During April, the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster Business Accelerator hosted its fourth “Dragons’ Den” event at the Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) in Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal. Abdulqadir Shaik of Instyle Linen emerged victorious, winning the “Best Business Case” award, walking away with R20 000 on-the-spot cash prize. Meanwhile, Mahlatsi Mashile from Reapso SA received the “Most Promising or Innovative Business” award, and Bawinile Nzimande from Bidywood Design took home the “Industry Gamechanger” award.
Whilst the recognition is great for the three winners, Head of Accelerators at the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster, Kyle Ballard, says that the Accelerator will also provide growth opportunities for many of the other SMME finalists as well. He explains that the finalists that unlock mutually beneficial commercial opportunties with the leading retailers will be given access to development support that will help to take their businesses to the next level. “High-potential SMMEs will have the opportunity to receive hands-on mentorship from industry experts in addition to gaining access to valuable procurement opportunities with leading retailers such as Mr Price Sport, Mr Price Apparel, Pepkor Speciality, Woolworths and TFG.”
The KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster’s Business Accelerator’s main objective is to connect leading retailers in the sector with their future suppliers. This event not only provides developmental opportunities for small businesses but also benefits large retailers by facilitating market access to new ideas.
Ravesha Govender, the Programme Manager of the Economic Development Unit at eThekwini Municipality, says that the regional Clothing and Textile sector is bursting with talented entrepreneurs and small companies with great business concepts. She adds, however, that they often lack access to commercial opportunities, a key challenge that the Business Accelerator solves. “Leading enterprises in the sector are eager to identify and partner with high-potential local suppliers. The annual Business Accelerator plays a critical role in bringing these two groups together and this year, I was particularly impressed by the pitches and have no doubt that the industry giants were too,” she says.
Ballard agrees. He says, “The connections made by the Business Accelerator have been invaluable for the growth of the regional sector and are critical in driving localisation and enabling meaningful transformation. The Business Accelerator’s success continues to attract the leading retailers in the clothing and textiles sector including Mr Price Sport, Mr Price, Pepkor Speciality, Woolworths and TFG. These retailers are committed to increasing local procurement opportunities and are eager to find and develop their future suppliers through their active involvement in the Business Accelerator.”
While the Dragons’ Den may be over for 2023, the KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster’s support for SMMEs is steadfast and ongoing. For more information on the cluster and the various programmes available, visit https://kznctc.org.za/ or email kznctc@bmanalysts.com.