Small Business Conversations podcast

Business Partners’ latest SME Confidence Index shows that small businesses are quite optimistic about their growth prospects in 2024. However, concerns linger about the regulatory reform needed to support that growth.

The Makers Landing Kitchen Incubator Programme at the iconic shopping and tourist destination offers entrepreneurs the necessary development training, mentorship, access to market and finance opportunities to help their small businesses grow.

'It can be a harsh industry, so you need to be on top of your game,' says Property Point founder Shawn Theunissen, commenting on the retention of black- and women-owned small businesses in the sector.

Matt Putman of iKhokha says the payment platform is providing options to convert hesitant small businesses to new innovative payment solutions. He hopes to see penetration into the informal market in the next year or two.

A wrap of the SME pod's most listened-to interviews this year.

Former business teacher Luvuyo Rani founded Silulo Ulutho Technologies in 2004. Today, his non-profit arm, the Silulo Foundation, has partnered with the Western Cape government to pilot the SMME Booster Fund, aimed at equipping township businesses with the skills they need to thrive.

For Attacq’s Michael Clampett, demand for the flexible retail space at Mall of Africa indicates there is cause to open at least 10 more locations in the country’s mega malls.

Co-owner of Cape Town-based Hope Sonic, Strati Zitianellis, says the company, which manufactures affordable plastic toys for Shoprite, is stocked up for the peak Christmas shopping period.

The November month-end sales bonanza may be over, but David Adams of Payfast advises small businesses to diversify their payment methods and product offerings to increase their appeal to overstretched consumers going into the Christmas and back-to-school promotional periods.

Chipo Mushwana of Nedbank Retail shares insights on why AI is pivotal for small businesses, and how the upcoming 2023 Innovate Hackathon will help the bank bolster its SME banking offering to help make financial services more accessible for small businesses.

Although there are some glimmers of hope, the upcoming elections could further hurt optimism if they exacerbate political instability. Omar Hassan of SNG Grant Thornton breaks down its latest research and explains the nuances of mid-market businesses operating in SA.

Strategies for small businesses in a cash-conscious market from Gerhard le Roux of Capital Connect.

For Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, regulation of sharing platforms like Airbnb will open the floodgates to calls for an industry-wide approach, with B&Bs and hotels roped into the discussion – and government must also consider how it plans to enforce regulation of this magnitude fairly.

Ahmore Burger-Smidt from Werksmans Attorneys walks us through the important considerations for SMEs looking to trade via the Amazon marketplace.

The Small Business Institute's latest research details the cost of municipal dysfunction to small businesses, and CEO John Dludlu helps contextualise the data to reflect the real-time consequences for SMEs tasked with navigating the chaos.