CITICHAT 10/2001 - 16 March 2001
The Business Place
I first visited 58 Marshall Street about eighteen months ago when Investec decided to convert one of their centre city buildings, left vacant following their move to Sandton, into an entrepreneurial centre. At that stage the building was being basically renovated and a couple of entrepreneurial businesses or agencies were busy setting up shop.
I had the privilege of visiting the building again earlier this week. Now known as “the BUSINESS PLACE” it is a unique project which brings together under one roof a number of small businesses and community based organisations as well as those representing various government initiatives.
My meeting, to discuss ways and means of extending small enterprises throughout the centre city by way of linkages to established business, started over coffee on the third floor terrace at Val’s Rooftop Restaurant. Had there been more time I would have stayed for lunch at what is evidently becoming quite a magnet for those in the area who enjoy traditional African food. Val’s business originally started informally on the pavements of Anderson Street. She is not the only one providing a support service for the building. Sizaba Cleaning Services maintain the building, its office and exhibition space; the Networking Centre, also on the third floor, provides opportunities for tenants and participating entrepreneurs to interact with each other as well as providing business publications and national information related to small business. A computerised database and information resource is being developed as part of this service. A training room is available for training courses and workshops for up to 100 people whilst two major legal firms provide candidate attorneys on alternate mornings offering free legal advice to entrepreneurs active in the building.
The tenants themselves represent a clustering of services that have been carefully selected for their ability to network into the community or through their mentoring capabilities, financing and training services or the business opportunities they offer. They include:
• Rutec offering micro-manufacturing machines, raw materials and outcomes-based training to unemployed individuals and groups. They also provide research and development counselling services and turn-key project management in the micro sector. Founded in 1983 it was inspired by the principles of the book, “Small is Beautiful.”
• The Community Education Computer Society (CECS) was established in 1985 originally in the Western Cape for the technological empowerment of its historically disadvantaged. They offer a number of basic computer courses as well as business services such as faxing, photocopying, laminating, binding, typing and DTP.
• Trident Training Center Micro-MBA has trained trainers from more than 100 organisations since 1992 and 125 000 entrepreneurs have been empowered by the programme enjoying a success rate of between 65 to 81% measured in terms of economic activity 12 to 18 months after training.
• Lesedi La Sechaba (The Light of the Nation) focuses on training and start-up businesses which include day care/educare, dress making, toy making, carpentry, sculpture, baking and cooking with an emphasis on the aged, the young and the disabled.
• The Greater Johannesburg Business Advice and Information Centre brings together government, local communities and business organisations to promote and develop small business. It offers low-cost assistance with accessing information about government tenders, preparing tender documents and understanding tender procedures. Help in preparing business plans, cash flow, financing and advice and training in business skills and viability studies.
• Ndinisa Global Trade provides information about all government export programmes for SMMEs as well as assistance in designing export-import strategies, the promotion of SMME business ideas and applications for liquor licenses.
• Karabo Financial Consultancy offers personal finance advice in investment and portfolio planning, debt management and credit bureau clearance. Help with tax returns, and advice in regard to educational and retirement planning, business plans, medical aid schemes and wills.
• Sakhisizwe Trust concentrates on alleviating poverty, creating job opportunities and forging a role for the Church in tackling developmental changes. The focus is on churches, women’s groups and youth groups and the church itself as an agent of job creation.
• The South African Graduates Development Association (SAGDA) is a youth initiative that offers training for starting a business and strives to improve the employability of graduates by enhancing their skills. It also helps place unemployed graduates having difficulty in finding work.
• Kagiso Business Consultants offers help preparing business plans, feasibility studies, training for business, accounting and bookkeeping, advice and mentorship.
• Best Funeral Society is a nationwide, discounted funeral service for groups and individuals.
• KOLOB Communications is a through-the-line agency organising special events, conferences and seminars and management of exhibitions, corporate social investment projects and small business development opportunities. They also provide promotional support for all the tenants in the Business Place.
