Why did you start your own business? Our family went on a vacation and we came across Del Sol in Miami, we just wanted to buy souvenirs, but then my son said, let’s see if we could bring the brand to South Africa. I still laughed and said I am sure it is already there, but let’s give it a try. Jean still Googled it and then realised that we had 305 Sunny days in SA per year out of the 365. Thus, it would be a winner for us to bring the brand to SA.
What are the hours that you work? We work long hours 9am to 9 pm
How many people work in your business? 7 currently, we are employing another 2 shortlyWhat are the goals for your business? To become the dominant colour changing fashion wear retailer & distributor in SA.
How do you handle pressure? I would say I love working under pressure. I get more done, quicker and faster. I suppose if I do not have pressure, I can not function properly. You analyse your problem, as well as what pressure you are under and why, then you work through it, a step at a time. If you get distracted in any way or if it overwhelms you, you and the business will crumble. There is no problem to big to handle, you need to just priorities, keep calm and keep focused on your goals.
How would a man run your business differently? I suppose a man would run the numbers rather, he would be more focused on the organisation and the profit margins. I am more passionate about the products and that it makes people smile and happy. It actually wow’s people.
How do you juggle being a mom and running a business? Now that is a challenge. I am fortunate enough to have my eldest son with me in business, but at the moment my youngest is in boarding school. He is a weekly boarder at Helpmekaar College, and I try to ensure that we spent quality time together over weekends. I also ensure we spend time together over holidays. I have a very good relationship with both my boys, and we are extremely close and supportive of each other.
Would you ever go and work for a boss again? I truly do hope I never have to. I would rather do my utmost to ensure the business succeeds. I am a great believer that you need to look for what’s next, thus we already have another Brand, as well as another two business interests we are looking into for 2014, and we are in the process of finalising them. Hopefully this would keep us busy for another couple of years.
Do you ever take work home with you? Always, I spend time with the family and then I am a night owl. Well maybe a workaholic, but I try to ensure to spend time with my family.
What do you do to relax? I love going to gym, we love good food and a good movie and if the time allows it I love the outdoors. There is nothing nicer than going to the Game Reserve and enjoying the quietness, animals and the outdoor life.
What would you like to know more about to run your business better? We would love to know more about the retail industry trends, marketing, product mixes, and market demands
If you had to start again what would you do better knowing what you know now? I would listen to the people that have done this for 20 years. I would also listen to my son. I would also try to have more patience and wait for the right position, instead of making to quick decisions. I made many mistakes. I should also listen to my own instincts and not to others. Your first instincts are the best. In the current business we are in, we should have gone straight into owning a retail store, where there are holiday makers and many people. This is a holiday, outdoor, fun product. We made the mistake of starting at home, then distribution, and then only a retail store, we lost 2 years of hard work, with no reward.
Did you have to borrow money and if yes what route did you follow? At first I used my own funding, I then went to Standard Bank Business Banking, for a loan. They said I will have an answer in 48 hours, needless to say two months later they turned down the loan down. They where totally not customer focused, nor interested in assisting. After an absolute horrible experience with Standard Bank, my partner offered to assist me with some funding. This was a true blessing, as the business is doing very well, and I will be in a position to pay back they loan by end December 2014. Needless to say I have moved my banking to Nedbank, they are customer focused and supportive.
What satisfaction do you get from running your own business? It is wonderful to be able to make people smile and make people happy. I love being able to employ staff and assist them in personal growth, as well as teaching them how to grow within the business. I also try and assist in showing them what it takes to run a business, from beginning to the end. It is the greatest satisfaction a person could wish for, when your staff members can not wait to get to work on a Monday morning, as they love their job so much! I love being able to see, that what you put in is what you get out! Thus it is truly an experience of a lifetime. I have new respect for business owners, as employees do not realise what it takes, to ensure a business makes it at the end of the day
What makes your business successful? I suppose a fundamental understanding of business. I had 13 years of experience with KreditInform, The Leader in Business to Business Credit Information in SA. Knowing your customers, your market, and your product mix. Understanding your customers needs. And finaly understanding the pricing of your products.
What form of marketing do you use? We did some articles in magazines, news papers and we do some sms & e-mail campaigns. We focus primarily on the web, word of mouth and social media.
