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FREIGHT & TRADING WEEKLY APRIL 2010 FAMILIES IN FREIGHT No challenge too great for families in freight ...
FREIGHT & TRADING WEEKLYAPRIL 2010
FAMILIES IN FREIGHT
No challenge too great for families in freight ...
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Editor Joy OrlekConsulting Editor Alan PeatAssistant Editor Liesl VenterAdvertising Carmel Levinrad (Manager)
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Page 2‘What you put in is what you take out’
Page 3Leaning on ‘famiglia’ for support and motivation
Page 4‘All you need is a good idea and a good team to support you’‘A united vision’
Page 6Perseverance, dedication and reliability pay off‘Creating a business future for my sons’
Page 8Patience and understanding are essential ingredients
Page 9It’s about going the extra mile – with a smile
Page 10‘A shared passion for success’
Page 11Patience and mutual respect are essential ingredientsIt’s a 'Klein' world as father and daughter serve on the same ship
Page 12A partnership that works on a romantic and business level
According to the Family Business Association of Southern Africa, around 80% of all businesses in the country are family-owned while they also comprise some 60% of the companies listed on the JSE.
This special feature casts the spotlight on some of the family-run companies in the freight industry.
‘Providing world class logistics solutions in Africa’
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2 | APRIL 2010
Name: Regan Moodley
Name of Company:Shipping & General Transport
Family members involved: Daya Moodley (founder of the business), his wife Babes Moodley, son Regan Moodley and his wife, Chantal Moodley.
Established... My father, who worked as a supervisor at SACD in Johannesburg, established the business.
He had gained much experience in the freight industry and having identified an opportunity, he opened the company working from a converted container in 1984 with only R1000 in his back pocket.
He and my mother set about creating a future for themselves and their family – and although he never placed any pressure on me to join him, as a young boy it was hard not to fall in love with the trucks and the environment.
I started spending a lot of time at the business during school holidays. My father is a firm believer that to earn the respect of those at the top end of the ladder, one has to start climbing from the first rung.
My holidays were spent loading and unloading trucks, driving around with drivers, tallying cargo – it was possibly the best way of learning for me. I learnt not only everything about this industry, but also that one earns respect through gradual and timely growth. I officially joined the business 15 years ago and I have made it my life’s mission to continue the challenge of constantly taking my business to ‘the next level’.
My father remains a great
inspiration to me and our team.
Working with family demands ... Each one of us has a role to play within the organisation. We respect each other’s roles and any issues or grievances are swiftly addressed. We do not allow problems to escalate out of control. Our biggest challenges … The industry we work in is not for the faint hearted and comes with many challenges. Currently we are finding that unaccountable rate slashing by entry-level entrants, who do not have a real concept of their costs, is a major challenge.
Our recipe for success: We place our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ at the forefront of our business, and with that comes integrity, efficiency and the ability to be able to dynamically respond to our market changes.
Our motto is: Service is our priority.
Issues on which we agree:We agree on most issues not just as a family, but also possibly as a company. For us this is about understanding that what you put in is inevitably what you will take out. To be successful you have to be willing to put in the time and the effort. All our employees, not just us as a family, have clearly defined roles where certain expectations are set and have to be achieved. We are here to work.
Issues on which we disagree: It would be a lie to say we never disagree. What is more important
though is the way we handle those disagreements and there is consensus that for any disagreement an amicable solution is found quickly.
Our business icon: We’re working blood, sweat and tears to
make icons of ourselves.
Our future aspirations: To be the best at our game. To offer our clients an exceptional service range while making a difference in the industry we serve.
What you put inis what you take out’
Regan and Chantal Moodley... integrity is key.
Name: Eric Houniet
Name of company: Excellence Forwarding
Family members involved: Hans Houniet, his son Eric and daughter Samantha.
Established... The company was established in 1994 after the company for which my father Hans and I were working at the time decided to
close its doors. It had eight months previously started a shipping division that had allowed Hans to build up a nice agency network around the world. When it closed down, we saw it as an ideal opportunity to start our own business, and so Excellence Forwarding was born.
Working with family demands... commitment to doing the very best we can at all times. One is always working harder to make it a success
as it is your own and there is also a closeness working with family.
Our biggest challenges … to sustain growth at all times. We don’t have the luxury of financial backing from a big corporate and that means getting through the hard times on one’s own.