Unlike many other corporations whose exodus from the city has virtually meant turning their backs on what was probably their historical birthplace, Investec has chosen to re-invest in the city by providing opportunities for new business entrants. I guess that this approach typifies the entrepreneurial flair that has been a hallmark of their own growth and results. Apart from re-jigging the building to suit its new usage, Investec has provided occupation on a rent-free basis until the fledgling businesses are adequately established and proved to have become economically viable, In addition, last year they heavily subsidised the attendance of 200 persons undertaking the Micro MBA course and are planning to invest again in training this year. They are also now looking at promoting linkages between “big” business and emerging entrepreneurs.
All of this strikes me as highly intelligent use of resources and of far greater long term value than the handouts which, apart from advertsing the donor’s social responsibility, so often do nothing more than sustain the unsustainable for that little bit longer thus promoting dependancy.
the Business Place brings together this eclectic group of entrepreneurs who then interact between each other and network back into the city and the community.
the Business Place is an example of how initiative, imagination and resourcefulness can recycle empty buildings into positive attributes of the city.
the Business Place is an exciting, working example of just what can be done when big business commits itself to encouraging the development of small business and puts its money where its mouth is. A working example of how big business can remain invested or re-invest in the city when other considerations have resulted in their own re-location.
And, of strategic importance, the Business Place epitomises the emergence of the entrepreneurial city.
Friday, March 16, 2001
Friday, March 9, 2001
Kwa Mai Mai Citichat 9 March 2001
CITICHAT 9/2001 - 9th March 2001
Kwa Mai Mai
When Richard Bradley, one of the doyens of the Business Improvement District profession in the USA, was here to assist us with our Centre City Development Framework last year, he remarked that Johannesburg was 'a city of 'best kept secrets'.
One of them undoubtedly is Kwa Mai Mai, another appears to be the hotel school dining room.
The 2.4 hectare Kwa Mai Mai is situated at the intersection of Anderson and Berea Streets next to the M2 Anderson Street off-ramp. Its roots go back to the 1920s when a migrant workers' compound was built at the southern end of Delvers Street and the residents encouraged to make and sell various handcrafts. The resultant bazaar and the compound itself became known as Mai Mai, the origin of the name however appears to be lost in conflicting stories. It moved to its current site in 1940 where it consisted of 250 stalls, 10 shops, a beer-hall and compound/hostel. The latter and a number of stalls and shops were demolished in 1964 to accommodate new road construction. However the remainder of the complex deteriorated over the years and competition in the form of cheaper versions of its goods - traditional African cultural items - negatively impacted on its viability.
In 1997 the community, assisted by development consultants Settlement Planning Services (Setplan), obtained funding for the redevelopment of the Bazaar from the then Southern Metro Local Council and the Gauteng Provincial Government.
The redevelopment process was carried out in three stages, identifying the needs of the community, implementation and sustainability. The first phase incorporated a public involvement process which defined the needs of the community and established a decision making process in which the community were completely involved and which also included exposure to developmental philosophy. An institutional structure, a Section 21 (not for gain) company, was established with the community supplying all the office bearers.
The implementation stage, utilising local labour, included upgrading to stormwater drainage, electricity and water supplies; a children's play-lot; a stadium for traditional dancing; a product showroom and the renovation of all existing facilities. A training room was built in the community centre where basic life skills training, marketing skills and entrepreneurial development are provided.
The 'community' referred to is as much as 600 strong, including children, and is predominantly Zulu speaking. The majority live above the trading areas. Apart from traditional manufacture of African goods such as traditional Zulu bridal kists or umabo (bridal gifts) coffins, pelmets and furniture, traditional crafts of stick making and weaving of sleeping mats, and the manufacture of traditional clothing, the Bazaar houses a number of Sangomas and Inyangas who diagnose and dispense medication for the treatment of sickness or protection against illness and evil.
With the heightened interest internationally in cultural tourism, the sustainability of the bazaar is being sought by promoting Kwa Mai Mai as a tourist destination. It will provide an opportunity for tourists to see and learn about African traditions, culture, clothing etc.
Not that long ago, the area would not have attracted too many visitors, it was dirty and quite intimidating. Now I understand that it is in the process of being properly cleaned up by its community who are committed to Kwa Mai Mai becoming a significant additional offering to tourists local, national and international.
