tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115Tue, 22 May 2012 09:17:58 +0000financeChinadevelopmentthanksgivingcustomersmall businesspromotionsartservicenationalizationindustrial actionsafetymanufacturingproductbeetrendsoutsourcingTriple Sblack businesstipsdtisalesethnicNMSDCscorecardspecialtytrainingseacomSpecialty Foodtradebusinessentrepreneurworkshopsouth africanigeriafordeconomypolicygovernmentCOMESASocially Responsible OutsourcingSASDCcustomsgautrainindustryCSRafricaservice providergourmetsaiblinnovationSETAtraceabilitymarketmarketinggovernanceRussiaubuntufancylegislationguduzapricingeducationconsumertechnologystrikeSADCpackagingMicrosoftskillsnaacamrestaurantsupermarketvacancySMEcuisinesupplieradvertisingwineexportBRICgrintekUSAitFETtelecommunicationdestinationmerchandisenaamsacrimeenterprisepreferential procurementspotlightcall centercompanies actbrandingIndiaROIbpodiversitybudgetlawminorityminingtourismsupplier diversitylaborSouth Africa. BrazilemployeeawardcraftsorganicelectronicsEACcompanydfijobsgiftwarefoodinvestmentwalmartvalue chainsocial mediafair tradeautomotivehttp://blog.saibl.co.za/noreply@blogger.com (saibl)Blogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3960826498048461666Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:23:00 +00002011-05-04T11:10:11.412+02:00beescorecarddevelopmentpreferential procuremententerpriselegislationdtigovernmentblack businessbudgetsouth africa In July, the South African government will be tabling language aimed at altering the focus of BBEEE legislation to place more emphasis on enterprise development and procurement. For years, BEE supporters and detractors alike have claimed that the codes create a small class of passive black share holders that reap huge fortunes from their connections but generate precious little economic http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/04/in-july-south-african-government-will.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-6500975736088041004Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:02:00 +00002011-04-15T15:59:50.073+02:00craftsartworkshopsouth africasaSaibl hosted two US craft buyers in the past week - Nicole Hagerman-Miller, Project Manager for the Montana World Trade Centre and Angela Ramirez, Director of Worldstock, a division of Overstock.com. The aim of the visit was to consult with local crafters and provide advice on market trends and opportunities in the US, product development and design, the establishment of distribution channels, http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/04/local-crafters-in-sa-impress-us-buyers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (saibl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3249346414456020718Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:47:00 +00002011-04-13T10:12:13.256+02:00educationpolicydevelopmenttrainingskillslegislationSETAsouth africaFETNearly two and a half million young South Africans are currently out of work and not in school. That is both a social and economic brake on South Africa’s development. Some skills shortages are worse than others of course — read this SABC article on primary school teachers struggling with basic literacy. In an effort to remedy this, Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/04/national-skills-development-stratagey.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-8156101467402641339Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:56:00 +00002011-04-07T09:53:46.942+02:00entrepreneurjobslaborsouth africaThis past weekend SAIBL attended the Shiftseries Summit on Social Entrepreneurship in Washington, D.C. I have always been intrigued by entrepreneurship in South Africa —as we have noted in several posts, South Africa consistently ranks abysmally in Global surveys of entrepreneurial activity. Download the 2010 report here. We have posited that the incentives in SA do not encourage http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/04/this-past-weekend-saibl-attended.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-7448533408644261329Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:24:00 +00002011-03-30T08:53:55.228+02:00beediversityitsupplier diversityblack businesssouth africaMicrosoftMicrosoft SA announced that it would invest 475 million rand in four black owned software companies in order to meet empowerment goals and requirements. The selections were made out of an applicant pool of around 650 companies. I think this type of non-ownership BEE deal should be more commonplace. Investing in qualified black owned companies increases the size of the pie as opposed to choppinghttp://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/microsoft-makes-bee-deal-happen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-504635669033679098Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:48:00 +00002011-03-23T08:42:27.575+02:00SMEentrepreneursmall businessThere are too many resources for entrepreneurs on the web, and a lot of them are not worth your time. I’ve chosen 5 sites below that give you access to all sorts of critical information, or they link you to sites that can. Resources for Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneur Magazine: U.S. based magazine for Entrepreneurs. Articles, how-to, case studies, and advice. Inc Magazine: U.S. magazine http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/entrepreneurship-resources-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-971731681773218886Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:34:00 +00002011-03-17T11:12:22.501+02:00beelawlegislationgovernanceblack businesscompanies actsouth africaIt seems as though progress has finally been made on a recent amendment to the 2008 Companies Act. For nearly two years the implementation of the act has been delayed in anticipation of a raft of changes. The amendment was taken up by a portfolio committee of the National Assembly on Thursday, March 11th. The original Companies Act of 2008 would have modernized the previous Act passed in 1978http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/companies-amendment-bill-almost-there.