Name: Juanita van der Merwe
Company: Little Green Number
Business Line: Social business focused on sustainable job creation (Upcycling PVC)
Contact: +27 (0) 11 025 7479
Can you briefly tell us a bit about yourself including your full name
My name is Juanita van der Merwe, business owner, wife and mother of two. I studied journalism after school and immediately started working in the NPO sector after varsity. I have no business degree or background.
2) Can you please tell us about your business, when it was established and what you do?
Little Green Number is a social business focused on sustainable job creation and saving the planet, one billboard at a time. Billboards have nowhere to go, so we upcycle them into beautiful reusable products. It was established in 2012, but have been running as a charity since 2002. We have a triple bottom line, meaning we focus on People, Planet and Profit.
* How did you get where you are today, and who/what helped you along the way?
When this initiative to turn billboards into bags started in 2002, it was run as a charity. This was however not sustainable and as it was about to be shut down, my dad and I was very intrigued by the concept of social business, so we decided to experiment and give it a second lease on life. I have an extremely supportive network with my dad as my business mentor, my mom who travels with me and helps me at exhibitions or markets, my husband who takes my pictures and designs my website and that is just mentioning the people closest to me. I think having a strong support network definitely helped me to where I am today, because if it weren't for the people around me cheering me on and supporting my dreams I would not have made it here.
3) What inspired you to venture into business, in particular your line of business?
After working for NPO's I have seen and felt the pressure of fundraising for salaries and that was one of the big reasons we wanted to test this concept of social business, doing good, whilst doing good business. We aim to create a sustainable solution and therefore we need to make money, we cannot be dependent on donations to pay people their salaries. I have always wanted to help people, but that can take on many different forms, this opportunity came across my path at the right time in my life, so I had to take the chance and see whether it can work to bring the world of doing good and the world of business together.
4) Did you have any entrepreneurship training or skills prior to launching?
Not at all. I was volunteering/doing mission work the year prior to starting LGN.
5) What are some of the challenges you have endured and how have you overcome these?
Changing the company from an NPO into a profitable business. We had to change mindsets, not just giving handouts anymore, but showing people the value in working for your income. The best way we overcame it was to show our staff that we are serious about running this as a company, so implementing good business principles like commission structures, SOP's, deadlines etc.
Currently our biggest challenge is selling more products so we can employ more people, we are working hard on creating awareness of our products and getting the products to the market.
6) Why should anyone use your service or product?
We are a Proudly South African company who makes beautiful, quality products that creates jobs and saves the planet. We have a Buy 1 Give 1 philosophy, which means for every bag we sell, we donate one to a school child in need.
7) Its quiet clear that you have broken ground and you are doing well. Where do you see your business in the near future?
We dream of becoming a household name and a preferred supplier to all conferences and corporates who need good quality bags. We aim to create more jobs.
8) What advice would you best give to emerging entrepreneurs who are financially struggling?
Fail fast and fail forward. Get up and go!
9) Do you think women feel intimidated in business?
I don't and I hope other women don't.
10) How do you achieve work-life balance?
I don't. Some days my work takes me away from my family and other days my family keeps me at home. I have a great support system, so I have learned to ask for help and not pressure myself to always be in control. The ladies at my office are amazing, they can cope perfectly well without me when I am at home and between my husband, mom and nanny we always manage to make a plan whenever I have a busy schedule at work.
11)What have you learned about leadership, entrepreneurship and mentoring others?
Be transparent, be honest and lead with integrity. People remember the way you made them feel much more than what you said.
Social Media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/littlegreennr/
