Entrepreneurs rise at a bakery
BLAGOWRIE – Du Plooy felt that she had fulfilled her dream of changing other people’s lives for the better.
It has been more than a year since Sandra du Plooy (70) started Oryana Bakery from her own savings hoping to teach her employees entrepreneurial skills.
One year since the business commenced, and employees in her company own 40 per cent of the shares.
“I started a business a year ago to help residents and teach them to start their own businesses,” explained Du Plooy.
It was officially opened at First Place in First Avenue in Blairgowrie on 31 October this year, although it had been running from her house since last year.
She said she currently employs nine people and was hoping they would start their own businesses one day.
She stressed that her business was not for charity as her employees were working for it.
“I was courageous initiating this business. I could have been at the beach enjoying my savings but now my dream is fulfilled, knowing that I had changed people’s lives,” she concluded.
Bakery manager Chris Maziriri explained that when they joined the company most of them could only bake and did not know anything about logistics and business skills.
“Four of us were just bakers while others were general workers but today we know lots of business skills,” he explained.
He further stressed that they were not in business for financial benefits. “She taught us leadership and managerial skills and we can do almost everything in this business by ourselves,” said Maziriri.
He concluded that they were looking for ways of diversifying the business.
One of the bakers Tafara Mbocco indicated that they work as a team and strive to keep the business going.
“Unlike other business owners, she [Du Plooy] understands her employees. When I started working here I never thought I could own a car and today I have two cars because of this business and I know I can conquer when I start my own business,” he said.
Details: Oryana Bakery 011 782 1293.
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