I spent quite a number of years in my previous life sitting on the Council of the Technikon Witwatersrand. One of the social highlights of each year was the Chairman of Council's Dinner at the hotel school in Smit Street and I used to have the occasional lunch there as well. The food was always excellent, immaculately served by students in training in a pleasant atmosphere provided by a beautiful old building. Since coming off the Tech Council, I have ashamedly lost touch with the facility but I recently received an e-mail from one of our readers advising that it is still alive but not well in that it is receiving very little support. Many people complain about the lack of good eating facilities in the city or ask where they can take guests. Well, here is one which can be recommended. The e-mail I received says the following;" Last night we dined at the hotel school in Smit Street. The food is excellent and at R65 for four courses very reasonable. Their wine list is small but good and prices are the most reasonable that I have seen in a restaurant in a long time. The students are very keen to impress and try very hard to please. Security is fine and there is parking."
They do lunch and dinner, good place to take overseas guests or business colleagues etc. Unfortunately they do not have a budget for advertising (hence inclusion in this newsletter) so it does somewhat fall under our "best kept secrets" category but, hey, this is really worth our support! Bookings on (011) 406.2954.
Kwa Mai Mai
When Richard Bradley, one of the doyens of the Business Improvement District profession in the USA, was here to assist us with our Centre City Development Framework last year, he remarked that Johannesburg was 'a city of 'best kept secrets'.
One of them undoubtedly is Kwa Mai Mai, another appears to be the hotel school dining room.
The 2.4 hectare Kwa Mai Mai is situated at the intersection of Anderson and Berea Streets next to the M2 Anderson Street off-ramp. Its roots go back to the 1920s when a migrant workers' compound was built at the southern end of Delvers Street and the residents encouraged to make and sell various handcrafts. The resultant bazaar and the compound itself became known as Mai Mai, the origin of the name however appears to be lost in conflicting stories. It moved to its current site in 1940 where it consisted of 250 stalls, 10 shops, a beer-hall and compound/hostel. The latter and a number of stalls and shops were demolished in 1964 to accommodate new road construction. However the remainder of the complex deteriorated over the years and competition in the form of cheaper versions of its goods - traditional African cultural items - negatively impacted on its viability.
In 1997 the community, assisted by development consultants Settlement Planning Services (Setplan), obtained funding for the redevelopment of the Bazaar from the then Southern Metro Local Council and the Gauteng Provincial Government.
The redevelopment process was carried out in three stages, identifying the needs of the community, implementation and sustainability. The first phase incorporated a public involvement process which defined the needs of the community and established a decision making process in which the community were completely involved and which also included exposure to developmental philosophy. An institutional structure, a Section 21 (not for gain) company, was established with the community supplying all the office bearers.
The implementation stage, utilising local labour, included upgrading to stormwater drainage, electricity and water supplies; a children's play-lot; a stadium for traditional dancing; a product showroom and the renovation of all existing facilities. A training room was built in the community centre where basic life skills training, marketing skills and entrepreneurial development are provided.
The 'community' referred to is as much as 600 strong, including children, and is predominantly Zulu speaking. The majority live above the trading areas. Apart from traditional manufacture of African goods such as traditional Zulu bridal kists or umabo (bridal gifts) coffins, pelmets and furniture, traditional crafts of stick making and weaving of sleeping mats, and the manufacture of traditional clothing, the Bazaar houses a number of Sangomas and Inyangas who diagnose and dispense medication for the treatment of sickness or protection against illness and evil.
With the heightened interest internationally in cultural tourism, the sustainability of the bazaar is being sought by promoting Kwa Mai Mai as a tourist destination. It will provide an opportunity for tourists to see and learn about African traditions, culture, clothing etc.
Not that long ago, the area would not have attracted too many visitors, it was dirty and quite intimidating. Now I understand that it is in the process of being properly cleaned up by its community who are committed to Kwa Mai Mai becoming a significant additional offering to tourists local, national and international.
