for excellence in whatever they abroad, for lots of rest and recovery Gloria Veale-De Villiers is the founder
produce, the people working for Om and design inspiration. of Office Focus, a medium-range
Moodley Architects are very involved corporate entity that aims to provide
in community projects that they do Future business plans? a complete office solution tailor-
pro bono. The company also runs a Lots! We are actively engaged in made for the corporate environment,
training section to empower students the research into alternative energy both in the private and public sector.
from tertiary institutions and help them provision and new low-cost building With offices in both Cape Town and
to gain experiential training as part of technology for the South African Johannesburg, Office Focus supplies
their courses. context. We are also looking at ways companies of varying sizes with office
of expanding our commitment to serve furniture and related accessories and
Tell us about your role in the the community in a more realistic also provides office-space solutions,
business and outside of it. way by addressing the needs of designs and make-overs in step with
I am involved with general and project disadvantaged communities. modern trends. The company counts
management as well as research. I am national ministries, local government
also involved in education as I lecture What words of wisdom do you departments, parastatals and private
to architectural technology students at have for other business leaders? companies among its clients.
the Durban University of Technology. After 20 years of entrepreneurship,
I have come to understand that You founded Office Focus on a
What challenges do you face in success doesn’t just fall into your lap. shoe string budget...
your industry? Success is achieved through hard work, Yes, quite. After the office-furniture
Our biggest challenge is the acquisition determination and commitment to retail store I managed for just over five
P
of projects, both from the private core values. You can only truly enjoy years was liquidated, I founded Office
and public sectors. We’re also facing sustained success when it is the result Focus. I was armed with R15 000 as
B
a situation where some practitioners, of hard work. seed capital, a loyal client base, passion
F
perhaps due to the current and knowledge and two partners.
|
economic situation, reduce their fees Your message to Madiba?
b
substantially, thereby harming the To our revered former President, What role do you play?
rest of the profession. That has also we live by your simple philosophy of I play diverse roles, from planning
u
brought about its challenges. sharing, forgiving and working hard deliveries to planning cash flow and
s
for our nation to prosper. We hope we inspecting sites, I love getting my
i
How have you weathered the could one day meet with you in person hands dirty! My main role is rainmaker,
n
economic downturn? – it is one of our biggest dreams. We which means that I have to make
e
With some difficulty. But with prudent would also like to be an integral part sure we have deals in order to sustain
ss p
financial control we have managed to of your organisation, which helps ourselves and access to stock.
retain all members of our staff and communities to become productive
have not had to retrench anyone, as and strong and work together for the What challenges do you face in
many other practices have had to do. common cause of making South Africa your industry?
e
a paradise for all of its people. Monopolisation by the bigger role
How has being a member of the players, lack of buying power and
o
Progressive Business Forum access to product. Cheap imports as a
p
added to your business? direct result of globalisation are a huge
l
The PBF runs fantastic empowerment threat to our sustainability and jobs.
e
programmes for young entrepreneurs
and is an ideal way for us to network How have you approached the
with people and service providers economic downturn?
across the business spectrum. The last year has been tough. But we
placed ourselves strategically to target
What motivates you? specific sectors at certain times during
My passion is to produce functional the year, thus maximising our order
and affordable yet aesthetically book through specific marketing ploys.
appealing architectural designs. Due We didn’t only think out of the box,
to the nature of our work, we come we simply blew it up! Internally we are
up against new challenges every day. embarking on an ongoing cost saving
However, thanks to our experience exercise to ensure we secure our jobs.
and expertise, I am motivated and We have learnt many valuable lessons
able to overcome every challenge. during these extreme times.
Do you get time off? And how do How has being a member of the
you relax? Progressive Business Forum
Between running a successful practice added to your business?
and lecturing, I don’t get much time Networking is one of the most useful
off. But when I do, I try to spend as tools for growth and access to
much time with my family, travelling information. The PBF has certainly
extensively to locations here and
Gloria Veale-De Villiers
provided both as value add.
109
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164