Inspiring young startups
BMF speaker shares ideas
YOUNG black entrepreneurs in Buffalo City Metro were given thoughtful advice on how to succeed in business by Mangaliso “Duke” Belle, 30.
The owner of Le Duke Life, an East London event and branding private limited company, formed in 2012, listed some of the highlights and lowlights he has experienced as an entrepreneur.
He was interviewed shortly before he delivered the guest of honour speech to a Black Management Forum function, which aims to build a network of young professionals.
The dinner was held at the chic Park Place Boutique Guest House on Wednesday evening.
Referencing his speech title “Thoughtful Leadership” the buff Belle said: “We need to do things differently as young small, medium and micro enterprises in order to thrive in tough economic times and stay winning.
“What has worked for us is our strategy which we divided into three phases: create, build and expand,” Belle said.
The first three years of creation saw him putting systems together and setting up the company.
“I am in the building phase now. I am getting my name, Manga, and my company brand Le Duke out there.”
This involves getting LED-lit advertising up, branding his bakkie, vigorous marketing and upgrading his internet presence.
His ambition for his third phase is “to take over the Eastern Cape for event infrastructure hire and branding”.
He listed some hard-earned insights:
● Choose something you are passionate about because you will be doing it a lot;
● Know and anticipate what is happening or going to happen in your market and look for your next business opportunity;
● Become the brand. Be on site and deal directly with customers and do not allow managers or subcontractors to manage clients on site;
● When the work is there, get up at 4am and go to bed late.
Be ahead of your game, set up early, fix problems as they happen, and get repeat business;
● “Remove the noise” and focus on how you are playing in your markets;
● Know where you are aiming and get there;
● Nurture and appreciate a strong support base.
My wife [my girlfriend at the time] Isabelle let me go and do something for myself, even though it had financial implications;
● Be 100% sure people understand you and your business.
If they don’t, they shut you out; and
● Ignore naysayers and appreciate your champions.
Not a lot of people thought my event lounge would fly, until one lone branch manager in the National Youth Development Agency believed in me and gave me a grant to go and live this idea. I have not looked back since.
● Unsustainable ventures also get [government] funds.
Young people need to make sure they are running businesses and not one-off events; and
● Government may give you funds, but don’t expect to get further funding.
“It’s been an interesting journey and it’s good to see my hard work paying off.
“I always remember my grandfather telling me hard work never killed anybody.
“When the going gets tough, I go back to those words.”
Belle grew up in Port Alfred, but went to Voorpos, an Afrikaans school, in East London, and then Cambridge High and Zingisa High in Mthatha.
He studied law through Unisa, but left in his third year when he joined FNB as a bank service adviser.
He was then head-hunted by SA Breweries as an account manager and later joined Famous Brands as franchise manager.
He went on his own when it finally sank in: “Corporate employment was not for me. I was not following my passion. I would always go against the curve.” —