment for their various events.

3. To us it’s not about the cooking and hiring only. It’s about the whole experience, from the first time a client contacts us, the planning, and the liasing, the event itself to the winding up of the event.

Values

Integrity, flexibility, client priority, timely service, professionalism.

Services

Product launches, seminars and workshops, business awards and meetings, networking sundowners, annual congress, pre and post budget seminars, team building events, golf days, weddings, parties, lobola/roora, baby showers, weekly snacks, weekly lunches.

We provide crockery and cutlery for the following: corporate events, weddings, parties, funerals.

Email: mayie@mayicatering.co.zw Phone: (+263) 77 272 6487

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THE BRANDING DILEMMA

BRANDING

By Joseline Sithole

In a 2010 report done by African institutions, a conclusion was reached that, SMEs represent about 90% of businesses globally and represent about 50% of employment worldwide. → SME’s a QUICK VIEW. In emerging markets most formal jobs are generated by SMEs of who created 7 out of 10 jobs, while in Japan 99.7% of the companies are SMEs. In the American and European economies SMEs are the backbone and strong holds. In the United States 30 million SMEs account for nearly two thirds of net private sector jobs in recent decades. While in Africa SMEs are a large part of economies 99%

LET’S TALK ABOUT BRANDING. A brand is a product, service, or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services, or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and usually marketed. A brand name is the name of the distinctive product, service, or concept. Branding is the process of creating and disseminating the brand name. It is Howard Shultz who said “Mass advertising can help build brands, but authenticity is what makes them last. If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand.” While Jeff Bezos said that, a brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well. So what makes a good brand?

ANATOMY OF A GOOD BRAND. AUTHENTICITY. Brand authenticity is how a consumer perceives a brand to be faithful to itself. Consumers are intuitive. They do notice and listen to brands. They put their trust in them. But the moment a brand contradicts itself is when they will lose them as forever customers.

CLEAR PROMISE. A strong, effective brand evokes emotion, inspiring people to feel connected to your business, and a brand promise will help you solidify your brand and the relationship you have with your customers.

UNIQUE PROPOSITION. A brand proposition, also known as a brand statement, is a statement about your company that demonstrates to your consumers the

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benefits of using your brand. Your brand statement, therefore, can be an effective tool for boosting brand reputation and establishing authority in your niche.

STORY TELLING. Most brands are poor at brand storytelling. They take the “brand” component too literally and make it all about them. Brand storytelling is using a narrative to connect your brand to customers, with a focus on linking what you stand for to the values you share with your customers.

CONSISTENCY. Brand consistency is the pattern of expression that affects what people think about your company. The more consistent your messaging, the more consistent your branding. An idea can go from concept to complete so quickly that it doesn’t get thoroughly vetted for brand consistency. Don’t leave your brand open to a variety of interpretations and customizations.

BRAND ENGAGEMENT. Brand engagement is the process of forming an emotional or rational attachment between a consumer and a brand. It comprises one aspect of brand management. Brand engagement will impact brand attachment and has a positive influence on customer purchase intentions.

The branding topic is one SMEs need to take seriously as it affects how and whether our businesses will be sustainable in the long run as we model our businesses for competitiveness, for now we will pause and ponder on the above, next issue we focus on the styles of brand building among SMEs and why Africa needs strong SME brands.

Joseline Sithole is an SME Capacity building expert with more than a decade of experience on that front. She is the Managing Partner at Southern Africa Development Consultants (SODECO).

Cell: (+263) 773 634 062 Email: joselinesithole25@gmail.com

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EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY

BUSINESS TIPS

By Arnold Moyo

Why SMEs Need to Embrace Technology → There is a general consensus that Small to Medium-sized Enter-

prises (SMEs) are the key to the economic development of African countries. About 66% of Zimbabwe’s economically active population is self-employed (ZIMSTAT, 2014) and a good number of the approximately 22% of salaried employees could actually be within the SMEs sector (ZIMSTAT, 2014). Therefore the SME sector is a strategic constituency which need to be taken into consideration. Now technology is fast becoming a norm of the era but let us address this issue of technology, why and how can SMEs embrace it into their operations and more.

