2 . How long has your business been running ?
Leonard Light Industries was initially founded in 1959 .
As Leonard Light Industries , we always had big dreams of expanding , both locally in South Africa and , ultimately , internationally . In 2015 , we started our third Keegor company , called Meltech . 2016 was a crazy year for us – we did two group restructurings , formed four new companies , and acquired the assets of another business . In 2019 , we did another group restructuring . 2023 will be an exciting year as we open our first international office .
3 . What motivated you to start your own business ?
The business is now third-generation family-owned . Leonard Light Industries was formed in 1959 by Mr Keith Gordon Leonard . Keegor is a name which is a portmanteau from his first and middle names , creating ‘ Keegor .’ Mr Leonard ran the company successfully until 1975 , when he sold the business to Mr Reginald ( Reg ) Stevenson .
I am a serial entrepreneur , always trying to develop new business ideas .
4 . What steps did you take to get you going ? · Kept costs to a minimum – we initially made do with what we already had ( for example , office and warehouse space , staff , and delivery vehicles ). · We first put the basics in place – an accounting package , customer list , and supplier list ; we updated our website and ensured we assigned the correct staff . · We reached out to our network and relevant stakeholders for help , contacts , referrals , etc . – it ’ s not about what you know ; it ’ s about whom you know . · Constant cash flow forecasting was key to our success .
5 .. What would you say is the most effective way to raise awareness of your business and bring in new clients ?
Our products and services are in a very niche market , so raising awareness of our business using traditional strategies is typically ineffective . However , we currently rely on word of mouth and our reputation in our industry . We also advertise in industry-related print and digital media .
6 . . What challenges did you face in your business , and how did you overcome them ? I experienced massive self-debt for a long time . I thought my male colleagues did not respect my experience in the finance and the Metals and Engineering industries . I felt it was hard enough to be a woman in finance , but being a woman in finance and a board member in the Metals and Engineering industry ( without an engineering degree ) was incredibly tough .