Locally made, globally loved: How Rogz became a household name in pet gear

[Lauren Hartzenberg] Designed and produced in South Africa, Rogz has built a formidable name in the global pet industry, with a thriving export business in 90 countries. Founders Irené Raubenheimer and Paul Fuller share their journey...

Mervyn Gers Ceramics: World-class and handcrafted in the Cape

[Lauren Hartzenberg] From clay-making to moulding, firing, glazing, and all the steps in between, 22 pairs of hands at the Paarden Eiland studio work on the production of each Mervyn Gers Ceramics product. The brand's founder shares his business journey...

Cape Union Mart Group launches design studio to drive localisation

[Lauren Hartzenberg] With a goal to produce 65% of products locally by 2028, Cape Union Mart Group has launched the Green Thread Studio, a creative hub to facilitate the growth of local clothing design and production...

#StartupStory: Petite French & Co. - a proudly local luxury lifestyle brand for dogs

[Lauren Hartzenberg] Capetonian entrepreneur Gill Taylor is aiming to grab a slice of the booming pet market with her brand Petite French & Co., targeting design-conscious pet parents who want to kit their dogs out with stylish accessories...

'Buy local' message more important than ever - Ramaphosa

[Lauren Hartzenberg] The damage caused by the pandemic has placed greater demands on the economy to provide employment. The health crisis also exposed the fragility of global supply chains and revealed great capacity in SA for adaptation in manufacturing...

Blending artisanal craft and African storytelling with Thabisa Mjo

[Lauren Hartzenberg] Thabisa Mjo's penchant for telling uniquely African stories through the medium of design has earned her remarkable recognition on home soil and abroad...

SONA and the Budget Speech in the eyes of a manufacturer

[Nadia Rawjee] Nadia Rawjee, MD of Uzenzele Holdings, unpacks the key issues that need to be addressed if government is serious about transforming the local economy...

How Right to Repair can catalyse positive change in product life cycles

[Jonathan Hurvitz] Right to Repair is asking that manufacturers share the information needed to make it possible for more people, such as independent agents, to service, repair and upgrade durable and semi-durable consumer goods...

4 key lessons for future-ready manufacturing

[Robin Fisher] The persistent nature of Covid-19's disruption on the manufacturing industry highlights a need, and an opportunity, to rethink business operations to be more adaptable to market dynamics...

Philip Morris launches next-generation IQOS devices in SA

[Lauren Hartzenberg] With a vision to phase out traditional cigarette brands in favour of healthier alternatives, Philip Morris International has invested billions of dollars into the R&D of its IQOS range of devices...

Fleur le Cordeur: a business in bloom

[Eugene Yiga] Fleur le Cordeur is about blessing people on their special occasions - especially on their wedding day. The company loves everything about anything that grows from soil, and especially using these gifts from nature to bless people...

#WomensMonth: Pass on wisdom and knowledge and support local businesswomen

[Juanita Pienaar] Marketer and designer turned ethical artistic jeweller, Charmaine Taylor has a passion and vision to promote the message of forgiveness and peace that former President Nelson Mandela shared...

#MFGIndaba: Factory of the year launches in SA

[Danette Breitenbach] A benchmarking competition that recognises manufacturing excellence, Factory of the Year was launched locally at this year's Manufacturing Indaba...

Game-changing trends for the manufacturing industry in 2018

[Antony Bourne] When you think 'IoT', is your first thought newly affordable, available sensors being added to products after they've been manufactured? If it is, well I believe 2018 will change that...

#BODJHB: Chris Weylandt on the basics of retail

[Jessica Tennant] On day two of the Johannesburg version of Business of Design, Chris Weylandt explained his tactics to competing or rather leading in the retail game...

#Homesewn: K-Way's lean local manufacturing machine

[Lauren Hartzenberg] South Africa's clothing and textile industry has seen some trying times. In the past 15 years, jobs in the local sector have decreased from 200,000 to 19,000...

Three strategic approaches to help manufacturers seize the opportunity of rapid industry change

[Antony Bourne] There are three strategic approaches that can help manufacturers capitalise on key changes transforming their industries...

The number of smart machines in manufacturing will double in the next three years

[Antony Bourne] The use of smart machines in manufacturing is growing rapidly; by 2018, 50% of the fastest growing companies in the world will have fewer employees than smart machines, according to Gartner...

Manufacturing: how to keep your warehouse safe

[Endri Hasanaj] The manufacturing industry comes with its own trials and travails when it comes to structuring your workplace. You've got to ensure your employees aren't in any immediate danger, that your machinery has enough space to operate, that your supplies of stock are safe from prying eyes and that all health-and-safety regulations are being met...