Seven stages in becoming an industry expert

[Douglas Kruger] From Amoeba to Icon; where do you currently rank in your industry's natural progression? In this piece, I walk you through the seven stages of development as you strive to position yourself as an industry expert. [video] 13 Apr 2013 06:31

Is your product development a cash cow or a crutch?

[Anton Ressel] As a business consultant with a special focus on the craft and small scale manufacturing sectors, I have come to recognise a number of shared traits amongst entrepreneurs and business owners engaged in the design and manufacture of products. 22 Jan 2013 05:32

Top 10 New Year's resolutions for employers

[Johan Botes] Here are some resolutions for 2013 for you that you, as an employer, may well find useful. Get them right now - and avoid any unpleasant surprises during the year. 31 Dec 2012 07:37

Will Mangaung arrest a decline in confidence in South Africa's future?

[Dr Nikolaus Eberl] With the 53rd Elective Conference of the ANC now on in Mangaung, and 33 prominent business leaders calling for a joint effort to "arrest a decline in confidence in South Africa's future" (a clarion call joined by members of the banks and the clergy), there is the question as to what exactly will restore both investor and consumer confidence post the event that is causing so much anxiety throughout the nation. 16 Dec 2012 07:58

South Africa needs to enter remarketing

[Richard Mullins] Companies that want to position themselves to drive business value from digital marketing must start working towards mastering the discipline of remarketing or risk getting left behind by nimbler rivals. 1 Nov 2012 06:36

Slight dip in new car sales

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The South African new vehicle market was down 2% on August but slightly stronger than September last year according to the National Automobile Association of South African (Naamsa). 2 Oct 2012 12:20

Make stuff that matters

[Anton Ressel] By 2050, it is estimated that the earth's human population will be 9.07 billion. 62% of the people will live in Africa, Southern Asia and Eastern Asia - numerically this is the same as if all the world's current population lived in just these three regions. In addition, another 3 billion will be spread across the rest of the world. 10 Sep 2012 08:14

No shortage of money

[Anton Ressel] Why is accessing finance such a challenge for most SA businesses? A recent snap survey by enterprise development specialists Fetola, showed that 93% of small businesses are uncertain about where and how to access finance. 20 Aug 2012 09:50

Reasons why you should start an export or import business

[Pierre Heistein] The basic premise behind exporting and importing is that somebody, somewhere out there, does something better (or worse), than we can do it here. If they do it better; we should import it. If we do it better; we should export ours. 27 Jul 2012 13:31

Volkswagen plant firing on all cylinders

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Volkswagen South Africa's engine plant in Uitenhage is back up to speed thanks to an export order from China for more than 12 000 engines. 26 Jul 2012 12:02

Watches and Competition Law

[Alexis Apostolidis] I am obsessed with watches - there I have said it! Aside from their aesthetic characteristics, the subject matter of many design registrations, and their mechanical complications, subject to patent registrations covering minute repeaters, mechanical alarms, tourbillions, hydraulically powered movements and the like I didn't think watches could grab my interest any more than they do. 18 Jul 2012 09:17

New vehicle sales plod along

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The negative impact that public holidays have on the motor trade is illustrated by the 10.5% year on year growth in new vehicle sales in April. Total sales numbered 42 617 which is about 6.9% up on the growth for the first four months of the year. 3 May 2012 11:34

Polo Vivo rules the roost

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] With over 56 000 units sold since its launch in March 2010, Volkswagen's Polo Vivo continues to be the dominant brand in the passenger car market - a success story that is further enhanced by the fact that it is the only locally produced entry-level volume car on the market. 26 Apr 2012 05:27

Gigaba: Please don't tell us how to spend our money

[Paddy Hartdegen] If some person, not a 'friend' or 'someone special', started telling me how to spend my money I'd probably tell them to get stuffed and to use goose down for the stuffing. 16 Apr 2012 11:03

Modest increase in new vehicle sales

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] There was a modest 4.8% gain in the sales of cars and commercial vehicle sales in March this year when 56 110 units were sold compared to the 53 558 in March 2011. 4 Apr 2012 08:50

Elantra is SA Car of the Year

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The classy Korean sedan, the Hyundai Elantra, has won the prestigious title of South African Car of the Year. The winner was announced last night at a gala banquet attended by the who's who of the local motoring industry. The Kia Picanto 1.2 EX scored the second most points and the VW Jetta 1.4 TSI got the third most votes. 15 Mar 2012 07:52

December new vehicle sales up

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] New vehicle sales in South Africa improved by about 15.9% to an estimated 571 425 units in 2011 - an improvement of about 78 518 over the previous year. 10 Jan 2012 19:06

New vehicle sales growth continues

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The year is heading for a good finish with November new vehicle sales showing an improvement of 11.7% over that of the same month last year. According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) 49 499 sales were recorded this November - a year to year increase of 5181 units. 2 Dec 2011 12:04

Gordhan provides R25-billion for industry

[Paddy Hartdegen] Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has set aside R25-billion that will be spent over the next six years to bolster the manufacturing sector. The announcement was contained in Gordhan's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement released on Tuesday, 25 October 2011. 26 Oct 2011 13:16

New car sales are rocking

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] The economy might be slowing down but there is still plenty of life in the new passenger car market in South Africa with sales up by 13% over July. The 36 138 new passenger cars sold are 8% more than August last year and it also pushes the year to date sales up by nearly 17% over the same period last year. 5 Sep 2011 08:19

New vehicle sales revving high

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] New vehicles sales grew by 22.8% in March compared to the same month last year and were up 8.8% up on February sales with 53 478 new units sold. 4 Apr 2011 12:22

Two share SA Car of the Year title

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] For the first time in the 26-year history of the South African Car of the Year competition, two cars, the VW Polo and the BMW 530d, tied for the top honours. 9 Mar 2011 07:57

February cars sales: More good news for manufacturers, dealers

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Commenting on the new vehicle sales statistics for February 2011, released this morning, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) says that new car sales in particular, as well as medium and heavy commercial vehicle sales, have registered exceptional gains compared to the corresponding month last year. 2 Mar 2011 12:48

Happy Christmas for carmakers

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] Car companies celebrated a whopping 38.9% increase in new car sales in December compared to sales in December the year before. New passenger car sales alone topped 26 615 vehicles. 11 Jan 2011 07:54

Record high for new car sales

[Henrie Geyser: motoring editor] November new-car sales in South Africa were 29,6% up on the corresponding month in 2009 - and it was also the month in which the most cars were sold this year. 3 Dec 2010 07:57