5 SA Entrepreneurs Who Went From Nothing To Multi-Million Rand Worth Companies
5 SA Entrepreneurs who went from nothing to multi-million rand worth companies. With each passing day, an entrepreneur is made, some from good fortune and influential backgrounds and others from nothing.
The journey to a successful start-up is never easy. There are lot of obstacles and challenges involved and a lot of doors will be closed before one makes it. However the following entrepreneurs persevered through the hardships to establish well known businesses today:
1.Ryan Bacher- NetFlorist
The business was launched on Valentine’s day in 1999 by Ryan Bacher, Lawrence Brick and Jonathan Hackner The founders of NetFlorist had no intention of starting an online floral and gifting company, rather just proving to Makro that they were capable of doing it. Valentine’s day came and went, and the ‘test’ site performed unbelievably well, so they didn’t shut it off. The trio engaged different ways of diversifying the site so it remained relevant and continue to make good profits. All this from a simple challenge and devotion to see an idea through.
2.Albe Geldenhuys-USN
Albe Geldenhuys, launched USN sports supplements in 1999. born salesman, Geldenhuys didn’t concentrate on business plans or marketing strategies but diverted his energy on selling. USN sounds pretty much like like an America product, but the story of the billion-rand product began in a small flat in Pretoria, where Albe Geldenhuys’ partner mixed creatin formulations with a hand-cracked washing machine (the Sputnik).
The entrepreneur kept things lean – all revenue went back into product, allowing the business to ramp up sales until it was able to support offices and product development at the CSIR.
3. James Robertson and Philip Cronje- Big Blue
The duo are a clear representation of, “try stuff and if it works, keep on doing it; if it doesn’t, stop”. James Robertson and Philip Cronje launched Big Blue from a flea market stall. Today the company has a turnover of R100 million. The original Big Blue store in Rosebank, was at the time popular;y known as Kitsch and Kool. It was based on the Danzigers warehouse, which had collected old stock since 1910, and had become a museum of consumer goods over the decades.
The concept was a hit. It generated a flood of magazine and television publicity as well as a healthy increase in sales. This store also became one of the first in the country to combine gifting with clothing, a concept that is now commonly known in the retail industry as a ‘lifestyle store’.
4. Lebo Gunguluza-GEM Group, Self-Made Millionaire
Lebo Gunguluza is the founder and group chairman at GEM Group, a turnaround strategist, motivational speaker and Dragon on SA’s Dragon’s Den. When Lebo Gunguluza arrived in Durban in 1990, he had R60 to his name. At 26 he established his first company, Gunguluza Entertainment. He blew his first million in a year and by the end of 1999, was flat broke to a point where even his car was reposed and his name blacklisted.
This did not deter him from his goal, in-fact it fueled his zeal even more. From readig books on wealth at the corner of a CNA store, and some self-introspection and self discpline, Gunguluza managed to overcome his downfall to become the millionaire he is today.
5. Fats Lazarides- Ocean Basket
Fats Lazarides founded Ocean Basket in 1995 with just R800. Today the nation-wide brand has system-wide sales of over R1 billion and branches beyond the borders of South Africa. Ocean Basket was launched from a 118 m2 store in Menlyn Park with some crazy restrictions, because the centre management had assured their current clients there would be no more restaurants in the centre. However, for every restriction, Fats Lazarides found an advantage.
“We focused on the lunch-time trade. Meals were cooked and served quickly. Bar stools set up against the wall saved space and let single shoppers eat without feeling lonely.” This created an opportunity for more clients to make their way to Ocean basket and soon the business was making a lot of money.
