Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Initiatives & Movements

Clean-Pro Systems – Keeping a close eye on finances is key to achieving success

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Clean-Pro Systems.

Clean-Pro Systems is a specialist bulk supplier of cleaning and facilities chemicals, consumables and products targeted to supplying the cleaning and facilities industries in South Africa. They also provide valued training and consultancy to these industries for their client’s operational staff with PBEH (Professional Body for Environmental Hygiene) certification.

Verina Coleman began Clean-Pro Systems in October 2017. It is a unique business in their industry because they have two parts which complement each other. The first is the product silo, and the second is the training and consultancy. Even though they have faced many adversities in the industry, they have set themselves apart by getting their clients to see them as partners rather than just suppliers. After 5 years of existence, the revenue of this business has gone from zero to nearly five million per annum.

Lady K Wellness – Building communities

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Lady K Wellness.

Established in 2010, Lady K Wellness is a manufacturer of indigenous herbal teas, cosmetics, capsules, drops and biscuits for the wellness and diabetic market. Using recipes created and used by her father since 1973. They are a proudly family-run business.

Varsity Vibe – Helping the youth of South Africa get ‘more bang for their buck’

Varsity Vibe is South Africa's first student/youth-specific rewards platform. They help the youth of South Africa get more bang for their buck. Furthermore, they help businesses all over South Africa better engage with the future leaders of this nation.

What first started as a self-funded start-up where Dino Talotti (Founder & CEO) would go knocking on doors asking to speak to the manager or owner, has now become a household name for students all over South Africa. With a little help from its investors, Varsity Vibe was able to rebuild its tech, innovate from its learnings, and build the super simple, easy-to-use platform it has today.

Otto Communications Systems – getting people and businesses connected

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Otto Communications Systems.

Otto Communication Systems is in the business of getting people and businesses connected - and keeping them connected. No matter the weather or load-shedding schedule. Cheyne Jordon Otto established the business in 2018 to help pay for rent and groceries. Looking back he recounts the humble beginnings: starting off in a commune, recruiting two house mates, finding offices, building a team, being rattled by the Pandemic, pulling through as a company, learning the importance of contracts, bouncing back within 6 months, finishing up the financial year three times stronger than the previous year. Today the business has grown to support a lifestyle beyond what he could’ve imagined at the outset.

Moody and Smith Digital – building a team for business greatness

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Moody and Smith Digital.

Moody and Smith Digital (Pty) Ltd is a digital agency which aims to help businesses have a solid presence online by implementing the following four core activities: digital marketing, content creation, online community management, and systems optimisation.

Moody and Smith Digital was started in 2013 with one employee and R800 in Midrand. Through risk-taking, perseverance and grit, Tumelontle Mokoka has grown his business to 40+ diverse individuals in the richest square mile in Africa being the heart of Sandton with a revenue close to 20 million in 2021.

Macatlas Freight – doing business differently

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Macatlas Freight.

In 2016, Christine Mackay founded Macatlas Freight, a 100% female-owned and -operated freight company that provides a wide range of freight and logistics services.

Christine Mackay’s curiosity for freight was awakened when she accompanied her dad to the harbour to view cargo vessels sailing into the port of Cape Town while on holiday. The contrast of her small stature with the vastness of the ocean and the ships fascinated her. Thus, a passion for freight and logistics was born.

DialogueSA – Empower leaders for societal change

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – DialogueSA.

As people and change specialists, DialogueSA transforms people dynamics and creates vibrant, healthy organisations by activating potent leadership. They encourage leaders to optimise their culture for their strategic outcomes, teaching coaching skills, mindset and change models, and partnering with them in practices for impact.

Feelgood Health – sharing good health throughout the world

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Feelgood Health.

Feelgood Health is an online natural health shop established in 1997 by Michele Carelse, a clinical psychologist and avid supporter of natural wellness. During her practice, Michele was uncomfortable recommending prescription drugs for ADHD, depression and anxiety for her patients, realising that they often came with unwanted side effects or resulted in dependency. Not able to find quality natural alternatives on the market, she began working with natural health experts to formulate a selection of herbal and homeopathic remedies - initially for use in her private practice only. This small range soon became so popular that Michele began to distribute these remedies to selected stores and opened her own website - one of the very first e-commerce websites in South Africa! Thus, Feelgood Health was born.

Fashion Centre – Building communities to greater heights

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Fashion Centre.

Fashion Centre sells school wear and is a men’s outfitters which sells branded clothing. This family-owned business started with Ebrahim Hattia’s dad and grandad and was successfully taken over by him and his wife. They have been in business for many years.

APARA Global – Sustainable fashion for social impact

Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – APARA Global.

APARA Global is a Johannesburg-based fashion and styling company that produces clothing through recycled trash.

Ayanda More grew up in a family of teachers and understood from a young age the importance of gaining and sharing knowledge. She was inspired by her principal, Mrs Moerane, who saw her as more than just a student. This encouraged her to start a school which would give other teenagers a sense of belonging and second chances. But to start the school, she would need to have capital. Ayanda thought back to her 11-year-old self who enjoyed styling individuals according to their body and fit. This was something she could do well and get paid for it. She knocked on many doors until an opportunity to assist in styling at the African Fashion International Fashion Week 2018 presented itself and she grabbed it with both hands. Since then, her business has continued to grow. She has gone from dressing up and styling people to creating her own designs.

Get the best business tips delivered to your inbox!

© NSBC Africa 2023. All Rights Reserved.