Business linking discussed at networking breakfast
Higher grounds for Ekurhuleni’s economy can only be reached through networking between the city’s businesses and co-operation between the private and public sectors.
Chris van Biljon, founder and CEO of the Ekurhuleni Business Initiative (EBI) and the Captains of Industry forums, gave a summary of his success story at the A-Round Ten Business Clusters (ARTBC) meeting, hosted by Gryphon Enterprise Development, recently.
The ARTBC is a business breakfast forum where every meeting has a different speaker, each sharing their stories of success and what they learnt along the way.
Van Biljon said he was previously the chairperson of the Benoni Afrikaanse Sakekamer (business chamber).
“When we heard in 2000 that a new metropolitan municipality was going to be organised on the East Rand, I spoke to some people about it,” van Biljon said.
“I was told the towns on the East Rand would be re-organised into a single municipality, with one manager and one executive mayor.
“When I heard this, I decided we would close the Benoni Sakekamer and move with the new structure.”
In February 2001, van Biljon and 10 other members held the first meeting of the EBI, in the Benoni Library.
The businessman said that, back then most towns had a “sakekamer” and/or chamber of commerce, but until today, the EBI is the only forum of its kind and size in the city.
The EBI, which meets every Monday night, is meant to be a platform for Ekurhuleni businesses to be connected and to network.
“We want to link small, medium and large companies,” the speaker said.
After his speech, van Biljon was asked how one can learn to successfully sell a product.
He said: “You have to have confidence in yourself and the product you are selling.”
“You also should not waste your time with a sale.
“When you meet someone, you will know whether or not they are going to buy, and if it seems they won’t, don’t spend more than a few minutes on it.”
The ARTBC breakfasts are held every penultimate Friday of the month, at Cherrylane Gourmet Café, in Northmead, from 7.25am to 8.30am.
This was the last meeting for the year.
For more information, contact Bonnie Chimanikire on 011 849 9481.
Also read:
Successful business key: Balance business and family
Hunger for success will get you there
Tackle your business from the bottom up
Professionalism is the key to success
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