Entrepreneur Profiles

Doppio Zero: Paul Christie & Miki Milovanovic

Doppio Zero might have a casual ambience and approach, but it takes its customers, franchisees and the brand very seriously and is set to become a national brand known for these qualities.

Blake & Associates: Howard Blake

Blake & Associates began with one typewriter and a scooter, with Blake operating from his kitchen. Today he employs over 3 000 people across three continents.

Capitec: Riaan Stassen

How Capitec gave the established banking industry a run for its money.

Nestlife: Vusi Sithole

In 1996 Vusi Sithole was the chairman of a subsidiary of Hollard. He had worked his way up the ranks of the insurance industry and was earning an executive’s salary, with further advancement on the horizon.

Steers: George Halamandaris

Steers is a true success story for South African fast food franchising and, as such, a sought-after brand. Chana Boucher uncovers where the brand started and how it has managed to stay relevant for over 50 years.

Bridgestone: Romano Daniels

The first-ever tyre franchise concept in South Africa, Supa Quick is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and showing no sign of slowing down. Romano Daniels, MD of Bridgestone South Africa Retail discusses the brand’s history with Chana Boucher.

The Courier Guy: Steven Gleisner

Steven Gleisner went from planning a trip to Mozambique with R2 000 in his pocket, and almost accidently bootstrapping a business, to launching a successful franchise that supports franchisees who, like him, could not normally have afforded to buy into a franchise.

Sorbet: Ian Fuhr

When Ian Fuhr made the decision to launch the Sorbet beauty chain in 2004, almost everyone he spoke to thought he was either pulling their leg, or experiencing a break with reality.

Kauai: John Berry and Carl and Brett Harwin

When Kauai first opened it was seen as an outlet for hippies and vegetarians. Today it’s the number one healthy fast food brand in South Africa and is taking on the major retail brands.

Hooters: Spencer Shaw

With two outlets thriving and a third on the way, Hooters South Africa exclusive licensee, SG Shaw Foods’ CEO, Spencer Shaw, divulges some of the tricks of the trade.

NWJ: Clifford Stockley

SA consumers have taken a shine to NWJ, a local jewellery franchise that has honed in on price, quality and customer service, making it an attractive option for franchisees too.

Dorego’s: Steven Dally

Eight years ago Steven Dally opened his first Dorego’s in Metro Mall taxi rank in Johannesburg’s CBD. He had just relocated to Joburg from Kimberley and Dorego’s was relaunching in the City of Gold after exiting Gauteng in the late 1980s.

Fry’s Vegetarian: Wally and Debbie Fry

Without any experience and no knowledge of the industry, Wally and Debbie Fry — winners of the emerging entrepreneur category at the 2010 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur awards — cornered an international market with Fry’s Vegetarian, the home-grown brand that makes a vegan and vegetarian range of meat-alternative products.

Chas Everitt: Berry Everitt

Berry Everitt, MD of the Chas Everitt International Property Group, grew up in real estate. With parents who talked property and business at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table, it’s no wonder that today he heads up one of the most well-known names in the property market, despite being a surfer at heart as a young man.

Famous Brands: Kevin Hedderwick

From shelf-packer to CEO of Famous Brands, Kevin Hedderwick took a successful but small family business on the growth ride of its life, turning it into a R4 billion industry and developing some of the country’s most loved food brands along the way.

McDonald’s: Ishmael Moloko

A local franchisee has leveraged the clout of one of the world’s most loved brands many times over and is now the owner of eight McDonald’s restaurants in Gauteng. He shares his recipe for success with Entrepreneur.

Lebo Gunguluza

Dirt poor as a child, Lebo Gunguluza, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and all-round mover and shaker, became one of South Africa’s youngest self-made black millionaires at 27.

1Time Airlines: Rodney James

The founders of SA’s other low-cost airline raised R10 million, made a website, leased a plane and built a no frills carrier that now has 15% market share and a turnover of R1,3 billion.

Bakos Brothers: Ryan Bakos

When Ryan Bakos suggested to his uncles that it was time for the family business to start making green furniture, they pointed out that it really was not a popular colour.

Sekoko Resources: Tim Tebeila

Timothy Tebeila grew up in a village and started out as a school teacher in Limpopo. His vision for a better life and his drive to help his community saw him grow his business interests slowly but surely as he moved from education to insurance and then into mining, while he launched Sekoko Resources.