The third annual Small Micro and Medium (SMME) Business Imbizo not only provided information and resources to business owners within the Cacadu district, but also served as a platform for successful businesses that have flourished within their respective markets to share their stories.
The third annual Small Micro and Medium (SMME) Business Imbizo not only provided information and resources to business owners within the Cacadu district, but also served as a platform for successful businesses that have flourished within their respective markets to share their stories.
At this year’s imbizo, Babalo Jeyi, owner of Ikhala Sewing Factory in Jansenville, told of how hard work and perseverance can turn a mere idea into a sound, profitable business whose products have a nationwide reach.
The idea to start a business began to take form when Jeyi was still working as an operator at the Volkswagen factory in Uitenhage.
He decided to take a risk, and moved back home where he was confronted with an unemployment rate of 79%.
Jeyi wanted to start a business that would provide jobs to the unemployed youth in the area. “All they can do there is drink beer,” he says.
Then he finally settled on a business idea the manufacturing of leather shoes. The first thing Jeyi did was draw up a business plan.
Confronted by the reality that he did not have the resources to start his business, he knew that he would have to approach Cacadu District Municipality for funding.
Upon presenting the municipality with a comprehensive and feasible business plan, they agreed to give him a building within which to house his factory.
He looked for people who had sewing skills, and also those who showed good leadership potential. Jeyi has managed to take his business from only manufacturing slippers to also manufacturing farm boots and Molo shoes for ladies.
They have also been contracted by Pick n Pay to manufacture 45 000 pairs of morning slippers every month for a total of R262 000.
They were also approached by Watson Shoes to manufacture the popular shoe Grasshoppers. In 2008, the business branched out and supplied 116 work suits to the VW plant in Uitenhage. Jeyi is currently in negotiations with Woolworths to be a part of their Summer Sandals Project, which should be finalised by the end of the year.
In his presentation, Jeyi told the business owners present that although his business was now successful, it still faced many challenges and has a long way to go before it reaches its full potential.
He also made sure that they understood the role that outside parties had in making his business a success and that business owners should take advantage of grants and development aid that are available to them.
The Small Business Development Agency (Seda) not only provided Jeyi with free marketing material, but also paid for an expert from the Netherlands to train him and his employees in the art of leatherwork.
His story left the small business community of the Cacadu district with a sense of optimism and hope for their own businesses.
He showed them that the government is there to help them in their ventures, and that as long as they have a clear vision nothing can stop them from turning their small business into a large scale enterprise.