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY? Technology is anything that helps us produce things faster, better or cheaper •In a broad sense, technology does not just refer to physical things like big machines, fast computers, Artificial Intelligence (AI) etc. It’s also about new ways of doing things. Even social or political things like language, money, banking, and democracy are considered technologies.

Technologies create an opportunity for SMEs to enhance their: • Reach and proximity to markets • Efficiency (Materials, Cost, Time) and; • Ability to leap frog.

Now that we have briefly introduced what in essence technology is let’s look at deployment of Technology, how SMEs can deploy technology to their advantage. Deployment of technology can be done or executed in two ways namely, Business operations improvement and business systems improvement.

Business operations improvements entails mechanization which is the replacement/assisting a human task with a machine. While automation is the replacement of human intervention in entire process (end-to-end) and finally digitization which is migration from manual to computer. Business systems in essence is of automation and digitization.

processes equipment (bottling, laundry, and packaging) and lastly digitization/ Computerization: ERPs (process modules – job cards, record keeping, tasks completed etc.), Spreadsheet etc.

WHY IS THE UPTAKE TO TECHNOLOGY LOW IN THE SME SPACE? Technology as much as it may be a positive step to embrace as an SME, reality on the ground is that the uptake of it is very low in the SME space, largely because of; poor enabling infrastructure like power, data, connectivity and resources. Other major reasons for this low uptake includes disconnected markets, ignorance, cost, and a wide skills gap in the sector.

However in conclusion the above predicament can be cleansed and by passed with necessary changes which include, blended strategies to curb the disconnected markets while for cost alternative structures that can be considered are shared facilities, rented facilities, tolling etc. Ignorance and skills gap can be bridged by capacity building exercises to keep up and learn on new trends.

Examples of accessible technology within the above mentioned deployment of technology include, Task equipment (sorters, fillers, mixers, cutters, punchers, scanners etc.) when it comes to mechanization with automation we have semi and fully automatic plants/

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EMBRACE THE RAINY SEASON

INSPIRATION

Lady Profound

What is success without challenges? →

My neighborhood is the most peaceful place l have ever lived in, therefore I love taking nature walks as it is flanked by beautiful mountains.

The fresh air and simple physical activity of walking helps me to think strategically. I can solve problems in a minute that would normally take an hour staring at a computer screen or any mobile device Can you relate?

I then navigated my way out of the house but as I stepped outside, I felt a rain drop.

“No worries. It’s just a single drop of rain,” l thought to myself As I crossed the first intersection, I felt a slow but steady rain. It felt invigorating amidst the humid backdrop of the late summer air. I started to get worried.

Reflecting back on my journey of being a writer, too many times I have lost my focus, but my constant willingness to reinvent myself has helped me not to get stuck in one place. I keep myself motivated at all times because with motivation comes discipline.

Whenever it rains, it is time for all of us to keep walking in the rain and this is why: 1. It is only temporary. The rain (or whatever interferes with your plan) isn’t here to stay. Just have fun or learn from it while it lasts.

2. It is good to get a little wet (or dirty) sometimes. What’s the worst thing that can happen? You’ll look dirty? Muddy people live to tell better stories.

3. The obstacle is the way

What if the rain picked up? What if I get soaked? so I abandoned ship and l ran back home, few minutes later the sun had come back out and the clouds had cleared.

Fleeing back inside the house at the first sign of rain is the symbolism of life and how most of us are quick to turn back when faced with some challenges or obstacles.

There’s so much talent out here.So much great ideas and things we would love to do but whenever something unexpected occurs, it derails us.It is okay to fall back and strategize because it gives you more opportunities to get outside your comfort zone.What is not okay is falling back and never rise again because of the derailment habits we have cultivated in ourselves. Challenges are part of our everyday life. What is success without challenges?

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Next time it starts to rain, keep walking and remind yourself that the derailment habit has no power over your goals.

