It’s Business as Usual for female entrepreneurs

April 8, 2020 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid

The world has been caught up with a new challenge in the form of COVID-19, which has brought about a disruption in the way we do things. The old way of doing things has changed forever, and new things like social distancing, self-isolation, business unusual, church unusual, ‘everything’ unusual, have become the norm. The old saying, ‘The only constant is change’ has become so relevant in these ever-changing, uncertain times, and we have all realized that there is no room for anything as usual anymore.

Looking back

January 6, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions

As I sit and reflect, I look back on both the challenges and the blessings of 2018 and realize that the challenges are a given, but choosing to celebrate the blessings is a choice. I encourage everyone to reflect on and celebrate both your big and small victories.

True Empowerment - from order, right through to delivery and payment

December 30, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions

A big thank you to all those corporates who had the courage to give SMMEs a chance this year. It has made a difference in profits, in creating more jobs and sustainability. Now, don’t get me wrong, it is a mutually beneficial relationship for all concerned when the SMME has all the right credentials and also provides high quality services and products. I’ve been in workshops where we are taught on how to do business with corporates, and I think it is equally important to teach the corporates on how to do business with entrepreneurs.

The lowdown on Supplier Development or Enterprise Development Funding (in my opinion)

August 7, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer of Ithemba Office Solutions

Last year, I was approached by an investment fund with an opportunity. The brief from their client was to find a majority woman-owned stationery company that they could invest in. After hearing my pitch at an event, they were sufficiently impressed to put Ithemba forward for this fantastic opportunity. 'That is the power of a good sales pitch' but that is a discussion for another day.

The importance of giving clients the experience they deserve

May 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer, Ithemba Office Solutions

I’ve been going to the same hairdresser for the past 18 years. A few minor things had changed, the shampoo lady seemed grumpy all the time, I was no longer being offered my regular cup of tea and my hairdresser was more often rushed, because appointments were overlapping. But because of my long relationship with my hairdresser, and the fact that my hair always looked good, I could overlook all the minor irritations.

Create your inner entrepreneur survival kit

February 4, 2018 Melanie Hawken

by Tania Reid, Chief Experience Officer, Ithemba Office Solutions

We recently came up with an idea to create a ‘morning after’ survival kit, to help conference attendees recover from a team-building event the night before. So there were SUPER C sweets (to replenish the vitamins lost) and Orbit chewing gum (to help them stick with the programme) and it got me thinking that if there was an entrepreneur survival kit, what kind of things would I want in it?

Why not be the first?

July 6, 2017 Melanie Hawken

I watched the movie Hidden Figures recently and there is a scene in the movie where the character goes to court to fight to be able to attend a school she cannot go to. When asked why she was doing it, she told the judge that because it had never been done, she would have to be the first.

Playing small in your business doesn’t benefit anyone

June 3, 2017 Melanie Hawken

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After taking the courageous leap of faith to walk away from stability and a guaranteed monthly salary to become an entrepreneur, why would you play small?

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