21 minute read
Local is lekker
BUYING LOCAL STIMULATES ECONOMIC GROWTH
When South African consumers buy local products, they create demand. Meeting that growing demand opens up job opportunities. Since its establishment 20 years ago, Proudly South African has been an advocate of the buy local movement in the country.
“Every local company that produces items for sale in South Africa needs customers who are economically active and able to buy from them,” says Eustace Mashimbye, Proudly South African CEO.
Mashimbye suggests that we need South Africans to have more faith in their products, and to trust that locally made goods and services represent value for money and are high-quality. “SA has talent, local supply chains are efficient, have a lower carbon footprint, and are more reliable with faster delivery times than waiting for consignments from overseas. Due to COVID-19, imported supplies are unpredictable as country borders open and close based on infection rates.
“Buying locally mitigates these risks (and that of fluctuating exchange rates), money stays in South Africa, we sustain jobs and create new ones, all while growing the economy,” he says.
Larry Hodes, a business coach and facilitator, opened the Gourmet Grocer store in Johannesburg in 2020 to create an outlet for local products. Locals who started their businesses or side hustles as a result of the pandemic, produce most of the supplies.
“Any business that supports small local businesses contributes towards sustaining the economy,” says Hodes.
Buying local may well be the answer not only to various COVID-19 challenges, but also to stimulating job creation and economic growth, writes DENISE MHLANGA
Eustace Mashimbye
PROMOTING ‘LOCAL IS LEKKER’ INITIATIVES
This year marks Proudly South African’s 20th anniversary. The organisation will roll out numerous new activations, in addition to the annual Buy Local Summit & Expo, to drive the buy local message to a wide audience.
Eustace Mashimbye, Proudly South African CEO, says Proudly South African has ongoing conversations with various government bodies to assist them in understanding and adhering to local procurement legislation.
“We also speak to businesses on how to leverage local procurement. Additionally, our strong social media presence enables us to speak directly, and in real-time, to consumers.”
In 2020, Proudly South African shot a new television commercial with renowned actor, director and playwright Dr John Kani, entitled ‘Game Time Mzansi’. It was flighted across all television channels, reaching millions of viewers.
“With the tagline: ‘Our everyday purchasing decisions shape our future’, we wanted to encourage consumers to buy local products, enable job creation and sustain the jobs that we have,” adds Mashimbye.
EMBRACE LOCAL
Entrepreneur Lufuno Netshithuthuni
of Funo Designs creates unique and innovative modern traditional “takkies” for women who love cultural fashion.
“There is a growing need from middle-class women in both rural and urban areas for traditional fashion. Funo Designs advances our African fashion identity and promotes and celebrates colours and prints that represent diverse SA cultures,” she says.
However, Netshithuthuni says that for entrepreneurs to succeed, South Africans must embrace local products more, and businesses must always strive to offer value-for-money products.
“Consumers look for quality, not quantity, and people are willing to spend more for locally produced quality,” she says.
Proudly South African’s Eustace Mashimbye says when businesses commit to local procurement through their entire supply and value chain, they boost the manufacturing sector.
Most entrepreneurs and small businesses find it difficult to access finance and markets to sell their products. “If retailers were to give more shelf space to local products, we would stimulate the creation of more small businesses.”
Business coach and facilitator Larry Hodes adds that small businesses need to develop skills like financial management, branding, and sales and marketing to assist them to sell their products.
“SA has talent, so what we need is an outlet to showcase this creativity and for more businesses to buy from them,” he concludes. Lufuno Netshithuthuni
PROMOTING LOCAL TALENT TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT
More effort must be made to leverage the wealth of available local talent to create employment and boost the economy, suggests
DENISE MHLANGA
The recognition and promotion of local talent ultimately leads to the creation of employment opportunities in various industries. In a country abundant with talent and resources, packaging the products borne out of this to be consumed by existing and potential new markets is what is needed to stimulate employment.
This is according to Allon Raiz, founder and CEO of Raizcorp, who says: “We need to become much better at productising our assets. This skill needs to be taught in every industry and every art form.” In the current economy, successful industries need to keep reinventing and evolving with changes in technology, tastes and buying patterns, he says.
