ISIPHETHWENE PRIMARY COOPERATIVE
| Business Location: | Rural & Township |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| Branch: | Frances Baard |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Co-operative |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
The Core function of the business is Sewing, they sew clothing and school uniforms. Isiphethweni also specialises in custom made clothing, where they create exclusive custom fitted high end fashion designs. Isiphethweni cooperative is target market is usually schools and corporates.
Challenges/Needs:
Challenges
1. Basic Business Skills: The owners lacked essential skills in business management, financial planning, and marketing, making it difficult to run sustainable operations.
2. Compliance to Access to Funding: Securing funding from DFIs, banks or investors was a significant hurdle, as the business didn’t have financials and projections.
3. Productivity Improvement: The visibility of the business is very important, and efficiency improvement in the business was a challenge.
4. Access to Local Markets: The business is in need of marketing opportunities for their products.
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
Isiphethweni Sewing Cooperative benefited from several targeted interventions aimed at overcoming the challenges they faced in starting their operations:
1. Mentoring and Coaching: Through the 10-month Seda Enterprise Coaching Programme, Isiphethweni Sewing Cooperative was assisted under the following topics: (a)strategic financial management, (b)total self-mastery, (c)marketing fundamentals, (d)productivity and doing business with AI, (e)developing your sales process, (f)managing your finances, (g)personal productivity & seasonal sales, (h) mindset shift for entrepreneurs and (i)fundamentals of scaling a business
2. Access to Local Markets: Exhibition at the Frances Baard Diamond Pavillion Mall Pop Up Market 2024. This provided much need market access through exhibition and networking. The objective of the Pop-Up Market was to assist Isiphethweni to identify intra trade businesses opportunities and unlock available resources and assets that can help them benefit from existing and new business opportunities.
3. Implementation of Financial Management System: The business was assisted with a financial cleanup, the compiling of two years financial statements and five-year financial projections. They then received a financial Management system which they were also trained on.
4. Productivity SA Competitiveness Improvement Services (CIS) Mentorship: With the help of Productivity SA, the business received mentorship on process mapping, organised workplace, quality management, structured problem solving and effective internal communication
1. Mentoring and Coaching: Through the 10-month Seda Enterprise Coaching Programme, Isiphethweni Sewing Cooperative was assisted under the following topics: (a)strategic financial management, (b)total self-mastery, (c)marketing fundamentals, (d)productivity and doing business with AI, (e)developing your sales process, (f)managing your finances, (g)personal productivity & seasonal sales, (h) mindset shift for entrepreneurs and (i)fundamentals of scaling a business
2. Access to Local Markets: Exhibition at the Frances Baard Diamond Pavillion Mall Pop Up Market 2024. This provided much need market access through exhibition and networking. The objective of the Pop-Up Market was to assist Isiphethweni to identify intra trade businesses opportunities and unlock available resources and assets that can help them benefit from existing and new business opportunities.
3. Implementation of Financial Management System: The business was assisted with a financial cleanup, the compiling of two years financial statements and five-year financial projections. They then received a financial Management system which they were also trained on.
4. Productivity SA Competitiveness Improvement Services (CIS) Mentorship: With the help of Productivity SA, the business received mentorship on process mapping, organised workplace, quality management, structured problem solving and effective internal communication
Outcome Details:
The interventions implemented for the business yielded significant positive outcomes, greatly enhancing its capacity and operational success.
1. Mentoring and Coaching: Through the SECP programme, the owners gained essential skills in financial management, marketing, and compliance. This empowerment enabled them to approach business operations with greater confidence and professionalism.
2. Implementation of Financial Management System:: As a direct result of Sedfa’s support in navigating the funding landscape, the business now for the first time has annual financial statements and projections that they can use to access funding opportunities.
3. Employment: The business currently employs 5 people, which has resulted in 5 jobs sustained.
4. Turnover: The business made sales of R 284,377.00 for the previous financial year. Which is an improvement from the previously reported turnover of R 245 000.
Overall, these outcomes demonstrated the effectiveness of the interventions, highlighting the transformation of Isiphethweni Sewing Cooperative into a sustainable and thriving business within their diverse sector.
1. Mentoring and Coaching: Through the SECP programme, the owners gained essential skills in financial management, marketing, and compliance. This empowerment enabled them to approach business operations with greater confidence and professionalism.
2. Implementation of Financial Management System:: As a direct result of Sedfa’s support in navigating the funding landscape, the business now for the first time has annual financial statements and projections that they can use to access funding opportunities.
3. Employment: The business currently employs 5 people, which has resulted in 5 jobs sustained.
4. Turnover: The business made sales of R 284,377.00 for the previous financial year. Which is an improvement from the previously reported turnover of R 245 000.
Overall, these outcomes demonstrated the effectiveness of the interventions, highlighting the transformation of Isiphethweni Sewing Cooperative into a sustainable and thriving business within their diverse sector.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
“We are thankful for the continued support from SEDFA on our entrepreneurial journey”
