Just over a year ago, I got a call from Daleen, who was referred by Carol and Patti in Parklands. Daleen’s requirements were very clear and urgent: she wanted to start a business and it needed to be up and ready in one month. And so Best Models Ever was born, and in just 5 weeks we were able to process the first invoice under BME. Since then Daleen has taken to company to new heights and a dominant force in the Children Modeling market in Cape Town. Daleen’s approach to marketing and cust...

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How often are we rewarded for doing what we do for a living? I am not talking about getting paid, but just acknowledged for doing a good job. If you are a waitress, you rely on tips to supplement your income, but even these are not really connected to your ability, just an economic trend or habit. When last did you receive genuine praise for just being you?

Amanda Foster from Coaching Connection has come up with a unique way to say thanks to those who have helped get her to where she is. Her...

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We welcome Lisa Balz to the Entrepreneur Incubator this month. Lisa is a space Architect. Now before you think she is busy designing houses on the space station of Richard Branson, let me explain what she really does.

You know when you buy or rent a shop, restaurant or office, everyone talks in square meters. You rent and pay by the number of required square meters. Then you fill up the floor space with as much stuff as you can fit into your budget and allocated space and hope it all works ...

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We welcome Vince and Ronelle Muir from Hollywood furniture to the Entrepreneur Incubator this month.

The unique offering of custom designed freestanding kitchens and furniture that Hollywood offer is breathtaking; their style is unique and gives that cottage yet up-market feeling to any home.

Their showroom and factory at 6 Honeywell Road, Retreat offers a one-stop planning, design, quote and manufacture shop. Expert design and craftsman Vince and brother Brad are able to turn any space in...

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One of our EI members Steve Horwood from 7 Sea Geosciences has been hard at work doing what others thought was impossible and just not feasible. This is just the thing we love about Steve, normal is just not acceptable to him or his way of doing business. We first wrote about this project here in Jan when they were still in construction. This month they launched and tested their new jack-up-barge, a platform contraption that puts a new swing on all things geoscientific. Here is an extract fro...
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Every so often there is a glimmer of hope in humanity. These rare occasions give us hope and inspiration to keep doing what we do and build our nation.

Marius Boaden from Prison Broadcast Network had to sell his car a while ago because it had, well literally given up being a car. In his newsletter this month he shared story and asked for assistance in this regard. Within days he was able to raise some money, just less than R100k but now needed to find a vehicle. Suitable reliable cars for th...

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The proverbial ship that comes into our harbor bringing with it riches and wealth beyond our imagination is not as abstract as it may seem. One of our EI members Steve Horwood who owns and runs 7 Sea Geosciences is not waiting for his ship to come into harbor but has decided to make his own. Steve, the scientist with a creative mind, has designed a jack-up-barge system that will assist in undersea surveys and data collection off our coast. This barge, constructed in Cape Town, will be deploye...

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Teegan Watson joins the office team today. Teegan comes from a varied admin and sales background with a recent job at Warwick. Teegan will be running the office doing all the stuff I never get around to doing or just am unable to do.

From today this office will be more efficient, better organized and cleaner. We will see and hear more from Teegan in the weeks to come so please be nice to her on the phone and answer her emails to make her feel welcome.

Great to have you aboard Teegan, trust...

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Congratulations to the winners of our main prize draws. We were able to give away various vouchers and discount coupons at each workshop this week but all participants had to wait for the main prizes until today. Well done to the winners and thanks to our wonderful sponsors. 

Francis Richter wins the USB VOIP phone donated by AllComm

Afsana Khan wins the pack of 50 CD-R donated by IT Force

Quinton Marks wins the 6 session coaching package from Stanford Payne

Grant Harmse wins the wireless...

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Just along the main road in Lakeside on your way to Muizenberg, Cape Town you can find the building known as the old bakery. This was the home of the bread bakery that oozed smells each morning that made your toes curl and mouth water. Then one day they were gone.

The building stood empty for a while then was revamped, painted and opened once again. It now houses a small selection of shops and restaurants, one of them being Sostanza.

Owner Manager Hope Cornelissen has put her magic touch in...

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Each week we focus our spotlight on one of our members, this week we find Vernon from Grind. Grind is one of those businesses that if you have the privilege of having coffee served to you by them, the experience remains with you for a life time. You can find them at expos, and events throughout Jozi, Cape Town and Durbs.  

Who are you? My name is Vernon le Roux, 28, based in Johannesburg I run a mobile bar service company called GRIND. mobile coffee experience.

What do you do? GRIND. specia...

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Each week we focus our spotlight on one of our members, this week we chat to Marc Nortje. Marc is also one of the Young Entrepreneur Programme winners for 2010. 

Who are you?

My name is Marc Nortje. I live and dream in Cape Town. I currently run a show reel production company Reel Me Digital and in the process of starting Office Dynamix.

What do you do?

Reel Me Digital produces show reels for local talent, brands and organizations in South Africa. Some of our clients include Toyota SA, Wr...

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Fail to plan and you will always plan to fail. One of the most critical strategies of any business has to be the basic business plan, but not just any old plan downloaded from the web or bought from a 3rd party supplier. Your business plan needs to be written by yourself and has to cover all the bases and ask and answer all the right questions.
In conjunction with the Coaching Connection we are giving away access to our award winning business plan and 60 minutes with me to assist you understan...
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Each week we focus our spotlight on one of our members, this week we find Amanda Foster from Coaching Connection. Amanda is also running a Pay It Forward Competition on her blog. Read, Learn and Win prizes to develop and improve your business. 

Who are you? I am a woman, a friend, a listener, a supporter, a teacher, a student of life, a singer, a quilter, a lover of the arts, theatre and music and an avid reader. I am on a journey to be more aware, to be more present, to be more centred and ...

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 Each week we focus our spotlight on one of our members, this week we chat to Francis and Martin from Diletto.
            
Who are you?  Capetonians and Entrepreneurs Francis and Martin are the founders of Diletto the online Deli.

 

What do you do?  Diletto is an online deli, specializing in premium food and wine delicacies and gifts. iletto was officially launched to the online shopping world in August 2008. Born out of the passion and interest for fine food and wine, Diletto provides virtual...

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One of our EI members, Marius Boaden, runs a Non-Profit organization Prison Broadcast Network, has been short listed for an international award for some of his work. PBN works with offenders in Pollsmoor offering hands-on video production, editing and associated skills. Marius has had over 11 years of success within the correctional centre and plans to expand to include offerings such as a full TV station and the development of an outside production company using staff made up of released off...

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What I love about the new web technology is that it is giving birth to some crazy ideas that people are implementing. I have written so much about the need to provide convenience to people through small business to capture a segment of the market. Robert Bernatzeder has done just this. 

His Direct Land Sale site first launched last month has had some new features added and is now fully operational. Their offering is simple. If you have a plot of land to sell and want to market it effectively, ...
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Robert Bernatzeder, an EI Member, has recently launched his latest web offering to the market in the form of an online shop with a difference.

It all started when Robert tried to sell a plot of land he had and found that agents and the process needed to and could be improved on and so Direct Land Sale was born.

Direct Land Sale provides a platform for people with land, to market their property on the site giving all the required information, size, position, location and services together with...

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We are experiencing an influx of technical overload and all I need for a device I own to help me chill and make me coffee. Now it can, well not make the actual coffee but at least find the place to enjoy Cape Town’s best coffee.

Cape Reality has released their new iPhone app Cape Town Safari that guides you to the Big 5 of whatever you want; Hotels, restaurants, Coffee bars, Clubs, shopping. All at a click or a button or a swoosh of a finger tip.

Download this free to your phone and never...

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