Employing the youth in local businesses is another way to promote local talent while providing young people with real-life job skills, says Leanne Emery, Youth Employment Service (YES) chief marketing officer. “Interventions
between the government and private sector are needed to stimulate job creation. At YES, our business-led collaboration seeks innovative ways to curb youth unemployment.” Emery says businesses that employ young people through YES can gain one or two levels on their Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-bBEE) scorecard – a lever for competitiveness that can be used by big or small companies. This in turn aids in job growth. YES uses an implementation partner model to give businesses with limited or no capacity to host youth in their organisations an affordable and reliable way to make an impact in critical sectors. These include healthcare, Allon Raiz early childhood development, conservation, small, medium and micro enterprise development education, and digital, among others. Author, entrepreneur and speaker Nic Haralambous says job opportunities will arise when we have more businesses that are growing. “Promoting entrepreneurship as
Leanne Emery
a viable option to earn a living will be key going forward.”
To this end, Haralambous launched the Slow Fund to help entrepreneurs, side-hustlers and business owners realise their potential to build valuable enterprises slowly, patiently and consistently.
Haralambous says that through the fund, applicants with a good business idea receive R1 000 cash plus a coaching session on how to run a business.
“When unemployment is this high, there is no money flowing through the broad economic system. Promoting local talent through side-hustles results in more sustainable businesses, thus leading to a more robust economy.” Raiz says different industries and sectors that prioritise co-ordination and collaboration to increase effectiveness will benefit the most from working together. To be sustainable, businesses need to create new products all the time and work with stakeholders to cluster their products into a more effective industry.
“Entrepreneurs who can see the opportunities and create the requisite products to match will emerge as winners,” concludes Raiz.
GOING FORWARD.” – NIC HARALAMBOUS, AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND SPEAKER
CHOOSE LOCAL, BOOST THE ECONOMY
From continuity of supply to job creation and economic stimulation, the reasons for buying local are many and varied, reports DENISE MHLANGA
For many countries, including South Africa, continuity of supply is the main reason for wanting to increase local production. Local manufacturing creates jobs, and there are also savings in foreign exchange to be had by buying local, says independent investment analyst Chris Gilmour.
“While the cost of manufacturing goods in SA is high compared to China, supply continuity is far more important than price so customers may have to get used to paying a bit more for locally produced items.”
Gilmour says that for years China has been the main provider of clothing and other products, but the prices of these goods have been rising and the quality of the supplies has not been as good as previously.
“Pre-pandemic, many clothing retailers were looking to diversify their supply chains away from China to an extent, and the pandemic worsened the situation.”
Long before global lockdowns, China had begun shutting down its factories in Wuhan and elsewhere in an attempt to deal with the outbreak of the coronavirus, thus resulting in major global supply shortages, notes Gilmour.
Tshepo Mohlala, creative director and founder of Tshepo Jeans, says that, due to COVID-19, supporting local businesses has become even more crucial. “Consumers have the power to
stimulate the economy, help create and retain valuable jobs, support families and strengthen community and culture.” The brand, which launched in 2015, opened its first flagship store in Hyde Park Johannesburg in December 2020. Mohlala says that, as an entrepreneur, his product tells a unique story, while using the highest quality materials sourced locally to promote other businesses and partnerships as a way to encourage buying local. He explains that the pandemic Chris Gilmour has seen many local businesses closing or battling to survive. “A financial commitment by the government to support local businesses and a recognition of the value these businesses have in stimulating and growing the economy is what we need,” he says.
Tshepo Mohlala
“CONSUMERS HAVE THE POWER TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, HELP CREATE AND RETAIN VALUABLE JOBS, SUPPORT FAMILIES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY AND
CULTURE.” – TSHEPO MOHLALA, TSHEPO JEANS FAST FACT
South Africa’s manufacturing output fell 2.1 per cent year-on-year in February 2021, according to Statistics South Africa.
Mohlala applauds South Africans for choosing local over imported products, pointing out that buying local is a movement that comes from the people to the people.