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-6931977774271527149Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:07:00 +00002011-03-09T08:34:49.373+02:00fancygourmetwinesouth africafood Coming up March 18th Bottlenotes is hosting a high-end wine tasting in Washington, D.C. featuring 80 wines from around the world, including Koopmanskloof's One World Pinotage! Bottlenotes is an online wine community based in San Francisco with a large national following. They are also the originators of the Daily Sip, a daily email offering thoughts on the wine industry, recommendations on http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/around-world-in-80-sips-dc-march-18th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3315783920518976629Mon, 07 Mar 2011 09:09:00 +00002011-03-07T11:10:13.359+02:00USAinvestmentmarketconsumerwalmartsouth africasupermarketCarol O'Brien, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce of South Africa, writes an interesting article in Times Live on Walmart's proposed acquisition of 51 percent control of Massmart and the implications for the South African market. ... Three years ago, Amcham estimated US investment in this country at $200-billion. There are indications that the figure may have at least doubledhttp://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/why-we-should-hail-walmarts-arrival.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (saibl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-1916295674682254276Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:30:00 +00002011-03-03T09:44:45.931+02:00SMEgovernmentbudgetsouth africaPoliticians in South Africa, and in the U.S. for that matter, love to talk about the importance of SMEs to the health of the overall economy, but the recent budget announced by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan offers a number of real, actionable line items that South African SMEs should be excited about. The highlights for SMEs essentially break down into interventions targeted directly at SMEs,http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/03/what-does-new-sa-budget-do-for-smes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-9185539028304996932Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:17:00 +00002011-02-24T21:31:56.571+02:00Our bi-weekly news feed on important developments in specialty food, wine, and entrepreneurship....... Above the FoldNew Technology in Specialty Food and WineSAIBL Business ForumCheck out emerging technologies in specialty food and wine…Read More>>>Specialty FoodOrganic sales are seen as a zero-sum gameProgressive GrocerThe percentage of Americans buying organic products has not increased during http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/02/food-wine-and-entrepreneurship.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3781312878396471898Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:49:00 +00002011-02-16T14:29:29.626+02:00fancygourmetwinefoodcuisine Over the weekend SAIBL held a Wine Tasting for Stellar Organics at Cleveland Park Wines here in the D.C.. The response—from both consumers and industry professionals—was enthusiastic. The owner of Cleveland Park Wines ordered six cases after the tasting, and consumers were disappointed that Stellar Wines were not already available for purchase (They will be as of this week). The consumers I http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/02/stellar-organics-in-dc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-7921861503001265068Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:57:00 +00002011-02-11T11:57:19.161+02:00supplier diversityworkshopsaiblSASDCsaibl this week held a two-day strategic planning workshop for all staff at the Holiday Inn Sandton, Rivonia Road. The theme of the workshop was Account, Achieve, Succeed. The focus of the workshop was on the new South African Supplier Diversity Council and the alignment of SAIBL’s goals and objectives with the aim to promoting and developing supplier diversity. The workshop also served to http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/02/saibl-holds-strategic-planning-workshop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (saibl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-7340528915232965924Tue, 08 Feb 2011 21:55:00 +00002011-02-09T08:15:09.567+02:00technologySpecialty FoodspecialtytrendswinecuisineCheck out some new developments in specialty food and wine technology ... Contact-less Payments: Enabled credit cards and Smart Phone are driving the adoption of contact-less payments in the U.S.. At participating stores, a consumer can simply wave their enabled credit card or smart phone over a sensor to pay for their purchase. According to Chase Bank, their enabled credit cards have been, "http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/02/new-technology-in-specialty-food-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-6370231853929298339Wed, 02 Feb 2011 20:29:00 +00002011-02-03T09:03:45.003+02:00beefordpreferential procurementdiversitysupplier diversitymanufacturingblack businesssouth africaautomotiveWe have recently tried to keep our blog focused on consumer facing sectors such as Specialty Food, Wine, Tourism, and even BPO, but this news was worth breaking our rhythm ... Remember in our last post when I told you that only 1% of businesses in the South African auto industry were black owned? Well, yesterday Ford-Southern Africa made clear that they thought this state of affairs was http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/02/we-have-recently-tried-to-keep-our-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-4123307546568458441Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:12:00 +00002011-01-31T18:33:46.619+02:00beeadvertisingsupplier diversityblack businesssouth africaSASDCminorityeconomyMost U.S. consumers are vaguely aware of South Africa’s racial history, but they are less clear about what the South African economy looks like today. They may have heard that South Africa remains a starkly unequal society, or that the Black-Africans who represent over 80% of South Africans are still marginalized from the mainstream economy. But as an American consumer uncorks a bottle of http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/south-africa-black-participation-in-key.