Meet the Absa Small Business Friday featured Small Business of the week – Table View Butchery.
Table View Butchery is a family-run butchery in the Table View and Parklands area. They have two retail stores, an online store and a wholesale section. Established in 1970, the butchery was taken over by Jose and Desarea Rebolo in 1999. They created a true local gem with their main focus on the retail stores.
Jonathan Rebolo joined the butchery at the tender age of 17. His father believed everything had to be worked for and no shortcuts were allowed. This instilled a good work ethic in Jonathan and showed him the true value of things.
Encouraged to want better for the family business, he decided to see how far he could take it. He built an online store and started to sell wholesale to restaurants and catering companies. Three years in, he built this part of the company from one restaurant to over 200 wholesale clients and thousands of online customers.
Jonathan enjoys problem-solving, strategising and finding ways to improve the business. He also enjoys dealing with customers and building relationships with each one. By building a good work environment for his staff, he has seen ongoing success in the business. He also enjoys the fast pace of the business and working under pressure.
The biggest lesson he has learnt in business is to be patient. “There are times when you want to move at 100 miles an hour and get to the top of what you want to do but in business strategy and timing is crucial. You need to be patient in building your business with a strong foundation.” Jonathan explains.
Jonathan wants Table View Butchery to become a household name. A brand people associate with great customer service and top-quality meat. Passion is the driving force behind the business. Jonathan wants his employees to be passionate about what they do because this flows through their work and their interactions with the clients. He also wants them to be well-trained for the job.
When asked why South African should support small business Jonathan explained, “By supporting small businesses in South Africa, we help to grow the economy and open up opportunities for people who don’t have the chance to get a job at big corporate companies but they have the potential to be great. In addition, small businesses are intimately connected to their local communities and support them. Another advantage of supporting SMEs is that they help to circulate the money in the local economy which is great for all.”
#AbsaSmallBizFriday is brought to you by NSBC Africa and sponsored by Absa.