“If widespread local manufacturing can displace imported production, more people will be employed, thereby increasing the number of VAT and income taxpayers,” says Gilmour.
He believes the government should embark on a wide range of buying local campaigns in association with Brand SA, to undertake aspects like promoting local production.
“Businesses need to invest money in new technology and factories to be able to compete with China. Here, the government can also offer tax incentives for companies to set up factories to produce local goods,” he concludes.
Going green through Best Practice and Innovation
Plascon is a leading paint and coatings manufacturer rooted in South Africa. It has been creating well-known and loved sub-brands for over 130 years
Robotic arms installed on the filling lines to increase efficiency
Strong innovation and a focus on creating brand love and loyalty over its more than 130 years in operation has seen Plascon successfully establish itself as a leader in the manufacturing of the highest quality products.
This quality is achieved through robust strategic planning, systems, processes and controls. Plascon prides itself on ensuring that only product of the highest quality is sold to its valued customers and consumers across the continent and continuously strives to be a leader in the markets it operates in. To achieve this, the company is always looking at ways to improve product quality and efficiently increase production to meet the growing demand. Plascon is constantly adapting to the changing macroeconomic landscape by innovating or restructuring the business.
Today, the company operates through an extensive network of facilities across Southern, East and West Africa, with more than a dozen manufacturing plants and over 3,000 dedicated employees producing paints and coatings, which are distributed to over 20 countries on the African continent and Indian Ocean islands.
From project work and home decoration to the preservation of infrastructure and painting of vehicles, Plascon’s superior paint ranges have become a mainstay in homes, showrooms, roads and cityscapes all over the region.
The company’s constant drive for innovation and quality has contributed to building the enormous trust in the brand that has developed over time.
Plascon’s rich history includes the introduction of many new coatings solutions to the market. It has built a reputation of trust and reliability, which defines the brand as experts in paint coatings.
PRODUCTION EXCELLENCE
A notable leap in the continued pursuit of excellence is the introduction of market-leading technologies in both the manufacturing equipment and the product technologies used to craft these beloved brands.
Plascon has introduced in-line dispersion equipment and robotics to its filling line to increase production throughput and efficiency and ensure customer satisfaction. Coatings production requires special dispersion equipment that can mix the solid and liquid particles required in the formulation of the final products. The purpose of dispersion is to increase the surface area of the particles to improve the durability, colour strength and coverage of the final coating, thereby giving customers consistent quality.
Increased efforts are being made to reduce environmental impact by minimising Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in both water-based and solvent-based coatings production. Such efforts are also concentrated on increasing efficiency, versatility and colour accuracy for a final product that carries the renowned distinction of the Plascon brand name. This challenge has introduced many new variables in the raw materials required, the special purpose additives, and the techniques and equipment involved.
Water-based products are particularly susceptible to foaming, and the commonly used high-speed dispersers are known to create these issues. In the past, this has necessitated the need for defoaming agents, which are inefficient and also affect accuracy as some of them can also hinder other properties of the final product, necessitating additional additives.
Due to normal variation in raw materials, virtually any dispersed product may occasionally fail to meet specifications. By using in-line dispersion equipment, Plascon has guaranteed that only the best quality is delivered to its loyal customers. In-line dispersers can reduce problems caused by settling during transfer – this is a common issue during transfer to and from bulk storage. An in-line disperser eliminates this issue by redispersing the raw material en route to the dispersion tank or the storage tank, producing an end product with superior colour development and consistency.
New in-line dispersion mixers ensure highest product quality and reduced waste
For a market leader such as Plascon, looking for ways to increase capacity and ensure the best possible quality for the end-user, this has been an extremely effi cient answer. Plascon has brought coating production into the 21st century, thanks to its adoption of new in-line dispersion technology, which not only processes paint three times faster than conventional methods, but also consumes less energy and generates less waste.