I spent quite a number of years in my previous life sitting on the Council of the Technikon Witwatersrand. One of the social highlights of each year was the Chairman of Council's Dinner at the hotel school in Smit Street and I used to have the occasional lunch there as well. The food was always excellent, immaculately served by students in training in a pleasant atmosphere provided by a beautiful old building. Since coming off the Tech Council, I have ashamedly lost touch with the facility but I recently received an e-mail from one of our readers advising that it is still alive but not well in that it is receiving very little support. Many people complain about the lack of good eating facilities in the city or ask where they can take guests. Well, here is one which can be recommended. The e-mail I received says the following;" Last night we dined at the hotel school in Smit Street. The food is excellent and at R65 for four courses very reasonable. Their wine list is small but good and prices are the most reasonable that I have seen in a restaurant in a long time. The students are very keen to impress and try very hard to please. Security is fine and there is parking."
They do lunch and dinner, good place to take overseas guests or business colleagues etc. Unfortunately they do not have a budget for advertising (hence inclusion in this newsletter) so it does somewhat fall under our "best kept secrets" category but, hey, this is really worth our support! Bookings on (011) 406.2954.
Friday, March 2, 2001
Birmingham % London Citichat 2 March 2001
CITICHAT 8/2001 - 2 March 2001
Birmingham & London
Arising from our proposal to establish a City Tourism Orientation and Information Centre, (Citichat 6, 16th February) we invited a number of people from a variety of tourism related organisations to attend a meeting last week to discuss our proposals and to get input. Not surprising in this day and age, less than half of those who confirmed that they would be attending, actually came. Notwithstanding that, it was a good initial meeting when we were able to hear the views of not only tour guides but also those representing institutions such as the Museums and Art Gallery. The outcome of the meeting was very supportive of what we are planning to do and particularly of the proposal to produce a tourism plan for the city.
Immediately following the meeting I had to leave for a very quick trip to the UK on personal business and to Washington DC to attend a weekend leadership workshop being run by IDA (International Downtown Association). I did however squeeze in the opportunity to visit appropriate tourism related institutions in Birmingham, London and DC.
The Birmingham City Council has evidently quite recently established a specific group within their Economic Development Department to focus on City Tourism. It was interesting to hear that one of the major problems that they are dealing with is similar to ourselves in that it relates to perceptions. The general perception of the city relates to its "smokestack" past for Birmingham was always known as the British centre for manufacturing and industry. Over the past few decades it has however developed world class facilities in its International Convention Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Symphony Hall, National Indoor Arena, National Sea Life Centre and many cultural and sporting institutions. The physical appearance of the city has been transformed from the gray industrial city of yesteryear by way of extensive pedestrianisation, redeveloping the canal system and transforming the massive elevated concrete freeway down to grade wherever possible. The Jewellery Quarter has become an important attraction and there are some massive private sector regeneration projects and the city now really offers a great deal of interest to vistors. But still the perceptions! Now, following broad consultation, a detailed Tourism Strategy has been developed around a Vision to "develop Birmingham as a high-quality vibrant destination for regional, U.K., European and international business and leisure tourists, in partnership with the private, cultural and community sectors of the City and the region." A Strategic Framework and detailed Action Plans are in place and are being vigorously pursued with the whole issue of changing perceptions always a critical consideration.
In London I spent some hours at the London Museum which offers a detailed "walk-through" the history of that great city. It provides an excellent overview of London's growth and development through photographs, artifacts, models and often full size representations in what I would describe as a rather 'traditional' museum offering.
In Washington DC I found the innovation which we are aiming to bring to our local project although ours will be on a tiny scale in comparison! There the local council has leased to The Historical Society of Washington D.C. (for $1 per annum for 99 years) what was previously known as the Carnegie Library which is a magnificent historic building situated in the city on Mount Vernon Square. The Society is planning to restore the building as a City Museum, but as they point out, "not just another museum, but a new kind of museum - reaching into the past, touching the future, making the spectator a participant and the visitor a creator of his own experience." The Executive Director of the Historical Society, Barbara Franco, feels passionately that the life and history of a city cannot be told within the confines of one building. It is the city itself that is the museum "with neighbourhoods as its galleries and people and buildings as its exhibits." The City Museum will therefore be an introduction and orientation to the city for its visitors offering an 'experience' rather than a series of exhibits. Which is exactly what we are aiming for although, as I said previously, on a minute scale in comparison due to both the size of the facility we have and the lack of budget. Hopefully we will get the authorities to buy in and support our efforts.