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DELECTABLE PALATE EXPERIENCES

PROFILE: CHANTEES CAKES

→ Overview

ChanTee’s Cakes Galore was officially founded in 2020 by Chantel Phiri with the aim ofturning a hobby into a career and business.

The mandate being to bring quality into the world ofhome based food industries maintaining standards at kitchen scale level. More so, assisting budding bakers to produce quality.

Vision

To grow the passion of baking, cake decorating, sugar craft and food preparation into lucrative businesses that will sustain future generations.

Mission

To nurture and grow the passion for baking and cooking plus creating wealth from the passion.

Values

Quality, flexibility, consumer satisfaction, integrity, fulfilment, open mindedness, research.

Objectives

1. To harness opportunities presented by the baking and cooking industry 2. To provide quality tutoring to aspiring bakers backed by research 3. To develop home grown recipes 4. To grow home baking into lucrative business

Products and Services

1. Cakes, snacks and confections 2. Sugar flowers 3. Baking supplies 4. Recipe testing and development 5. Baking and snack making lessons

Prospects

1. Bakery 2. Baking school 3. Baking and snack supplies manufacture 4. Writing Cook books 5. Online channel for baking and cooking lessons Email: chantyphee@gmail.com Facebook: ChanTee’s Cakes Galore Phone: (+263) 77 970 7694, (+263) 77 515 8147

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5 WAYS YOUR BUSINESS CAN PREPARE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.

TIPS

Excomag

As summer comes to a close, the fourth quarter is upon us. Often times, businesses stress out about how to successfully close out the year.

There are many things businesses of all sizes can do to prepare for

3. Review All of Your Expenses

1. Prepare Your Marketing Campaign and Promotions

During this time, review all of your business’s expenses. This could range from mileage to employee spending. Decide which ones were necessary and which ones could be cut back in the next year. This is the time to cut costs so expense evaluation will make you more prepared going forward.

→ the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter is the perfect time to try and clear out your inventory and increase revenue. Using your social media channels to share holiday specials or new promotions will gain you both exposure and potentially more sales. Also, use your social media to drive customers to your website. There, you can gain insight about your customers, encourage them to purchase your product or service and simply increase brand awareness. Ensuring your marketing campaign is top notch will help you in this upcoming quarter.

2. Take Advantage of the Holiday Season The holiday’s round out the fourth quarter and for many companies, this is where the most money is made. For small businesses, take this time to highlight what makes small businesses better for holiday shopping. For all of the large businesses, use the holidays as a big push for your products that are being discontinued. There will always be people taking big holiday shopping trips so use this season to really sell your product or service. Providing customers with great deals or promotions never hurts either.

4. Set Company Goals Before the fourth quarter begins, set your company goals for the end of the year and the upcoming year. This includes revenue.

How much do you want your company or business to make in the next year? These goals could also include benchmarks. How many customers would you like to gain or what’s your ideal ROI? Once you have these goals set, decided what steps you need to take as an organization to reach those goals. Discussing all of these things will help you get ready for what’s to come.

5. Train Your Employees This busy time of the year can be stressful for employees. Take time before the last quarter begins to train your team members on new strategies, give them insight on what is to come and be sure to give them the necessary tools to close out the year strong.

The fourth quarter can be the most crucial time of the year. Following these steps with make sure your company is ready to take on the last quarter head on

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May - June. 2020

SME CORNER OKIDOH

SYLPHLIKE INVESTMENTS (PVT) LTD.

Sylphlike Investments (PVT) Ltd. Has two divisions which focuses on civil works and manufacturing.

Civil Works.

We are involved in dam construction, rehabilitation and piped water systems.

Manufacturing Corporate wear, workers wear, sportswear and promotional wear.

Values.

• Excellence • Quality • Truthfulness • Efficiency.

THUMEZA

Thumeza Enterprises is a registered Private Business Corporation.

Registered in April of 2018, our Business Registration number is1004/18, with our Business Partner number being 0200242326.