This new state-of-the-art system was introduced to Plascon’s plant in Johannesburg and has become the new benchmark in paint manufacturing. The in-line disperser has also changed the way Plascon formulates paint. By harnessing the technology, Plascon can now produce better quality paint faster and at a lower cost. Furthermore, the company has enhanced productivity by incorporating robotics into its new fi lling lines – machines that will fi ll paint faster and at double the capacity of the previous manual process, meaning it can fulfi l customers’ orders in less time.
Moving with the times and remaining relevant has been central to Plascon’s building of a longstanding reputation, refl ected in the environmental initiatives in product innovation.
GREEN PRODUCT INNOVATION
The fi rst of these innovations is the introduction of APEO-free (Alkyl Phenol Ethoxylates) formulations. Plascon TradePro Roof & More is a roof paint that is entirely free of harmful APEO chemicals. APEO compounds, when released into the environment, can be toxic to human and wildlife, especially marine life. Conventional roof paints contain APEOs that, over time, leach into waterways through rain and drainage, eventually contaminating the soil, water tables, rivers and, ultimately, our oceans. APEOs that accumulate in water systems are toxic to aquatic organisms. In large doses, APEOs can also affect hormonal systems in humans.
By choosing to use APEO-free products, consumers are contributing to a safer, healthier and more sustainable planet. Water, although a reusable resource, needs to be treated responsibly and conserved to avoid pollution and shortages. South Africa is among some of the most water-scarce countries in the world. One way to use water more responsibly – and save money on monthly municipal bills – is to harvest rainwater from roofs. Since Plascon TradePro Roof & More is APEO-free, it is safe for the harvesting of rainwater for nonpotable use.
Another threat to environmental conservation is the plastic pandemic. The mass production of plastics began over 50 years ago. Since then, eight billion tons of plastic have been produced. An estimated 90 per cent of that is not recycled, with approximately eight million tons ending up in oceans annually. Given the excessive life expectancy of plastic products, almost every piece of plastic created and sent to a landfi ll or dumped in the environment is still in existence. This puts an immense strain on the environment and its inhabitants, increasing the urgency to reduce plastic consumption and wastes, as well as to fi nd sustainable ways to recycle existing plastic products. To honour this call, Plascon has introduced black buckets made of up to 70 per cent upcycled material to its premium range.
Upcycling is a means by which we can reduce the amount of solid waste entering landfi lls and polluting the environment. The materials of old paint buckets are harvested to produce new ones of equal quality with a lower manufacturing impact. Through this process, carbon emissions are reduced by extending the shelf life of used materials, thereby reducing the energy and natural resources needed for the manufacture of new materials. By upcycling, we not only stop more long-wearing pollutants going to landfi lls, but also reduce environmental footprint by saving the cost of manufacturing, packaging and transporting new materials.
These upcycled buckets provide the same structural integrity with new distinction to the Plascon premium range, including Plascon Micatex, Double Velvet Pure, Cashmere, Velvaglo Water-Based, Nuroof Cool and Wall & All, bringing consumers the renowned and trusted quality of these brands with the peace of mind knowing that they’re making the most responsible choice for the environment.
Much of environmental conservation and ethical practice involves correcting ingrained perceptions and innovating so that the same quality can be provided while reducing environmental impact. Solvent-based paints used to be the preferred choice in coatings, favoured for their perceived durability, especially in enamel paints. But these solvents can be more demanding in terms of application, cleaning, disposal and, most importantly, harmful to the environment.
There has been a global shift toward water-based products, which offer equal, if not better, quality with added benefi ts including faster drying times, lower associated costs and minimal impact to the environment and the health and wellbeing of consumers. ›
TradePro Roof & More - sun and rain protection
Plascon Velvaglo Water-Based Enamel is just one of the extensive water-based range of products offered by Plascon. Leading the fi eld in water-based alternatives, Plascon Velvaglo is prized for its superior strength, satin fi nish and versatility. Formulated with a unique water-based acrylic hybrid called AquatoughTM Plascon Velvaglo Water-Based offers all the toughness of a solvent-based enamel including UV, fl aking and stain resistance, with nondrip properties while remaining environmentally friendly and nontoxic.