Our recipe for success: Communication – with in the company and with our clients, and
excellent service levels. Our motto is: Straight Forward With Excellence Forwarding! Our future aspirations: As we continue to grow and expand we want to own our own warehouse facilities in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, becoming a company that offers a complete logistics package to our clients.
‘It’s all about communication’
‘
APRIL 2010 | 3
After teaching for six years, Lee After teaching for six years, Lee Aestablished the staff recruitment Aestablished the staff recruitment Acompany specialising in freight Acompany specialising in freight Aand travel in 1977 as a hobby while her children were small. It quickly became a full-time career for her as the business grew.
All three daughters – Kim, Jill and Sabina – completed their tertiary education majoring in psychology, economics and marketing and went overseas to gain work experience in London and Italy as well backpack and see the world before returning home.
Each, of their own accord, joined the business starting off as consultants and growing into management.
Working together is a blessing since we are all based in different areas in SA with each running a business unit and also having national responsibility for marketing, administration and service backed by exceptional teams. We are fortunate to have hard-working and dedicated people on board and the success we have achieved today is largely due to their input over the years.
Our recipe for success is absolute openness and integrity in all our dealings with clients and candidates. Our lines of communication are always open and quick decision making is an integral part of our success strategy. Not being corporate in structure allows for flexibility when required. It’s a 24/7 job and we never shut off from the business.
Our biggest challenge... this latest recession.
Our future aspirations: ● Continuing to offer value-added services to clients that we have serviced for the past 34 years.● Importing skills from overseas through our relationships with our overseas agents. We enjoy assisting those South Africans wanting to return home while providing local clients with a choice of talent who have gained international exposure.● Marketing executive consultants whose vast experience is needed for mentoring.● Training matriculants from
disadvantaged backgrounds entering the job market and helping prepare them for the working world.● Giving back to society and supporting our various charities by involving the entire team directly in rewarding projects. ● To become the brand of choice as provider and adviser to the logistics industry.
Our Motto: In line with our strong Italian culture “famiglia” is important to us. Our “famiglia” is a large one with each and every staff member adding value and insight. Our “famiglia” countrywide leans on each other for support , fresh ideas and continuous motivation…and we do enjoy the odd bottle of vino to celebrate each other’s success!
Leaning on ‘famiglia’ for support and motivationLee Botti & Associates
'Personnelly' speaking... Jill Morris, Lee, Sabina and Kim Botti.
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Sharing personal values with non-family staff a key challengeExperts agree – one can never underestimate the importance of the family-owned business and the role it plays in the South African economy. Coming in different shapes and sizes, some 80% of businesses in the country are family-owned while they also comprise some 60% of the companies listed on the JSE.
From the Rembrandt group to Toyota and Pepkor, Liberty Life and Pick �n Pay to the local café at the corner of the street, working with family can be challenging.
According to Entrepreneur magazine it is one of those global phenomena that can either bring out the best or the worst in its management.
According to the Corporate Shop, an organisation that offers support to family businesses, it is important for the family-owned enterprise – like any other – to have a clear business strategy going forward. Often a family owned business will maintain the same way of doing business over too long a period of time with the result that it becomes stagnant or does not develop with technology.
Keeping up to date with the market is not the only challenge. While an entity is small it is often acceptable to implement a “family management style” but as a business grows it is important to ensure that professional systems are in place that will see it move forward without losing its character.
Most family-owned businesses face very specific problems ranging from having to share one’s personal values with non-family staff to resolving conflict on a personal and professional level that will
not intrude on the spousal or other family relationships once outside the workplace.
There is no doubt though that there are many positives in starting a family business and working with family – if it is well managed. Be it the support structures carried over from the family entity to the business or the deep-seated trust between a father and a son, the growing number of family businesses is a clear indication that that family unit in business is here to stay.
4 | APRIL 2010
Name: Chrissie Du Barry
Name of Company: Ship Shape Software. We develop software solutions for the clearing and forwarding industry and have been in the business since 1987.
Family members involved: Now, only myself, but I consider my staff to be part of the family.
We are a small group of people
(only nine in total) and we have come a along way together. I have been very fortunate to have found staff who have stayed with me from the time I got involved in the business in 1999.
Both my senior managers Andre Morgenrood and JL Koekemoer have been with me going on 10 years. Without their support and hard work over the years none of this would have been possible.
‘All you need is a good idea and a good team to support you’
They are backed up by their team on the Help Desk and software development and as a team we all contribute to the success of the company.