On a day to day basis the logistics value chain contributes over 50% to the cost of the end product. This is mainly because of inefficiencies within logistics value chain that contribute to long loading and offloading time, lengthy vehicle queues to load, extended time slots for load consolidation and loss-making empty trips caused by a lack of transparency within the logistics ecosystem.

In order to help logistics decision makers, make informed decisions within their organizations that will help cut down on these cost elements, our vision is to provide the data on which transporter has the ability to carry what load, to what direction, and when.

INKAZIMULO FARMERS MARKET Inkazimulo Farmers Market is a green grocery retail store operating in Bulawayo which supplies farm fresh produce while breaking bulk tailored to suite any customer from large orders to individual consumers who prefer not to stock. Coming up with creative ways to accommodate busy scheduled people through delivery mechanisms.

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WHY SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO TAKE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SERIOUSLY.

DIGITAL MARKETING

By Ntando Ndlovu

From a general standpoint, marketing is the practice of identifying and satisfying customer needs. → Introduction This is a particularly important task in the business context, as successful marketing efforts can drive inbound leads and attract a large customer case. The traditional marketing cycle involves an analysis of market orientation, product mix and business environment. Unlike traditional marketing—which is static and often referred to as “one-way” communication—digital marketing is an ever-changing, dynamic process. Digital marketing refers to any marketing methods conducted through electronic devices. Digital marketing takes advantage of this reality, promoting business products and services across the internet. In this way, businesses ensure that their marketing efforts are more likely to reach customers, by targeting them where they spend most of their time. It is vital for businesses to plan and execute a viable digital marketing strategy. Given the diversity of digital marketing methods, there is a similarly diverse set of benefits available for digitally savvy benefits. On an overarching level, digital marketing enables businesses to reach customers during everyday activities, such as scanning social media, reading online articles, watching videos, etc.

When customers are exposed to marketing in this type of natural and regular manner, it can yield a variety of commercial benefits.

Such as:

Global Reach Unlike traditional methods, digital marketing is not necessarily bound to a specific geographic area. The internet is available to customers across the globe. This allows businesses to market and sell to customers who live in a different state or country, removing many traditional barriers to entry.

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Digital Marketing

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Digital transformation is an on-going process for any business, from start-up right through to established blue chip organisations. It requires a business to take it seriously from day one if it is going to be successful in driving positive change in the organisation.

Low Cost Of Entry

The Path To Digital Transformation:

To achieve the global reach of digital marketing through traditional channels, there would be a serious price tag attached. On the other hand, certain aspects of digital marketing can be achieved with a small investment of time and resources. For example, even small or startup businesses can create a website, manage social media and publish blogs without breaking the bank.

1. DISCOVERY & RESEARCH: • Consider your brand/product/service and how it matches up to similar businesses that are effectively utilising digital • Ask yourself this, is your target audience active and visible on digital platforms?

• Which digital platforms does your target market use?

Measurable Roi

2. DEVELOP A DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS: • Set clear objectives, timelines and key performance indicators (KPI) for your digital strategy • Identify which digital assets to develop (Ask yourself, do i need a website, a mobile app or both?)

• Will this digital asset be used for e-commerce; information sharing or enhancing customer experience?

• Craft a social media channel strategy to compliment the wider digital strategy • Ask yourself, which social media platforms are widely used by your customers?

In order to maximise profits, businesses must carefully evaluate return on investment (ROI). With traditional marketing, ROI can be difficult, sometimes impossible, to measure. On the other hand, digital marketing provides real-time visibility into the effectiveness of each campaign, enabling business leaders to make well-informed decisions to drive revenue and increase profit.

Improved Targeting Digital marketing allows businesses to target very specific demographics of potential customers. By engaging customers in a particular geography, industry or social channel, businesses have a much better chance of reaching their target demographic.

Dynamic Adaptability Digital marketing strategies are extremely malleable and flexible, enabling businesses to adjust course when needed. Unlike longterm, traditional marketing campaigns, businesses can adjust their digital efforts on the fly, enabling quick pivots when necessary to realise commercial opportunity.

