Franchising has always been a popular choice in the world of business because of its relative reliability, but recent economic developments have given rise to concerns about whether South African businesses can weather the tough conditions that may lie ahead.
Morné Cronjé, Head of FNB Franchising says, “There’s no doubt that the South African economy is under strain but that doesn’t mean that it’s all doom and gloom. FNB’s Franchise Event* in Umhlanga on the 10 September was aptly named ‘Planning for the future’, - looked at ways of doing business in today’s economic climate.”
There were a number of distinguished speakers, one being Renée Kirkham, founder of Consupaq, who shares her journey - a perfect example of being able to plan for the future by spotting opportunities in a tough business environment.
Kirkham worked in the commercial contracts department at Sasol (Secunda) from 1993 – 1996. She decided to leave because she didn’t enjoy being limited by the corporate world and, with her husband Sean, started her own company, “It wasn’t easy in the beginning. We worked twelve hour shifts for three months, our only customer went into liquidation, we were in debt and we only had three products to sell,” says Kirkham.She however persisted and says that many opportunities came her way.
“The trick is to ensure you harness an opportunity that you are passionate about – something you believe in 100%. If you believe it, others will also believe it. Never take “NO” for an answer. There is always a way to make what you need to happen work. See it as a challenge and enjoy being able to get what you want. Making it happen is where most of the fun is,” adds Kirkham.
In 2002, the Kirkham’s realised she needed to plan for the future and decided to expand the business by approaching Trevor Edwards to become a strategic partner.
“A good partnership can add value to your business exponentially – but make sure your partner is culturally and ethically aligned – otherwise it can be the downfall of your business,” continues Kirkham.
The company grew from strength to strength and in 2008, they sold Consupaq to listed company Astrapak. Kirkham filled several systems, financial and commercial positions for the group and before she left was the Group Systems and Commercial Executive. Spotting another great business opportunity that would allow her to do something she is passionate about, she left Astrapak in February this year to start her own company again called OVS Solutions, a workforce management solutions company.
“A resilient businessman or woman always plans for the future, and as Renée has demonstrated, opportunities can be found even in the toughest of economic conditions,” concludes Cronjé.