MALKERNS – South African businessman Jabu Stone, the Director of Afrocentric Designs (PTY) Ltd, proved to be a true inspiration to the Business Plan Competition (BPC) finalists when he narrated how he managed to grow his business in the midst of tight competition and stereotypic barriers in the market.

 

He said he first identified the business he wanted to do, which was hairdressing and then penetrated the market, something which he said was hard to do because of the nature of the hairstyles he specialised in (dreadlocks), which were at the time associated with marijuana (dagga).

 

“I then identified the products I wanted to use and learnt more about the tricks of the market. I decided to open more salons and employed more people who had to undergo formal training,” he said.

 

He said this during the graduation ceremony of the top 55 Business Plan Competition finalists hosted by TechnoServe.

 

Stone added that the people whom he trained went on to open their own salons and this posed competition for his business.

 

He said, however, that instead of competing with them, he decided to supply them with the products they needed to carry out their businesses.

 

“I moved away from the competition and expanded my business by manufacturing hair products though it was difficult due to lack of finance, but I did not lose focus and hope,” he said. Stone adds a record label, debit card to his name.