Top 6 South African small business opportunities for 2008….Part 1
by Jon Cherry on 07/12/07 at 10:32 am
2 comments
We’re feeling particularly light on our feet right now.
This year is finally feeling like calling final rounds and the open, freshly mown lawn on the banks to the brand new, 2008 small business highway look so inviting and full of the promise of speed.
So, what are the top 6 small business opportunities, which we think will make bank in 2008? We’re gonna break it up into a few parts, like a season of Grey’s Anatomy, to keep you on your toes.
So here’s part 1 of our, highly opinionated, prediction:
Uber-premium: As a small business in South Africa you are presented with an immediate, unmistakable gift right from the first ball. That gift is your nimbleness and the abilty to offer a product in a hands-on way that no emotionally-challenged corporate ever can.
Forget about being affordable to the masses and taking on Mr. Price, select the highest-earning category of target market that you can possibly think of and offer something completely exclusive to those people, accompanied by totally over-the-top levels of service. Even though Mr Mboweni insists on hiking the damn interest rates every month, South Africans are getting richer and more selective in the brands and products they choose to buy. We are a country of showboaters who love the idea of exclusivity and feel nothing about shelling out top dollar to make our mark in the premium stakes.
Example: If you are thinking of opening a bed and breakfast establishment in anticipation for the 2010 wave of tourism, make it the most lavish establishment in the country – targeting the international and local super-wealthy and their posse.
Maybach transfers from the airport, George Jardin as the chef on call in your localvore restaurant, Krone Borialis local bubbly on-top, all to create an experience that your guests will rave about to their equally cash-flush friends.
We’re thinking a mixture of Daddy Long Legs, The Cape Grace and Oudekraal mixed together and carefully placed in Gugulethu. Whack idea it would seem, but gold going forward.
Go Organic: The trend is massive in the developing world, but still finding its feet in South Africa. As people realise how much rubbish we put into our bodies and the effects it’s having on our health, the media buzz alone will drive your marketing strategy to impressive heights in OH Ate. Warning: If you’re gonna do this just to make money – don’t bother. Treehuggers can smell a fraud. It’s the chemicals that ooze though your pores that’ll give you away. Honesty is the trend here and brand trust is critical. Think of the heat the bottled water industry is taking.
Examples: Vegetables, meat, wine, cakes – just about any product can be made from organic ingredients. Add killer branding and a complete ethical business model which includes sourcing other materials from local sources and uplifting communities in your environement and you could very well be the next Innocent Drinks and crack the nod to appear on Oprah.
It may sound like hippies sticking daisies down the barrel of assualt rifles while toking on a fat joint to some, but the demand for these products [and retailers and suppliers of supporting organic and environementally-friendly infrastructure] will increase dramatically in the coming year. There is good business to be made here for the clever entrepreneur.
Watch out for our Part 2 – next week…
[ Read Part 2 ]
[ Read Part 3 ]
Jon Cherry is the founder of Cherryflava Media, a Trends & Innovation company. Jon is also the brains behind Cherryflava.com one of the most influential websites in Africa. Jon likes to pick out the business needles in South Africa's haystack. View more articles by Jon Cherry.
Ideate - Small Business in South Africa
Dec 19th, 2007
[...] Read Part 1 [...]
Top 6 South African small business opportunities for 2008….Part 2 — Ideate - Small Business in South Africa
Jun 23rd, 2009
[...] ArticlesTop 6 South African small business opportunities for 2008….Part 3…Top 6 South African small business opportunities for 2008….Part 1…South African Websites that work: FlyPhoto…South African Law…12 Reasons Why It’s Great to [...]