Established... The company was established by my late husband Alain Du Barry in 1987. It was quite an amazing feat because he had worked in the freight industry for 20 years as an entry clerk and taught himself to write software. It took him several years of working late nights and weekends while he was employed full time as an entry clerk.
He was determined to develop a software system that would take all the hard work out of framing entries – something he did all day long.
When we met in 1989 he had built a good client base and I was his sounding board at the end of the day, so I got to learn a lot about his business just by listening to him.
In 1999 Alain died tragically in an accident. In the midst of my bereavement I was forced to take a decision on whether to continue with the business or close it down.
Because I knew how much it meant to Alain I felt an intense sense of commitment to the clients and decided to carry on in his place.
Ten years later we are alive and well and growing the business into something I never could have imagined in those early days.
Our biggest challenges … To continue to develop software to keep up with our clients’ requirements, which of course are never ending because of the nature of our business. However I am confident we have the best system on the
market and it continues to evolve and improve on a daily basis.
Our recipe for success: Being lucky enough to find the right people for the job and giving them the opportunity to excel at what they do.
Our motto is: Where there is a will there is a way. We try our best to accommodate our clients while still keeping our software generic enough to fit all our clients’ businesses.
Issues on which we agree: We are a tight knit group of people and we all have a strong belief that the client comes first.
I think if you have that kind of buy-in from your staff you can only be successful at the end of the day.
Issues on which we disagree: Friday lunch – we order take- aways and it’s always a debate of who will get their way that day.
Our business icon: No one person. I admire my clients whom I have seen grow from small concerns to very successful businesses today (like ourselves) and who continue to grow and prosper.
It inspires me to see people who have a strong belief in themselves and make it happen.
You don’t have to have a PhD to be successful in business, just a good idea and a team of good people to support you.
Our future aspirations: Of course to continue to prosper and still be here in another 20 years, bigger and stronger than ever.
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Chrissie Du Barry... 'I consider my staff to be part of the family.'
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Name: Maria Puzone
M&B Transport Services
Family members involved: Brother and sister team, Maria and Mick Puzone
Established...We originally began working together in 1998 when we started our company.
In 2004 we bought out M&B Transport after having identified an opportunity in the market.
Since then we have put in a lot of hard work, but have seen the company grow from strength to strength.
Working with family demands... For us there is no real demand as we tend to follow the same way of thinking and that is very beneficial to the company.
Our biggest challenges… In our specific industry, which is cross-border transport, doing business in Africa remains a challenge on its own.
Customs on the other hand
poses its own set of challenges.
Our recipe for success...Communication, dedication and commitment!
These three play an important role in the success of any business.
Our motto is: Knowledge talks, wisdom listens.
Issues on which we agree: Working as a successful team is something we have always agreed on.
Issues on which we disagree: Our way of thinking really does not allow for disagreement as both of us have the same vision. Our business icon:Richard Branson.
Our future aspirations: We definitely want to expand our operations.
We are looking at especially expanding our cross border connection into Central Africa.
‘A united vision’
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Tel: +27(11) 822-4111 Fax: +27(11) 822-4222 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cargocare.co.zaTel: +27(11) 822-4111 Fax: +27(11) 822-4222
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Zimbabwe BuzzDon’t miss out
We will be visiting Zimbabwe later this year. Contact us today
if you would like to advertise or know of companies who could
contribute to the feature.
To promote your services contact CARMEL LEVINRAD on Tel:+27 11 214 7303or JoDI HAIgH at [email protected]
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6 | APRIL 2010
Perseverance,dedication and reliability pay off
Arnold Garber... Working together to make a success of this business every day.
‘Creating a business future for my sons’For many South Africans 1994, no doubt, is a year they will always remem-ber. It heralded change for a country and its people.
It was also a time of much uncertainty. For Roland Raath, CEO of Cargocare Freight Services, it was about turning that very uncertainty into a positive.
“I had been toying with the idea of starting a company because I wanted to create a viable business future for my then teenage sons in this time where business and personal uncertainty reigned,” says Raath.
The result of this was Cargocare Freight Services, which first opened its doors for business on 1 July 1995. And much like Raath’s vision, it was a company where he was joined by his three sons Mathew, Andrew and Warrick – all playing critical roles within the organisation.