To end with some urban trivia from three articles that caught my eye in the British press during the couple of days I was there. The first was a report that the Queen was to open Portcullis House, a new office building to house MPs built over the road from the Houses of Parliament. This has been quite a controversial building from both a design and certainly from a cost point of view. It has now been established that it is the most expensive office accommodation per user in the world costing one million pounds (twelve million rand) per occupant! Costs include nearly two million rand for "decorative fig trees imported from Florida"; two and a half million rand for potted plants and a reclining chair complete with a 'snooze' position for every MP at R5 000 each. From what I've seen of British MPs on the tele, I thought they did all their snoozing in the House itself!
The second was a report that the earnings of Ken Livingstone, the new Executive Mayor of London have "hit the 250 000 pound a year mark (three million rand). This is made up of his salary as mayor, after dinner speeches and his column in the Independent newspaper. I think our new Executive Mayor will have his hands full enough without these latter activities!
The third was a rejection by journalist Simon Jenkins of a city 'quality of life' survey in which London had dropped from 35th to 40th place in a ranking of 215 cities. The top cities were evidently Vancouver and Zurich with Vienna and Copenhagen close behind and Dublin, Helsinki, Dusseldorf and Luxembourg all scoring higher than London. Rejecting the criteria that the survey was evidently based on which included crime and grime, cost of living, traffic congestion, etc., the writer offers his own 'league-table criteria'. He begins with 'crude popularity' and the net rate of increase in population. He adjusts this by the pace of inward migration by economically active foreigners and the appeal of the city to 'those lifestyle connoisseurs, overseas students'. Another indicator of vitality he uses is a count of the indigenous gay community. To all of this he adds the number of Old Masters on gallery walls, the percentage of high street premises used for eating, the number of live performances on stage per night, the aggregate of club hours open after 1a.m. and the street price of recreational narcotics. He then factors in the buoyancy of the private housing market loading the index towards the more expensive properties and in order to balance that last point (lest his survey be considered too up-market), he introduces the number of times the city is mentioned by Afghan, Kurdish or Kosovan asylum seekers wrecked off the coast of France, 'their ear being closest to the economic ground out of sheer necessity'. He concludes; "The Swiss survey remarks that the "best performing cities…run efficiently and on time" That is their bias in a nutshell. My index discounts the smooth running, the clean and the culturally stagnant. And if it fails to put London top and New York second, then I will alter the figures. As for today's survey winners, I can only plead Orson Welles in the Third Man; "Five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did it produce….? The cuckoo clock." This is a survey for world cuckoo-clock salesmen."
Doesn't look as though we'd cut it on either set of criteria, time we dreamt up our own!
Birmingham & London
Arising from our proposal to establish a City Tourism Orientation and Information Centre, (Citichat 6, 16th February) we invited a number of people from a variety of tourism related organisations to attend a meeting last week to discuss our proposals and to get input. Not surprising in this day and age, less than half of those who confirmed that they would be attending, actually came. Notwithstanding that, it was a good initial meeting when we were able to hear the views of not only tour guides but also those representing institutions such as the Museums and Art Gallery. The outcome of the meeting was very supportive of what we are planning to do and particularly of the proposal to produce a tourism plan for the city.
Immediately following the meeting I had to leave for a very quick trip to the UK on personal business and to Washington DC to attend a weekend leadership workshop being run by IDA (International Downtown Association). I did however squeeze in the opportunity to visit appropriate tourism related institutions in Birmingham, London and DC.
The Birmingham City Council has evidently quite recently established a specific group within their Economic Development Department to focus on City Tourism. It was interesting to hear that one of the major problems that they are dealing with is similar to ourselves in that it relates to perceptions. The general perception of the city relates to its "smokestack" past for Birmingham was always known as the British centre for manufacturing and industry. Over the past few decades it has however developed world class facilities in its International Convention Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Symphony Hall, National Indoor Arena, National Sea Life Centre and many cultural and sporting institutions. The physical appearance of the city has been transformed from the gray industrial city of yesteryear by way of extensive pedestrianisation, redeveloping the canal system and transforming the massive elevated concrete freeway down to grade wherever possible. The Jewellery Quarter has become an important attraction and there are some massive private sector regeneration projects and the city now really offers a great deal of interest to vistors. But still the perceptions! Now, following broad consultation, a detailed Tourism Strategy has been developed around a Vision to "develop Birmingham as a high-quality vibrant destination for regional, U.K., European and international business and leisure tourists, in partnership with the private, cultural and community sectors of the City and the region." A Strategic Framework and detailed Action Plans are in place and are being vigorously pursued with the whole issue of changing perceptions always a critical consideration.