Immediate Connection Before making a purchase, modern customers generally conduct online research and evaluate reviews. The first step in this process typically starts with a search engine. In this way, businesses with developed SEO, SEM and PPC strategies can connect immediately with customers.

Relationship Building

3. DEVELOP A CREATIVE STRATEGY: • Once you’ve crafted a clear digital strategy, complimented by a social media strategy, a creative strategy will serve as the driver for achieving your goals • CONTENT IS KING in the digital age!

• Develop a social content calendar. This is a simple excel spreadsheet tool that will map your daily activity on social media, while also guiding your content creation process.

Conclusion: Digital transformation is an on-going process for any business, from start-up right through to established blue chip organisations. It requires a business to take it seriously from day one if it is going to be successful in driving positive change in the organisation. Using digital marketing is the best entry level process for bringing your business to the digital age, while opening you up to the wider possibilities that come with digital transformation.

Take your first step today.

The rise of social media has turned it into a dominant communications platform for many customer demographics. Furthermore, customers increasingly want to interact with businesses on their terms and on their preferred platform. As a result, businesses that engage in effective SMM practices can build longtime and loyal relationships with current and prospective customers.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLIANCE FOR SMES.

LAW

Edias E. Homera

→ During the winter affair business meetings held in August Mr Homera gave a presentation on legal implications of non-compliant businesses and how we must do check that list and the importance of compliance for SMEs. Here is the summary of the lecture.

compliance, including safety, to at least cover you should such an event happen.

IMPROVE THE BOTTOMLINE.

So, just what is compliance, and why is it important? Compliance is one of the most critical elements of a business, yet many business owners are unaware or oblivious to what it is and how it can help.

SMEs are now the backbone of the economy and however, one of the most common pitfalls we see in emerging business is their lack of compliance. While this may not seem like a big issue, it can be the downfall of a business and should be accessed by your accountant or lawyer.

Businesses with solid compliance programs in place perform better than their equivalents. One assumes a business that spends less time dealing with non-compliance spends more time festering proactive measures to gain a leg up on their competition. Moreover, will less legal fees and penalties to subtract from profits, they have a healthier bottom line.

Let’s start by defining compliance in business. Simply put, compliance is the act of following the rules, standards, awards, regulations and ethical practices that apply to your industry and business determined by law or any governing body. Such compliance applies to your staff, treatment towards consumers, and business management.

When a business is compliant and passes proper check list it has a better chance of engaging on healthy P.R exercises that will advance the business and its existence. After all Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to affect their public perception, it goes without saying that compliance will help your SME engage effectively on that front.

Businesses generally have some form of a compliance program in place for protection. Think of it as an investment; an investment that can potentially protect your business against fraud, discrimination, and internal HR issues.

WHY IS COMPLIANCE IMPORTANT? AVOID NEGETIVE EXPOSURE. Negative exposure can end business empires. Failing to pay staff fairly, ripping-off customers or clients, or failing to abide by your legal tax requirements will generate the type of negative media exposure that can become a PR nightmare.

The cost of non-compliance can be high also. You may lose customers and clients, and potentially lucrative partnership deals. You could also lose investors and potential buyers if your reputation is severely tarnished.

AVOID LAWSUITS. No-compliance can open a business up to potential lawsuits that could otherwise have been avoided. An example would be an employee work injury as a result of an incorrect – or non-existent – safety procedure. A compliance program addresses all areas of

BETTER PUBLIC RELATIONS.

CONCLUSION. If you own a business and have compliance management in place, then you should consider rectifying this at your soonest convenience. Compliance is the act of complying with the rules, regulations, or standards relevant to your business and industry.

In business, compliance is essential. With a compliance program in place, you can avoid negative exposure, avoid lawsuits, improve your bottom mine and retain staff, amongst other things.

DISCLAIMER: This is the author’s individual opinion; thus, he is not liable of any legal implications. This article is legal information and should not be seen as Legal advice you should consult before adopting the principles herein.

Edias E. Homera is a commercial attorney, LLB (Hons.) UNISA. Dube Tachiona, Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners.

For more info contact: 0773515466, homera.attorney@gmail.com

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