Not all stays the same though and recently Warrick left the country. His involvement with his father’s brainchild continues from afar as he now plays a pivotal international role with one of the company’s network partners in Rotterdam.
Running a successful organisation in the clearing, forwarding and logistics industry is no mean feat, says Raath, but running a family business with all of its additional potholes and potential hazards is even more so.
“If you think that dealing with the challenges of freight forwarding, staff, customers, BEE and the Y-Generation keep you on your toes, you have to really be able to dance when you add family to the dimension.
“I think it is safe to say that one of the most dangerous places in the family home of those in business together is the dinner table. A general rule of thumb is to keep the sharp cutlery in the kitchen,”
By Liesl Venter
While not a traditional family business, management at freight computer specialists Compu-
Clearing are firm believers in instilling family values and culture within their business.
According to chairman Arnold Garber, many did not think the company would succeed when they first started, but solid values such as perseverance, dedication and reliability finally paid off.
Listed on the JSE in 1998, Compu- Clearing has gone from strength to strength through the years developing an environment where the more than 60 employees have a close-knit relationship.
“The culture of the company is what makes it family orientated,” says Garber. “I have a very close relationship with my partner, Johan du Preez, even though there is no blood tie. From a management perspective we definitely try to instil the family culture. The atmosphere and the relationship between the people who work here resemble that of a family.” According to Garber the company serves four sets of people – its suppliers, customers, shareholders and employees.
“We are not blood relatives, but the family mentality exists in that we care for each other and help each other out. We are a group of people working together to make a success of this business every day.” Important to this is the concept of service. Something that Garber and his team take very seriously. “We are always working towards improving our service levels and it is important to listen to our customers and meet their needs at all times. ”
7 | APRIL 2010
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‘Creating a business future for my sons’
he jokes. This is particularly relevant when your boss is being stubborn and you can’t seem to get the decision you want – complicated even more when your boss is your father, or even worse, your wife.
But those that work for Raath agree that Cargocare has been particularly fortunate in having an owner executive who practises the golden rule of running a family business well from an early
stage – delegate early and delegate well.“Together with clear leadership
communication this has really been a key to the success of our company,” says Raath.
Without doubt two of the burning issues within a family business have to be succession planning and nepotism, the former being absolutely essential and the latter being totally abhorrent.
“How often do you see an individual rise to the challenge with a burning desire to create and drive a successful venture, only to find that later generations just lacked the fire. In reality the short-list of companies that make it past the first generation is short,” he says. “For us a critical mix between family and non-family staff members has been a key to our success. We have avoided at all costs creating the kind of family atmosphere that has made space for any comfort zones.”
For Raath and his team their biggest aspiration at the moment is to retain the all-time record profits and the momentum of 2009, which saw them increase profits by 23% in the midst of a recession while in the longer term his goal is to continue to grow the next generation through the ranks in order that the Cargocare name is still held in respect decades from now.
Roland Raath... Delegate early and delegate well.
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8 | APRIL 2010
Name: Neil RobertsonRobertson Freight
Family members involved: Neil and Brian Robertson – directorsBrian’s wife, Cheryl (accounts); son
Lyle (imports); daughter, Mia (exports), daughter Kim (debtor’s clerk.) Neil’s stepson, Fabian (exports).
Established... July 1999, having decided to go it alone.
Patience and understandingare essential ingredients
Brian and Neil Robertson... hands-on approach.
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Johannesburg: 011 021 5214-8 Durban: 031 206 2910/[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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Working with family demands ... Patience and a lot more understanding for the most part. At the end of the day it involves personalities.
We do have our differences from time to time, but at the end of it all we understand that we are here to do a job and to do it well.
Our biggest challenges … Ensuring that there is enough business being ticked over on a monthly basis and that all statutory and business compliances are always achieved and maintained.
Our recipe for success: A “hands-on approach”. We love keeping in touch with new systems and procedures (which are ever-changing), and making sure they are implemented in our work environment.
Our philosophy is simple – we try to understand the client's business requirements, and then we work in conjunction with them to ensure their needs are met.
Our motto is: Our competitors are as good as we are but we make a difference and add value by going that extra mile.
Issues on which we agree: The direction of the family business being forward, forward and forward!
Issues on which we disagree: Everyone has their own style and approach and with a 14-year age gap between myself and Brian, we find ourselves often differing on various issues, but it is important that it is never major issues.
In fact, because of our differences, we have a versatile approach to the day-to-day running of the business that is more beneficial.