In London I spent some hours at the London Museum which offers a detailed "walk-through" the history of that great city. It provides an excellent overview of London's growth and development through photographs, artifacts, models and often full size representations in what I would describe as a rather 'traditional' museum offering.
In Washington DC I found the innovation which we are aiming to bring to our local project although ours will be on a tiny scale in comparison! There the local council has leased to The Historical Society of Washington D.C. (for $1 per annum for 99 years) what was previously known as the Carnegie Library which is a magnificent historic building situated in the city on Mount Vernon Square. The Society is planning to restore the building as a City Museum, but as they point out, "not just another museum, but a new kind of museum - reaching into the past, touching the future, making the spectator a participant and the visitor a creator of his own experience." The Executive Director of the Historical Society, Barbara Franco, feels passionately that the life and history of a city cannot be told within the confines of one building. It is the city itself that is the museum "with neighbourhoods as its galleries and people and buildings as its exhibits." The City Museum will therefore be an introduction and orientation to the city for its visitors offering an 'experience' rather than a series of exhibits. Which is exactly what we are aiming for although, as I said previously, on a minute scale in comparison due to both the size of the facility we have and the lack of budget. Hopefully we will get the authorities to buy in and support our efforts.
To end with some urban trivia from three articles that caught my eye in the British press during the couple of days I was there. The first was a report that the Queen was to open Portcullis House, a new office building to house MPs built over the road from the Houses of Parliament. This has been quite a controversial building from both a design and certainly from a cost point of view. It has now been established that it is the most expensive office accommodation per user in the world costing one million pounds (twelve million rand) per occupant! Costs include nearly two million rand for "decorative fig trees imported from Florida"; two and a half million rand for potted plants and a reclining chair complete with a 'snooze' position for every MP at R5 000 each. From what I've seen of British MPs on the tele, I thought they did all their snoozing in the House itself!
The second was a report that the earnings of Ken Livingstone, the new Executive Mayor of London have "hit the 250 000 pound a year mark (three million rand). This is made up of his salary as mayor, after dinner speeches and his column in the Independent newspaper. I think our new Executive Mayor will have his hands full enough without these latter activities!
The third was a rejection by journalist Simon Jenkins of a city 'quality of life' survey in which London had dropped from 35th to 40th place in a ranking of 215 cities. The top cities were evidently Vancouver and Zurich with Vienna and Copenhagen close behind and Dublin, Helsinki, Dusseldorf and Luxembourg all scoring higher than London. Rejecting the criteria that the survey was evidently based on which included crime and grime, cost of living, traffic congestion, etc., the writer offers his own 'league-table criteria'. He begins with 'crude popularity' and the net rate of increase in population. He adjusts this by the pace of inward migration by economically active foreigners and the appeal of the city to 'those lifestyle connoisseurs, overseas students'. Another indicator of vitality he uses is a count of the indigenous gay community. To all of this he adds the number of Old Masters on gallery walls, the percentage of high street premises used for eating, the number of live performances on stage per night, the aggregate of club hours open after 1a.m. and the street price of recreational narcotics. He then factors in the buoyancy of the private housing market loading the index towards the more expensive properties and in order to balance that last point (lest his survey be considered too up-market), he introduces the number of times the city is mentioned by Afghan, Kurdish or Kosovan asylum seekers wrecked off the coast of France, 'their ear being closest to the economic ground out of sheer necessity'. He concludes; "The Swiss survey remarks that the "best performing cities…run efficiently and on time" That is their bias in a nutshell. My index discounts the smooth running, the clean and the culturally stagnant. And if it fails to put London top and New York second, then I will alter the figures. As for today's survey winners, I can only plead Orson Welles in the Third Man; "Five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did it produce….? The cuckoo clock." This is a survey for world cuckoo-clock salesmen."
Doesn't look as though we'd cut it on either set of criteria, time we dreamt up our own!
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