Also of particular concern with solvent-based products is the associated risk of VOC emission, which has become a major societal concern with VOC pollution on the rise. VOCs are chemicals emitted from production processes and common household items. These chemicals accumulate in the air and can have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to 10 times higher) than outdoors. To combat this threat, Plascon has optimised the formulations of its premium brands, which now all boast zero VOC recipes. This means that when using these products there are no VOC emissions, thereby protecting the environment as well as your home and family.
But Plascon didn’t stop there. Not only has it removed VOCs from its premium products, but it has also further engineered them to remove VOCs from the air too.
A noteworthy VOC, known as formaldehyde, also presents a growing cause for concern. Emitted from common household items, such as upholstery, carpeting and household cleaning agents, formaldehyde has the potential to pollute the air and compromise our health.
Double Velvet Pure - removes harmful air pollutants
In 2020, Plascon pioneered In 2020, Plascon pioneered paint with air purifying technology. Plascon Double technology. Plascon Double Velvet Pure has the ability to Velvet Pure has the ability to actively improve the quality of indoor actively improve the quality of indoor air by removing formaldehyde from the air air by removing formaldehyde from the air that consumers breathe, making their home and workspace a safer environment for them, their co-workers and their families. A special compound in the formula removes and permanently transforms the formaldehyde in the air into undetectable, harmless water vapour that is safe to breathe.
The reengineered product retains all of its premium quality, strength and elegance as well as its existing leading technologies such as the Stain BarrierTM to make cleaning away to make cleaning away life’s messier moments a life’s messier moments a breeze, Silver ProtectTMbreeze, Silver Protect to inhibit mould and bacterial growth inhibit mould and bacterial growth and BreatheasyTMand Breatheasy to minimise odour and ensure cleaner, breathable air.
PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY
Over the years, Plascon has launched leading technologies, providing premium quality products that bring elegance, style and peace of mind to consumers.
Plascon Cashmere features Triple Action BeadTM technology, a special additive in the paint that is responsible for the dispersion of light.
This technology ensures a plush matt finish, which is capable of hiding plaster imperfections in the wall while bringing warm colours to life and forming a protective barrier that maintains an absolute matt finish over time, even with regular wiping.
Plascon Cashmere, Plascon Double Velvet Pure and Plascon Kitchens and Bathrooms, are all formulated with Silver ProtectTM, silver additives to help keep walls cleaner for longer, improve stain resistance and reduce mould and algae formation.
Plascon Nuroof Cool has a unique EnviroshieldTM formulation with UV protection and infrared-reflective technology. The formulation minimises the effect of the sun’s heat on your roof, resulting in cooler roof surfaces. Lower roof temperatures mean less stress and strain on the coating and the roof – promoting longer roof life and keeping your roof beautiful for years. It also cools the interior of your home by up to 8°C during summer (in winter, the impact of the cooling effect is minimised). By reducing the need for cooling, consumers will save on both costs and power
Velvaglo Non-Drip - steam, chip and stain resistant
while also reducing emissions of greenhouse gases due to lower power requirements.
The Plascon premium range also utilises BreatheasyTM technology so that consumers can paint and experience virtually no odour. This means that the short-term adverse effects of eye, nose and throat irritation and headaches that often result from breathing in paint vapours are drastically minimised. With no lead and zero VOCs, consumers are not only protecting the health of their families, but also the environment.
In keeping with its commitment to innovation, Plascon has also launched major upgrades to another of its beloved and renowned brands: Plascon Micatex, now with Polycell Technology.
Plascon Micatex with WeathertoughTM is a well-loved, finely textured, exterior matt paint for long-lasting, extra protection against the toughest weather conditions and the wear and tear of everyday living. Now with PolycellTM Polyfilla Fine Crack. The filler, which covers hairline cracks and prevents water from entering the cracks thereby causing damp problems, premature colour fading or cracking and peeling of the paint. With twice the film thickness compared to conventional paints, Plascon Micatex also boasts mica for stretch and marble for strength.
Plascon continues to innovate with a focus on developing pioneering products while being conscious of its environmental impact. These changes affirm Plascon’s reorientation and refreshed commitment to focus on people and purpose.
For more information:
www.plascon.com