Our business icon: Ourselves.
Our future aspirations: To have our offspring running this business when we have moved on to greener pastures.
9 | APRIL 2010
HB Services Hazel Briggs (MD); Vicki Nell (operations manager)
Background: I started the company in 1995 and asked Vicki, who had also been working in the freight industry, to join me some nine months later.
We have been working together ever since.
Working with family demands ... That work issues be left at the office after hours.
This is sometimes very difficult as we will often phone each other with bright ideas out of working hours.
Our biggest challenges …Instilling our personal work ethic into the rest of our staff.
Good staff are the backbone of any business and it’s important to always share the praise that comes from ‘another satisfied customer’ with everyone.
Our recipe for success:SERVICE! It is very plain and simple. It is about going the extra mile, with a smile.
Our motto is: There is no “I” in team work.
Issues on which we agree: Undoubtedly that road-freight is not for the faint hearted.
Issues on which we disagree: We tend to discuss all our issues with
the operations team at our morning meeting.
This forum allows for everyone to comment and to get clarity on the things on which we disagree. It is very rare that we have unresolved situations.Our business icon:All the women in South Africa
who despite the odds have achieved success.
A successful woman means an educated family.
Our future aspirations: To expand our customer base while still ensuring that we do not compromise our service levels.
It’s about going the extra mile – with a smile
Vicki Nell (left) and Hazel Briggs... 'There is no 'I' in team work!'
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10 | APRIL 2010
•ContainerisedShipments•BreakbulkShipments•ReefersandNon-OperatingReefers•CrossTradeBookings
YOUR GLOBAL SPECIALISTS
Johannesburg Manju Pather, Siva Pather or Mike AttwellTel: (+27 11) 679 1651Fax: (+27 11) 679 1655
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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Land & Sea Shipping
Family members involved:Siva Pather (director), Manju Pather (director), Geetha Khaki (financial manager), Pat Pather, Dirushen Pillay, Kershania Pillay, Shahima Khaki and Naadira Khaki.
Established... in June 2007. Manju wanted to start her own business as she had the experience and had been in the industry for many years.
When it was time to think of employees, she thought immediately of her family. You can always rely on family and they will share the same passion and drive that you have. Siva, Manju’s brother, also a well-known name in the industry, later joined Manju as a partner and between the two of them they have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Working with family demands ... ● Dedication – you need to put in more effort than working at a regular company, because as the saying goes, “what you sow, so shall you reap” truly pertains to a family business.● A good set of work ethics – you need to set an example to non-family employees. Family members cannot take things for granted. ● Complying with corporate standards
–the strength of Land & Sea Shipping lies in the multi-skilled family members that are employed here. ● Nerves of steel – Sometimes you may be so angry with the manager, who just happens to be your mother, so you have to simmer down, take a deep breath and work towards a solution together.
Our biggest challenges … Possibly to divorce yourself from your family once you get to work. At work there cannot be mothers, daughters, sons, siblings, nephew, nieces and uncles – we are all fellow employees.
Our recipe for success: 1 x 20’ GP of tolerance2 x 40’ high cubes of strength3 x 40’ flatracks of motivation1 train of determination12 trucks of dedication3 chartered vessels of discipline1 harbour filled with love
For our family there is nothing better than discussing rates over a pot of curry!
Our motto is: “Love all. Serve all.”
Issues on which we agree:● Reliance on each other – whether it is to do menial or significant tasks. We all share the same passion and drive to make Land & Sea
Shipping a success.● Setting goals. ● Following your instinct. Intuition is our own guide, leading us through life.● What to order for lunch – it’s obviously Nando’sOur business icon: Brian Joffe.
Our future aspirations:To remain the closely knit family that we
are while emerging as the leading family business in the industry.
As Desmond Tutu said, “You don’t choose your family.
They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.” God has given us the greatest gift; we are blessed to be part of a family that is so united on every front – Land & Sea Shipping is thriving on this blessing.
‘A shared passion for success’
Working together, back row: Pat Pather, Manju Pather, Siva Pather, Geetha Khaki; front row Naadira Khaki, Shahima Khaki, Kershania Pillay, Dirushen Pillay
'A clear business strategy is crucial'Experts agree – one can never underestimate the importance of the family-owned business and the role it plays in the South African economy. Coming in different shapes and sizes, some 80% of businesses in the country are family-owned while they also comprise some 60% of the companies listed on the JSE.
