“Without intervention from government, business and the private sector, innovative business ideas will remain just that – ideas!” This is according to Sazi Tima, a young entrepreneur from Khayelitsha in the Western Cape who runs a carpentry business, SL.Tima Woodworks and Carpentry.
His business manufactures and installs built-in units (kitchen and closets), as well as free standing wood and carpentry units. “Running a business without funding and a proper growth plan can be daunting. I wanted to learn marketing strategies that can help me introduce the business into the market through different media platforms, especially digital media. I also wanted to be in a better position to build and maintain a strong clientele to grow the business,” Tima explains.
Upon completing his matric at Sinakho Secondary School in 2012, Tima went to Northlink College in Cape Town to study Marketing Management, which he could not complete due to lack of funds. Before venturing into business, he tried odd jobs but found that he was not cut out to be an employee.
His inspiration to become an entrepreneur was fuelled by a friend, whose welding business was making more money in a day than what he was making in a week. “This is when I decided to quit being an employee and invest all my time in starting a business,” he says.
Tima decided to seek training opportunities that would instil in him skills relevant to start a business. He studied woodworks and went through a six-month entrepreneurship training programme through Falsebay TVET College, with funding from the merSETA.
He explains that the training was beneficial for his business and that its content would be beneficial even for businesses that are already established and looking to grow. “Not only did we gain invaluable insights into the world of business, but the programme also gave us advice on how to access funding from organisations such as the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA),” he says.
By Temana Masekela. Read the full story here:
