General Archives - Page 22 of 42 - Leads 2 Business Blog

30 May 2019

Why go Green? Is it really worth it?

by Tara Hutton | posted in: General | 0

Why go green? Is it really worth it?

I have been so amped to write on this subject. I know there are folk, some in my family, who think I’m away with the faeries half the time and I live in a world that doesn’t exist, but why shouldn’t it be real?

This is a huge topic of conversation at the moment, even celebrities, like Leo DiCaprio are getting involved and are giving back. My question to every human being living on this planet, taking from this planet;

Do you want to live a happy healthy life?
Do you want to find the balance of life?
Do you want the best from life and just enough to live?
Are you prepared to give back all that you have taken?
How do you wish to leave this planet for our children and children’s children?
Are you happy?

Yes, I am a tree-loving bunny hugging green planet person. I do see so much beauty within each country and we can live to appreciate the beauty we just need to balance our lives, in turn, balance what we take from this world we live in. Let’s start being aware of where each “One Person” can make a change to improve our environment and go green.

There are several positive side effects: Cleaner air and water.

Increased productivity levels and we would pay out less for medical benefits. – Healthier eating at the workplace.
Implement environmental policies in the workplace by reducing waste, conserve natural resources, improve both air and water quality and protect the ecosystems.
Lower utility bills
Maybe if the plastic tar becomes a hit, we’ll even have fewer potholes in the road and that saves expense on wheel alignment and tyres! And less plastic lying around.

The adverse effects of not going green:

Climate change/Global warming

Bill Gates wrote a Blog on climate change in 2018, titled “Climate change and the 75% problem” www.gatesnotes.com

As Mr Gates pointed out Electricity, is only 25% of the problem with regards to climate change. (We, in South Africa, experience a totally different issue with electricity), however, we can still improve our lifestyle and our environment by starting here. If we can generate electricity without the greenhouse emissions issue and the over mining, by utilising solar panels and wind turbines, both of which are not running short in South Africa. That is already a start.
The other 75% is allocated to what:

Agriculture and its emissions – greenhouse effect. Examples of these are:

Beef farming – methane “this is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases!”
Deforestation – rain forests are being replaced by crops. Firstly by removing the trees that pull the CO2 from the air we breathe, secondly the trees are burned and once again carbon is burnt back into the atmosphere. We become unhealthy because the air we breathe is unhealthy.

Do we really need to eat as much as we do? We need to know ourselves, our blood types the environment we live in and rather eat to feel whole, rather than constantly eat for the pleasure.

Manufacturing:

Plastic. Goodness me don’t get me started on plastic. I saw a photo on Facebook the other day, of whole peeled oranges in a plastic container for protection? They have their own natural protection which they are taken out of. Does NOT make sense to me. Do you know that a lot of the fabric in our clothing has plastic within the threads? When the clothes are washed, where does the water go? Not only does the plastic that is littering the streets and overflowing landfills fall into the water ways, which land up in the oceans, the plastic in the clothing does too.
Steel and Cement, the manufacture of both of these require a lot of energy used from fossil fuels.

Transportation:

Traffic has increased, not only has this increased fuel emissions but the road rage the high blood pressure that goes with it, very unhealthy. Everything is expected immediately hence, metal trucks are loaded up high with stock which is more likely covered in plastic and shipped across from one side of the country to the other, emitting fumes.

Buildings:

We work and live in concrete buildings. When it’s excruciatingly hot we use an air conditioner, then freezing cold the heater goes on. A beautiful fireplace to keep us toasty and warm in winter, omissions. Lights are on, who wants to work in an office when it’s dark and gloomy. All these contribute to climate change.

Think of a way to use less and give back more. Each individual needs to be aware of what damage they are causing to our world and our own individual lives. We, humans, are growing at a massive rate, we want more, yet do we need more? Our everyday lifestyles are damaging to the environment as we think it improves our lives. Does it really though? We spend a fortune upgrading everything, only to spend a fortune to get away from it all for peace, quiet and tranquillity.

A lot of these issues need to be researched to develop new cleaner greener ways. The human race has been smart enough to invent and develop what we have now, let’s do this and beat climate change, have healthier living and keep the planet beautiful and be one with our planet.

So the question is: “Why go green? Is it worth it?” in my opinion, YES absolutely.

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About Tara Hutton

My employment at Leads 2 Business commenced in January 2010, where for two years I worked in the Directory Department establishing a better understanding of construction and where Leads 2 Business fitted in. In February 2012, I moved to the Accounts department where I have been looking after accounts queries and anything related to accounts since then. I have been told by many that I’m resilient, yet caring individual and good to have on “their” side. Calm under pressure, which is quite useful in my line of work. I am proud and honoured to be part of the L2B mothership adding my bit to the greater good. Should you require more information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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23 May 2019

Cheap is not always Better – You get what you Pay for

by Nazeema Sishi | posted in: General | 0

Everyone wants to save an extra rand! However, in our pursuit of savings, there are areas where we should not skip especially when it comes to building a home, regardless of the size or location, its always costly… and these days with the cost of living only getting higher, building a home has become increasingly expensive.

When we think of building a home… the first things that normally come to mind are: “Bricks, sand, roofing, tools, painting oh and lets not forget the labour.”

Anyone who has built a home or considered building a home has likely heard the term “builder grade/ Contractor grade” materials. These matertials are just for temporary use not long term measures. When there are so many details to consider, a potential homebuilder may not look as deeply into understanding what these materials are and how they can affect your home down the road.

For example: Bricks: we know for one that it is time consuming because it cannot be used in high seismic zones. Bricks absorb water easily, therefore that can cause flouroscene when not exposed to air. We know that bricks have a less textile strength and the rough surfaces of bricks cause mold growth if not properly cleaned. The cleaning of brick surfaces is a job that can be quite difficult because the colour of low quality brick changes when it is exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

Everyone wants to save these days and we see this everywhere, with our clothes and electronics and even food. However, when it comes to our assets like our homes, cars and jewellery we need to consider spending a few extra rands. We really need to think of the long term effect and whether the specific item will last us for the next 10 or even 15 years. We tend to spend because an item is on sale not necessarily because we need it at the time. Time! Yes, it is such an imperative factor, because it is something we can never get back. Let us ask ourselves, is this going to sustain me for the next 10 years or will this perish within a few months.
When we consider Building, we see that it is about creation. We create with the heart, but we envision from the mind. We create to help and support people but in order to do that in a way that is effective and long lasting, we need to be able to forecast the unpredictable weather conditions like the current flood we are experiencing throughout KwaZulu Natal.

“Cheap is not always better, you should get what you paid for!”

About Nazeema Sishi

I am a content researcher who just started with Leads 2 Business in February this year, I work in the Daily Tenders South Africa department. I am a young vibrant lady who enjoys meeting new people and doing new things. I welcome challenges and always find new ways of doing things. I am a mum and I love spending time with my not so little, very talkative son.

16 May 2019

Terrific Reasons to Hire a Contractor

by Bianca Warwick | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 2

So you want to build your own home? Perhaps you own a house already and want to modify or extend the existing space. Maybe you just want to add a swimming pool or a lock-up garage.

Many people undertake DIY construction projects without the consultation or employment of an experienced contractor. Many of these projects turn out to be successful, but can also come with various challenges.

If you want to remove the stress element, consider hiring a contractor for the following reasons.

Experience

Appoint a construction company that has a wealth of expertise in the industry. An experienced contractor will know exactly what is required for your project to be completed safely and within your budget and time frame.

Quality of Work

More often than not, experienced contractors have skilled in-house teams and external sub-contractor teams that have likely worked together on numerous projects. This provides you with peace of mind that your project will be carried out with quality workmanship.

Compliance with the Law

It would be wise to appoint a contractor who is an expert in complying with South Africa’s National Building Regulations (NBR). Your appointed contractor should know how to carry out the works by following these guidelines.

Reputable contractors in the home building industry should be registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC). The NHBRC’s vision is “to be a champion of the housing consumer” and their mission is “to protect the housing consumers and to regulate the homebuilding environment.”

Insurance Cover

Should you ever encounter a problem with the structures in the future, your insurer will want to make sure that all legal regulations were adhered to during construction. If not, your claim/s could be rejected.

Warranties

Projects are undertaken by a contractor that is NHBRC certified and carry a 12-month warranty against roof leaks and a 5-year warranty against major structural defects.

The ultimate goal here would be to transform your living space into a place that works for you and your family, that is safe and that will last for many years to come. The above-mentioned points will hopefully assist you with the decision of whether or not to appoint a contractor for your next exciting project.

Happy planning!

Sources:
SANS 10400 Building Regulations
NHBRC
NHBRC warns consumers against fraudulent use of its logo
Property24
Dial A Contractor
Durbanville online directory

About Bianca Warwick

I had the privilege of joining the Leads 2 Business content team in January 2012. I work in the exciting Projects department, following the progress of construction developments in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.

9 May 2019

How Funding affects Construction in Africa

by Minnie Zondi | posted in: General | 0

Construction is a vital sector of any country’s economy because the physical construction of the developments become the backbone of the nation’s economy that enables goods and services to be distributed within and outside the country.

Furthermore, the functionality of the designs and construction of the developments have an impact on the productivity with which other business activities can be undertaken. Thus it can be said that the infrastructure of a country influences the competitiveness of enterprises and the country’s abilities to attract foreign investment, which is important in an era of globalisation as nations compete to attract foreign domestic investment.

However, with the general economic weaknesses Africa faces as a developing continent it means that we do not enjoy the realities of the above utopia.

Construction in Africa is predominantly funded through the following four Funding mechanisms

Government Funding
The Government is spending the “peoples money” to fund the project.

Private Funding
A project which is funded by a private developer which can be a private individual or company.

Loans
Financial assistance provided by an international bank or international financial institution to the government which is repayable after some time with interest. e.g. a loan from the African Development Bank or a generous loan from generous ‘ China ’

Public-Private Partnerships
A contract between a government institution and a private company, in which the private company bears significant risk and management responsibility, and payment is linked to performance.

Regional Construction Focus

East Africa

With 166 underway projects on our website: East Africa accounts for 23.4% of projects on the continent.

Southern Africa

With 1229 underway projects on our website. The region accounts for 30.7% of all projects in Africa.

Central Africa

With 14 underway projects on our website. The region continues to be negatively affected by lower commodity prices, as all countries in the region are resource dependent. In total Central Africa is home to a few major public projects worth about US$9.8bn.

West Africa

With 66 underway projects on our website. The region accounts for 26.1% of all projects in Africa.

North Africa

With 50 underway projects on our website. The region accounts for 13.2% of all trackable projects on the continent.

Just taking into account the 1 525 projects that are marked as underway on our website out of the 6 412 captured,(with a cidb grading value 8-9. In stages between Conceptual – Underway) we can deduct that Africa requires an unprecedented magnitude of funds that individual countries do not have or just cannot afford to fully invest in. Furthering the dependency of international loans that we receive from the likes of China. This then minimizes the opportunities for local companies to make a sizeable splash in the construction pond.

The lack of funding or rather the ability for African nations to allocate more of their financial resources into construction has also cultivated a culture of non-payment of accounts. The amounts due to construction companies and a failure to make payment in time, lead to horrible liquidation or business rescue of established first-tier companies that boost the sector.

Furthermore due to the general economic weakness in the continent and a high need for infrastructure development means that we see more contracts that are uneconomical if work was to be given to local contracting professionals.

We further see delays in the completion of contracts within the scheduled times, if ever because of a lack of funds: which adversely affect the chances of any African nation attracting good and healthy direct foreign investment to boost the overall economy of the country. Furthermore, it affects local construction professionals because it becomes hard for them to afford to take the work.

Africa’s construction industry deficit is a cause of great distress. The problem of internal funding shortage and the large size of the infrastructure needs, require a lot of funding options. That we have! However, it would be great if we had ones that lessen the over-dependence on international loans because this allows excessive exposure and vulnerability of the continent and its resources.

Responsible lending and borrowing behaviour are required on the part of Africa and its development partners to avoid unsustainable external debt levels which are detrimental to Africa’s construction industry growth.

No matter what cause I pick for my topic, the prevalent effect seems to mimic a viscous airtime advance system cycle: You borrow airtime. Load airtime to pay back the service provider. Clear your debt. Be left with nothing. Then you have to borrow airtime again to survive and in the end, you have not looked after your own interests. In my opinion, the health and growth of the local construction scene by our own labour should be of main interest for the decision makers when funding the sector is concerned.

Concluding I have to admit, I would fail to propose a well developed, practically applicable solution model to the effects I have presented above. However as much as there are a whole lot of challenges surrounding construction operations in Africa, there is potential for growth. If we would just find suitable and positive investment strategies that will work for a developing continent, without harming the wealth of business knowledge, skills and labour we already have, in years to come the industry could be so well developed it would practically fund itself.

Sources:
George Ofori, Ph.D., D.Sc., Funding Construction Industry Development
Deloitte, Africa Construction Trend Reports
BDO South Africa, Saving the Construction Sector
African Business, Boosting development through sovereign wealth funds
Wikipedia

About Minnie Zondi

I am an insanely optimistic ambivert that does everything from the heart instead of the mind. Deeply interested in people and matters that pertain to mankind.

30 Apr 2019

The Difference between Residential and Commercial Construction

by Caroline Clark | posted in: General | 1

To understand the difference between Residential and Commercial Construction, you must first understand what each one is.

If your brain works anything like mine, when you hear the word “Residential” you may think of homes where there may be a street of houses which all look pretty similar from their green grass lawns and their borders of brightly coloured flowers, this is generally where you would find the consumers and generally where people would live.

When you hear the word “Commercial”, you may think of the public, attracting the public eye and making whatever your commercial item may be whether its a building or product it has to be what the people want, it has to sell to the consumers, generally where one’s workplace would be.

Commercial Construction

According to Wikipedia, “Commercial buildings are buildings that are used for commercial purposes and include office buildings, warehouses, and retail buildings (e.g. convenience stores, ‘big box’ stores, and shopping malls). In urban locations, a commercial building may combine functions, such as offices on levels 2-10, with retail on floor 1”.

A good example of a well-known commercial building in South Africa is the iconic Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City, Johannesburg.

Here you will find a variety of restaurants, jewellers, banks, etc. and the list goes on. Buildings such as these provides ample job opportunities for people living in the surrounding residential areas.

Residential Construction

Residential Construction is a far more self-explanatory type of building.

Residential construction is the business of building and selling individual and multi-family dwellings. The building unit is divided into single-unit, manufactured, duplex, apartments and condominiums. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, Residential means “designed for people to live in.”

The best example and probably the most obvious one is where you currently live,

Your furniture is made for comfort, your wall personalised with family photos, everything designed how you want it in order for you to be comfortable.

When you buy a new lounge suite for your home you do not invite all of your friends to come and test all the couches in the shops before you buy it, You test them out yourself,

For someone buying furniture for a commercially owned building they generally buy what looks best in a building, not so much what feels best. This is once again to impress the consumer/buyer.

Although Commercial Construction and Residential Construction have a few of the same factors such as the same professionals, Architects and Projects Manager involved with the design and construction, the outcome and the aim of each building being built is different.

It may be great to live close to your local shopping mall, however I would not recommend building a 3-bedroom stand-alone house right next door in your central CDB (Central Business District).

Sources:

Itsallaboutbusiness
Rennieproperty
Wikipedia
Oxforddictionaries
Redfin
Propertymetrics
Pexels

About Caroline Clark

When I am not at work you will find me spending quality time with my family. You will always find a smile on my face and a snack in my bag.

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18 Apr 2019

The Real Truth about Retail Therapy

by Marlaine Andersen | posted in: General | 2

The Real Truth about Retail Therapy

“What we’re doing with retail therapy is we’re desperately trying to regulate our emotions. We don’t like distressing or uncomfortable emotions. So we’ll do short-lived things that make us feel good in the moment” … Joanne Corrigan – Psychologist.

Retail therapy … is it really therapy or is it as Joanne suggests above a “quick fix” for when we are feeling down and need a quick boost or lift? I mean, who doesn’t love a new pair of shoes or a new handbag, or the latest perfume, right? And most of the time when you buy something new, you do feel good, great even. You can imagine how awesome you will look in your outfit with your new shoes or new handbag and the compliments you will get. BUT it is short-lived, because at some point, the indulgence is going to cost you, especially if it something you haven’t budgeted for and it’s a spur of the moment splurge. Once you realised you have overspent, then the depression sets in and so it becomes a vicious circle, of feeling down and depressed, indulging in some retail therapy, feeling good immediately after the purchase, but some time later feeling down once more when you realised you have overspent, yet AGAIN.

If you have clothes or shoes in your cupboard that you have never worn or items in your house that you have never used (we all are guilty of this, although some more than others … just think of the TV show “Hoarders”), then it is time to rethink your retail therapy.

Although retail therapy might work in the short term, it can never cure what’s driving us to shop in the first place, it just temporarily numbs the pain. So … is there a way of achieving a balance?

I have come up with a few tips on how to make the best use of retail therapy without blowing your budget every time you feel down.

Always have a monthly budget. (Very Important!) and not just in your head. Write all your expenses down. Every month so you can see exactly where your money is going and then stick to it.
When you feel down, instead of going out and just aimlessly buying, how about window shopping instead? You can look, wish for it, but just don’t buy it. The same goes for shopping online – the wish list is there for a reason. Use it.
Instead of buying those expensive shoes or outfit outright, put them on lay-by or hold for a few days while you think seriously about how much you really need/want them. Maybe after a day or two you will realise that you don’t actually really need them, yes, you may always want them, but the question to ask is, “Do I really need them?”
Look for alternative things to do when feeling down – phone or talk to a friend, get outside into the fresh air for some exercise, take your dog (or a friend or neighbour’s dog) for a walk, read a book or magazine. The options are endless and sometimes making someone else happy, ends up making you feel happy too. That’s a win/win situation.
Take time to laugh. Laughter IS the best medicine.

Life is short, yes, but if buying the shoes means you have to live off bread and water for the rest of the month, then the answer is No. Don’t buy the shoes!

So, what is the real truth about Retail Therapy? It is necessary in our lives, we all need it, but the key is not to let it rule our lives and take over our lives, by buying stuff we don’t really need, but want in an effort to make us feel (temporarily) good about ourselves and our lives. What we need to remember with retail therapy, like most things in life, is Moderation. Find a balance. Find an alternative to shopping/buying when feeling down or depressed.

Sources:

Vendhq
Fitsmallbusiness.com
Wordstream
Shopify
CampaignMonitor
Pixabay

About Marlaine Andersen

Leads 2 Business Advertising Co-ordinator and Digital Designer

11 Apr 2019

Clever Marketing Strategies Retail Outlets use

by Debbie Wessels | posted in: Construction Chat, General | 0

Clever Marketing Strategies Retail Outlets use

Many years ago, my uncle had a general trading store in a little town called Komga in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He was building his store up from scratch and had many items for sale. One particular item, a box of pens, had been sitting on the shelf, not selling and were priced at 99c each. He made a sign, wrote the word “Special – R 1.00 each”, put the box on the counter and all the pens were sold within a week.

My uncle’s strategy was visual (no mobiles and social media invented yet) but today’s retailers have many more options at their disposal. Many people are bargain hunters and the words “special” or “sale” are like homing beacons, calling us, tantalizing and convincing enough that sometimes, even if we don’t really need the item, we buy it cause we are getting it on “special”!

