Well, what a year it has been. A heck of a year… After Brexit and Donald Trump, I am officially giving up any hope of ever being able to predict the future. On local soil, it has probably also been one of the most ‘eventful’ years, politically speaking. From the opposition unseating the ANC in the major metros to Number 1’s continued scandal-ridden ride, South Africans have been holding their collective breath, hoping for real change. Maybe, that’s what the…
Beware the greed factor. You only get one bite at integrity.
We are all in business to make money. It may not be your main motivation for getting out of bed in the morning, but without profit you cannot operate. However, making money and being greedy are certainly not one and the same. We recently had a situation where an appointed contractor simply did not have the technical expertise to fulfil his contract to the client. He asked us to help out. Having known the chap for some time, and…
Human resources – no pain, no gain
Jeffrey has fallen off the wagon again and his hours have become as irregular as the quality of work delivered. Jones hasn’t had electricity at his house for three days and hasn’t been able to cook or bathe, making him moody and neglectful. Thabo’s girlfriend’s parents are demanding 10 cows for damages and lobola, turning a usually upbeat young man into a depressed soul. His work is full of small mistakes he would usually never make. Kekane is moving…
Growing Pains – A tango in a quagmire
Plan, revise, execute; rinse and repeat. Almost every day, Cherryhill Woodcraft’s owner David Meyerowitz and myself spend at least 10 minutes talking about the big picture and the myriad of details it is made up of. Where is this business going? What do we need to do to keep growing? What is the status of current projects? Human resources? Suppliers? Cash flow? The list is quite long. And, there are few clear answers. That is why we need to ask…
Running for cover in Booysens
There is a drought. We fear the rain. Not that we don’t like farmers or enjoy rising food prises. It is because our factory’s roof leaks like a sieve. In fact, calling it a roof is quite generous. Its certainly made of corrugated iron and it goes over your head. But, alas it is only a roof in name. Cherryhill Woodcraft spent the first 18 years of its life in the same factory. In the beginning, owner David Meyerowitz,…