From the Rembrandt group to Toyota and Pepkor, Liberty Life and Pick 'n Pay to the local café at the corner of the street, working with family can be challenging. According to Entrepreneur magazine, it can either bring out the best or the worst in its management. According to the Corporate Shop, an organisation that
offers support to family businesses, it is important for the family-owned enterprise – like any other – to have a clear business strategy going forward. Often a family-owned business will maintain the same way of doing business over too long a period of time with the result that it becomes stagnant or does not develop with
technology. Keeping up to date with the market is not the only challenge. While an entity is small it is often acceptable to implement a “family management style” but as a business grows it is important to ensure that professional systems are in place that will see it move forward without losing its character.
APRIL 2010 | 11
Name of company: I-S Freight Services
Family members involved: Irene Slamet (mother) (M.D), Richard Slamet (son) (G.M), Ronel Underhill (daughter) (accounts manager), Soraya Slamet (daughter in law) (operations manager), Lloyd Underhill (son in law) (business development executive), Dawid Resandt (brother)
(fleet manager).
Established... Started in September 2000 and it just so happened that each member of the family involved had the specific and necessary characteristics, skills and background suitable for the position they fill.
Working with family demands ...
A lot of patience and mutual respect.
Our recipe for success: Faith, love, honesty and respect.
Our motto is: With faith, love, honesty and respect anything is possible.
Issues on which we agree: We agree to disagree. Disagreeing and arguing out your point of view helps
everyone to see the other’s point of view, and after all of this the whole team can walk away with more knowledge.
Our business icon: Our father and husband.
Our future aspirations: To grow our company in such a way that it is stable rather than big for the future family generations.
Patience and mutual respect are essential ingredients
lee botti & associatesSPECIALISTS IN THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF FOR THE LOGISTICS INDUSTRY
www.leebotti.co.za
One big familyOne big familyProven • Trusted • NationalProven • Trusted • National34 years of service excellence34 years of service excellence
FTW4693
It’s a ‘Klein’ world… as father and daughter serve on same ship
As he looks back on 44 years at sea, Bosun Rowan ‘Tubby’ Klein recalls the days he used to watch ships come and go in Table Bay harbour from his grandmother’s stoep.
Little did he know that several decades later, he would serve on the Safmarine Benguela as bosun and his daughter Cher (28) as second officer.
Bosun Klein and his daughter both joined the containership, Safmarine Benguela in October last year. Being ‘old school’, Bosun Klein says he kept to tradition by addressing his daughter, while on duty, as Second Mate. “I don’t believe in using first names while on duty, so she could only call me dad after hours!”
A career in the maritime runs in the blood for the Klein family. Klein says his father was an AB in the Royal Navy and his uncle, a cook in the merchant navy. He has fond memories of his time at sea on several Safmarine ships – from the SA Constantia to the Victory ships, the Vergelegen and Morgenster, and the SA Statesmen.
His role model was one of the
first bosuns employed by Safmarine, Bosun William Walker. “I remember looking at Bosun Walker when we received the first three Safmarine vessels from America way back in 1947 and thinking, “I want to be like him.”
Klein says that 44 years at sea have gone quickly and he would do it all over again. “I love what I do and when you love something you’re unaware of the years going by!”
A highlight of his career was his time onboard the Safmarine passenger ship Astor.
Klein recalls the Astor’s Commodore, Robin Thomson, summonsing him to his cabin and saying: “Bosun this is not a cargo ship or a tanker. The cargo we carry is very fragile. No chipping and no noise.”
Klein says when Commodore Thomson signed off in Southampton, he called him and said, “Bosun, job well done!” And those same four words apply today, as Bosun Klein celebrates a long and rewarding career at sea with Safmarine.
Safmarine Bosun Rowan Klein (right) and Cher Klein photographed on the forward station of the Safmarine Benguela when the vessel arrived in Santos in October last year.
12 | APRIL 2010
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By Ed Richardson
We scream and shout through the day until five when we sit together and enjoy a glass of
wine,” is the secret of success for Arie and Karen Tuit of Walvis Bay-based Tuiton Services.
Their customs clearing and forwarding agency handles some of the biggest clients in the area, with some having been with Arie for more than 15 years.
Karen joined relatively recently, after a whirlwind romance in December 2001 that saw her return from Australia where she had emigrated, in order to marry Arie.