In this consumer driven world that we live in, we are bombarded from all sides with marketing ploys and adverts, specials, etc to convince you that THIS is the store, THIS is what I need. To draw the foot traffic into their stores, retailers have many options at their disposal and how they use them will determine if their strategies are working……

Retailers need to ensure that their STOREFRONTS are relevant and enticing, when it is a sweltering 40 degrees outside, gorgeous fur coats draped over the mannequins with lace up boots and scarfs will not set the right tone. INCENTIVES TO RETURN and a LOYALTY PROGRAM, this marketing strategy is widely used and is very successful. If I am faced with two shops, side by side, selling the same merchandise but one is offering me an incentive to enter, boy oh boy, that is the one I am going to choose, I mean, who does not want a free coffee while I browse through wonderful stuff that I don’t really need? And if buying something results in a “kickback” to me (loyalty points etc) that’s the way I am gonna go. SOCIAL MEDIA is a powerful tool utilised in retailer’s marketing strategies, promoting their in-store goods on line and even better when there is a limit to the special e.g. buy 2 leggings for R50, Special ends Monday. Goodness, best I get there right now, good price and it ends soon and I don’t want to miss out! Advertising on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and pinning your goods to a PINTEREST board is always a good idea. REVIEWS! Personally I like to check reviews and they most certainly have an influence as to whether I wish to patronise that retailer or not. BRANDS, lets face it, a lot of people are brand conscious and a brand name beats a no-name brand any day! Retailers have a multitude of options at their fingertips and in order to succeed they need to stay one step ahead of their competitors.

Leads 2 Business takes great pride in producing relevant, comprehensive and updated information in the Construction Industry by publishing new tenders and projects on a daily basis. Our up-to-date, user friendly website is a breeze to operate and will save you time when looking to increase your order book. Do not miss out on this opportunity! For further information on our services please contact me on DebbieW@L2B.co.za , I look forward to hearing from you!

Sources:

Vendhq
Fitsmallbusiness.com
Wordstream
Shopify
CampaignMonitor
Pixabay

About Debbie Wessels

I started at Leads 2 Business in April 2008 in the tenders Department and transferred to the Projects Department during the same year. I was appointed Head of Department for Projects from February 2011 to March 2022. April 2022 I started a new adventure as Content Regulator.

3 Apr 2019

Inspiring Mall Designs

by Meghan Coslett | posted in: General | 2

Inspiring Mall Designs

When one thinks of a mall certain things initially spring to mind. When I think of a mall, it just reminds me of working there. Not knowing what the weather outside is doing, I think they need to build more malls with open-air garden courts or glass roofs. But a Mall all depends on whose mind it is, Clothing stores, grocery stores, appliance stores, movies, restaurants, coffee shops, international chain stores. According to Dictionary.com; “A Mall also called a shopping mall is a large retail complex containing a variety of stores and often restaurants and other business establishments housed in a series of connected or adjacent buildings or in a single large building”.

That is the perspective of the general public. But shall we take another point of view? Today’s malls are not only about what you can get inside but what the surroundings look like. Some of the worlds top architectural firms and designers use eye-catching materials to enhance the retail experience along with art installations and landscaped enhancing gardens.
Nowadays a mall may not be just a mall. The Mall of Africa, for example, is one of the largest, to be built in a single phase in Southern Africa. The 131 000 m² mall was announced as the winner of the Engineering Excellence Award. The Mall of Africa, is part of a mixed-use development which includes offices, residential, retail, a logistics hub, schools, hotels, a hospital, parks, restaurants, entertainment and more. So not just a shopping centre.

The Mall drew inspiration from Africa’s geological beauty, a ‘column-free’ mall design, wide passages, high shopfronts, an undulating roof feature in the middle. Atterbury Property Group says “The Mall of Africa combines the latest international trends, environmentally sustainable materials and technologies. It is designed around new urbanism principles of walkable, mixed-use environments to create a truly cutting-edge shopping experience”.

Sources:
MissNadiaSingh
Dictionary.com

About Meghan Coslett

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28 Mar 2019

Directory Ranking: Tips That You Need to Know

by Sally Nell | posted in: General | 0

This won’t be a long read but I promise it will be worth your time 😉

As you are all aware we have an extensive directory that lists anyone from Painters to Civil Engineers and anyone in between, in other words – anyone that you will ever need in the construction, civil and mining industry…you’re welcome!

In amongst this vast array of professionals, vendors and contractors you get our Buyers.

Our Buyers are subscribed to our Leads 2 Quotes (L2Q) platform, aka The Pricing Platform. They use our directory to price their tender documents by sending out Request for Quotes (RfQ’s) and in turn, get to know and appoint sub-contractors for those specific contracts if and when they are awarded the contract.

