Johannesburg, 17 Aug 2016
Winners of last year's 702/CapeTalk Small Business Awards with Sage One, Old School Cool and Ziyahlanjwa Laundry Service, have advanced to a new level of success following the competition.
For both winners, the media exposure has seen them experience remarkable growth and has placed them on a winning streak.
Founded in 2009, Old School Cool provides Cool Cabs or superior child care using highly screened candidates - an antidote to the poor level of childcare services in Gauteng.
The media interest in the service has seen the company featured on TV, radio and in print publications - attracting further attention from potential investors. Managing Member of Old School Cool, Tiffini Wissing, puts much of their success down to the way they respond to challenges - always approaching them with a positive and solutions-oriented attitude.
Since the awards last year, an additional six vehicles have been added to the fleet and the company has expanded into the Centurion region. By the end of 2016, they expect to add another five cars to their fleet.
To the nominees for 2016, Wissing, Managing Member of Old School Cool, says: "Congratulations. Firstly, being nominated by your satisfied clients is a massive acknowledgement that you are doing the right thing - keep at it!"
She advises that any small business involved in the competition should use the platform to its maximum potential. "What has brought you to the finals may be the key to your growth and development."
For young people in the workforce and corporate clients, Ziyahlanjwa Laundry Services provides a laundry service that allows them to drop off their washing on the way to work and collect clean, ironed laundry on their way back home - at an affordable price.
The exposure and recognition after winning the award has increased their loyal client base substantially. Before the competition, Ziyahlanjwa Laundry Services Managing Member Sivu Mongo was battling to attract larger hotels and corporates, but the interviews on CapeTalk started opening these doors.
Since the awards, Ziyahlanjwa Laundry Services had a 40% increase in customers, sales and profit. The Sage One solution allowed for the business to run smoothly and efficiently as its customer base grew.
To the 2016 nominees, Mongo has some advice: "The Small Business Awards is an opportunity for Small Businesses to have their chance to be acknowledged and show what a difference we are actually making in our communities. You need to know your business and believe in it and in the service that you provide. I won this award, you can too."
Mongo is one of many winners who lauds CapeTalk and Sage One's involvement in creating this opportunity. "Small businesses like mine in our country need awards like these; not cash in hand, but the chance to gain exposure and experience."
Steven Cohen, Head of Sage One International (Africa Australia, Middle East and Asia), is inspired by the entrants. "Millions of entrepreneurs in the small and medium business world power the global economy. To see so many amazing businesses enter our competition and to see their talent and passion is so encouraging.
"Like so many of the businesses we serve, we started small and have grown beyond what we thought was imaginable. Entrepreneurs make life sacrifices. They take risks to follow their dreams. They deserve a bigger voice and we will always work hard to champion this noble cause."
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