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-8971989408469643458Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:50:00 +00002011-01-31T18:50:52.422+02:00fancySpecialty Foodgourmettraceabilitywinesouth africafoodThis morning’s Washington Post ran a front page article entitled “The Rush is On to Make Food Traceable”. And indeed it is. A series of high profile U.S. food recalls, new legislation and mobile data technologies have ignited a consumer movement that demands to know where and how food is produced, and what path the food took to arrive on their table.The Post article tells a story in which a http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/specialty-food-food-traceability-going.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-2829873755762994198Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:13:00 +00002011-01-14T13:28:42.151+02:00customerenterprisetipstrendsbusinessThis January Inc.com is posting one actionable business tip everyday, in the hopes that readers will use January to build a better business. So far the tips have been great. Here are some links to Inc.com’s first 13... keep checking the Inc. calendar for the rest of the month to stay current. 1. Block Off Time for Surprises 2. Write Some Thank You Notes 3. Avoid Your E-mail for One Hour 4.http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/inccoms-tips-on-building-better.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3286225103957630095Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:05:00 +00002011-01-12T16:16:57.126+02:00servicebposervice providercall centerbusinessThe competition for Business Process Outsourcing investment gets fiercer every year. Countries must engage in an arms race involving seat subsidies, tax incentives, training programs and the like just to woo major companies. South Africa recently announced its latest carrot — a R 112,000 incentive for each BPO job created and maintained over a three year period. The money will be paid out in http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/bpo-new-south-african-bpo-incentives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-5434151159379415642Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:28:00 +00002011-01-31T18:48:59.640+02:00technologyadvertisingitinnovationtrendsPhoto Courtesy of Inside Facebook I hate to give Facebook anymore publicity then it already gets, but a post on Online Africa was interesting enough to bring to your attention. In 2010, FaceBook gained its 3 millionth member in South Africa. That means that FaceBook use has been growing at near 25% for at least the last two years. See this post by Eshaam Rabaney for a more detailed breakdown. http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/social-media-facebook-sa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-8453802718204975330Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:08:00 +00002011-01-10T10:41:31.353+02:00IndiaSouth Africa. BrazilChinatradeRussiaBRICeconomy Is it time to add South Africa’s “s” to the BRIC acronym? - Brazil, Russia, India And China = BRIC). That depends on the criteria. When Goldman Sacks asset management chairman Jim O’Neil coined the term, he intended it to refer to countries of sufficient size, with favorable demographics, and an economic environment that would facilitate high growth. On these measures South Africa does not http://blog.saibl.co.za/2011/01/is-it-time-to-add-south-africas-s-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-3250527847298402550Thu, 23 Dec 2010 07:08:00 +00002010-12-23T09:08:09.397+02:00vacancyjobsSASDCThe South African Supplier Diversity Council (SASDC) is recruiting for the position of Manager - Membership Advocacy and Events. Read the vacancy announcement here.http://blog.saibl.co.za/2010/12/vacancy-announcement-manager-membership.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (saibl)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-5392869771624641482Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:53:00 +00002010-12-17T10:20:16.020+02:00SMEcrimesmall businessgautrainbusiness The Economist’s Africa Blog, Baobab, recently celebrated the 6-month anniversary of the Gautrain, in Joburg. The train, for those readers you who haven’t had the chance to go for a ride, will take you from the Eastern part of the city to downtown, or to and from downtown to O.R. Tambo Airport. (Check out this couple’s pictures of the Gautrain experience). As the Economist notes, for those http://blog.saibl.co.za/2010/12/small-business-bear-brunt-of-crime-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-8248939530441112316Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:16:00 +00002010-12-13T11:29:55.044+02:00fancySpecialty FoodgourmetwinefoodEvery two weeks SAIBL publishes a round up of important news and trends for entrepreneurs and business owners in Specialty Food and Wine. Please find our e-newsletter below. If you would like to sign up for our Specialty Food and Wine news round up, kindly email me at cgodfrey@africacncl.org. Read the most recent Specialty Food and Wine news roundup ...http://blog.saibl.co.za/2010/12/specialty-food-and-wine-saibl-specialty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7729854590729687115.post-7025853029105770302Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:18:00 +00002010-12-08T10:24:30.894+02:00fancySpecialty Foodgourmetwinesouth africafood For 2010 vintages and beyond, qualifying South African vineyards will have a new Integrity and Sustainability Seal to put on their bottles. As the WOSA video shows, the seal guarantees the following: Validity of information: 1. 100% of the grapes come from the region indicated on the bottle 2. 85% of the grapes are of the varietal indicated on the bottle 3. 85% of the grapes are from the http://blog.saibl.co.za/2010/12/wosa-promotes-integrity-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SAIBL)0