On our directory, we also have our vendors who are active to receive the above referred to Request for Quotes (RfQ’s). You can be a non-paying Vendor or a paying Vendor (referred to as our Open Quotes Subscribers), both Vendor and Open Quotes subscribers will receive RfQ’s and will be able to price or decline online and view specifications or drawings should the contractor upload these.

The major benefit of being subscribed to Open Quotes is – that you will receive all award information for all Request for Quotes received! This gives you the opportunity to send your prices to the awarded contractor too! You will also be able to ensure that your directory entry is up to date to ensure that you receive the relevant Request for Quotes as well as ensuring that if anyone wanted to contact you that they could successfully.

So after some background information let’s move onto the tips on how you can improve your ranking on our directory. This just means that the better your company scores the higher it will rank in position on the list of companies (vendors or suppliers) our buyers see when they want to send out Request for Quotes (RfQ’s).

See tips below:

1) Just price the RfQ’s that you receive

When you receive an RFQ from a contractor please price it online or send it back via email and “reply all” on the email so we can get a copy and make sure that the positive response is entered into our system (the buyer can see this too).

2) Regularly Update the details on our database

Even if there is nothing to change just ensure that we know that your details are still correct so we can go update it or mark it as still correct and this will help rank you higher, try do this every 3 months or so – if you are an Open Quotes subscriber you can do this from a link on the Request for Quote email you receive:

3) Subscribe to Open Quotes and we can help you get into contact with our buyers

The more contact you make with the buyers, whether it be sending through your prices or sending them your company profile or specials you may be running the more your company name will come up and you are more likely to be remembered and this could lead to your company becoming a preferred supplier/vendor of theirs and ultimately end up with your company ranking higher.

If you have any questions or would be interested in subscribing or updating your details, please send us an email on Directory@L2B.co.za and I will be happy to assist you.

Happy Pricing

About Sally Nell

I joined Leads 2 Business in November 2011. I started in the Daily Tenders department and later moved to the Directory Department in May 2014.

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12 Mar 2019

Simple Tips that will improve Vendor Responses

by Nadine Vermeulen | posted in: Construction Chat, General, How To | 0

As the main contractor, your daily schedule involves plenty of organizing, planning, and meticulous work. In a busy world with a busy schedule, it is very easy to lose track of time and lose your objective for the day, even if it is just slight details or information that you need to obtain.
When you tender on a project (or a few), the stressful work can get a bit much, but never fear, as Leads 2 Business is here with a solution.

By using our L2Q Pricing Platform, life has become a little simpler in obtaining prices from various Vendors in just a few clicks.

Once a Bill of Quantities has been added onto your pricing platform profile, you can send Request for Quotes (RFQ’s) to various vendors to obtain prices for specific trades that you require.

Our dedicated Control List team will meticulously follow up on these RFQ’s to assist in obtaining the necessary responses.

By using the following tips, the responses you receive from vendors could be improved:

Provide vendors with drawings and/or specifications of the project.
Should a vendor contact you with regards to the quotation, assist as much as you are able to at the time.
Confirm that you are sending the RFQ to the correct vendor i.e read the description of the company, which will give you the necessary insight on their scope of works.
Keep an open line of communication, as good communication will assist with dealing with the same vendor in the future. For example; if the tender has been awarded, notify the vendor if you have been awarded the tender or not. This will let the vendor know that he/she is not pricing in vain.
Give the vendors sufficient time to respond to the RFQ (at least 5 – 7 days).

Hopefully, using these few tips, it will assist in an even smoother process to obtain your responses from various vendors, without being bombarded by unnecessary responses that you don’t need.

Feel free to give us a call if you require more information about our Leads 2 Quotes package on +27(0)860 836 337.

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About Nadine Vermeulen

I started working at Leads 2 Business in October 2014 in the Leads 2 Quotes Department. I managed all the Daily Tender Bill Requests and followed up on BoQ's for our Daily Tender Subscribers. In 2017, I was promoted to L2Q Assistant and now work with Bill of Quantities for Contractors. 🙂

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