SME focus:

AFTER 14 years in the corporate sector working as a salesperson, Chris Sefate has taken a leap of faith by launching his own import and export business, Sefate Molifi Import sales and distributions.

Sefate this year decided to leave his full-time job at a FMCG company to branch out on his own; he said this was due to the “entrepreneurial bug” biting him. “This company is my baby. After years in sales and understanding how projections and income are made, I decided to look around and see which niches exist in the market for me to invest in and build wealth for myself” Sefate said.

Sefate, who is the company’s sole director, used his savings and pension as start-up capital for his business; this is a decision he believes will bear him fruit.

In June, he launched his company which has the exclu- sive right to distribute Wölsch watches in Africa. Wölsch watches are crystal sapphire glass timepieces that are made in Switzerland.

He said cash flow and operational costs were proving to be a burden on his business but he believed it takes passion to overcome such hurdles. “I love timepieces, and the Wölsch brand appealed to me instantly, I believe it will make waves in the South African market in the coming years.

Sefate said that since getting his first batch of watches to distribute, he has sold over 50 of them in less than six months and he has approached jewellery retailers to take in his product.

“When you bring a new product in the market, most retailers shy away from it, but I am making headway, and I expect to clinch big deals soon as I believe this is a quality brand.”

Sefate said his experience in marketing and sales will put his business in good stead as he