Not only did she decide that Arie was the man for her after just eight days, but Karen also joined the business – getting married on a Saturday, and in her “chair” at Tuiton on Monday.
She had emigrated to Australia from South Africa, and had in the meantime returned to sell and pack up her possessions before returning for the marriage.
“We only really got to know each other after we were married,” admits Arie, who has been in freight since 1989, and has mentored and tutored his bride.
For him, it is a match that works on both the romantic and business levels. “Women are better at money than men,” he says.
“I have a simple philosophy. We need to get paid for what we do,”
adds Karen, who is a highly qualified paramedic, sport fanatic and Ironman enthusiast.
As part of the company’s social outreach, Tuiton handled the clearance – at no charge – of the equipment needed by teams competing in the African Gymnastics Championships that was held in Walvis Bay earlier this year.
Another secret of success is that the couple has clear areas of responsibility within the business, with each focusing on their strengths.
Arie handles the ship’s agency side of the business, and Karen the customs clearing and forwarding of imports and exports for air, sea and land freight.
This focus has helped the company grow organically and steadily over the past few years, according to Arie.
For Karen, this is another challenge. As one of a handful of women in freight in Walvis Bay, she says it is difficult to be taken seriously.
“But, she is not scared to get her hands dirty. You will find her in the harbour in cargo pants and boots, with her hard hat, to make sure that a client’s cargo is handled properly,” says Arie with pride.
Next step for the couple is to move their business out of their home and into the industrial area of Walvis Bay. And, as for the “screaming and shouting,” it was said with a smile.
A partnership that workson a romantic and business level
“
Arie and Karen Tuit … Each has clear areas of responsibility within the business.
Family members involved: Brothers Hamish and Simon Rudland.
Established... In 1994 on the basis of trust and hard work.
Working with family demands ... accountability, hard work, consistency.
Biggest challenges: Available capital and the shrinking Zimbabwe markets over the past 10 years plus massive inflation and ageing fleets.
Recipe for success: Consistency, game plan, transport focus, good
quality equipment.
Our motto is: Biggest and best.
Issues on which we agree: Operations.
Issues on which we disagree: Strategy and macro policy.
Our business icon: Our business.
Future aspirations: To operate an African logistics company based throughout sub-Saharan Africa
offering governments, multinationals, corporates and medium-sized businesses world class transport and logistics solutions in Africa.
‘Providing world class logistics solutions in Africa’
Local Subsidiaries Foreign Subsidiaries
Holdings
The Partnership that Delivers
MavamboCoaches RSA
CLAN PROPERTIES
Whatever direction Whatever direction Whatever directionyour company is moving, we’ll carry it forward
14-16 Hermes Road, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe. Tel +263 4 621161-9 Email [email protected] www.pioneerafrica.comFTW4708
Freight & Logistics RSA
For further information, [email protected] or call Werner Pretorius at 011–882 7300
FTW3486
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Name of company: Now Media, parent company of Freight & Trading Weekly. Family members involved:David, Penny, Anton and Craig Marsh. Established when and why a family business:The family was sucked into the business in hard times in the sixties, as there was just not enough money to pay people who required a salary!
The third generation has always had the option not to be involved but was groomed specifically to play leadership roles in the business if they chose to do so.
Both Anton Marsh (27) who now heads the freight division and his brother Craig (31) who runs the company’s operation in Canada are immersed in the business, bringing their skills in online media to the party. Working with family demands ...Humour and looking out for others’ interests first. Our biggest challenges …Introducing innovative media that we have developed in South Africa into new markets where people are sceptical about ideas out of Africa and where our company has no track record. Our recipe for success: Our company has it in its genetic make-up the drive to keep seeking ways to do things better. This has equipped us to thrive on the new opportunities that are being thrown up by the revolution under way in media triggered by advances in network technology.
Our motto is:Deliver more than clients expect. Issues on which we agree:Today is the most exciting in our 57-year history. Issues on which we disagree:The merits of vegetarianism. Our business icon:Our founder John H Marsh was an ideas man who wanted to change things for the better, whether it was campaigning for a harbour stretching out to Robben Island for super tankers or patenting a rail-on rail-off container system for ships. He was curious, interested in people and as a journalist, he was in awe of nobody, Our future aspirations:To export our ideas to foreign markets.
Relishing change in tumultuous times
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John and Leona Marsh (above). Craig, Dave, Penny and Anton Marsh.
