Did you Know #DYK: 3 Fundamentals you need to Know about Business Opportunities

Business Opportunities in 3 Steps

 

Sometimes you have to start at the end to get to the beginning.

I have always found that worked better for me. Like anything worth it, there is a price to pay. So I wanted you to know from the start what most people would tell you at the end. You can have the Open Quotes subscription for R60 per month (which is the equivalent of two double cappuccinos a month).

Stick around and let me tell you three fundamental steps to finding and getting more construction work.  Yes, I am talking Tenders, RFQ’s, Bill extracts and finding Awards. All that good stuff. So here we go….

Open Quotes

Step 1

Respond to RFQ’s Online

 

If you are in our Construction directory, you may well receive RFQ’s from Buyers when they are Tendering. You can price back via email, fax (does that even still exist??) or do it online and gain a host of other benefits.

Aside from the benefits in the abovementioned picture, you can access Drawings, Specifications, and Bill extracts. You also have our handy calculator to add your rates when pricing online with the ability to stipulate whether labour is included in pricing. You can add comments to the Buyer as well as attach additional documents if you wish.

When you are in your account, your pricing is only visible to you, so what you price is confidential but still available 24/7 online via your secure password. Pretty neat hey? This means you can pretty much price anywhere quickly and efficiently and beat the deadlines, leaving you with extra time to get life done.

Think of all the trees you are saving too! No need to piles of paper that are easily blown away by the aircon in Summer.

A screenshot from behind the scenes gives you a bit of insight into your future pricing platform.

Got it? Step one – Check!

Step 2

Be in the Know

You heard it here first!

The power is in your hands. Now you can be like the Batman, Spiderman or Hulk of finding new business opportunities.  You have an area on your Dashboard reflecting the most recent Bills that are being priced by Buyers that match your trades. From here you can price online, download the Bill and Drawings/Specifications too.  Or if you are not keen, delete the opportunity from your Bills being priced Dashboard. You can use this to your advantage by proactively pricing to these Buyers to gain new work that you may not even have known about previously. You can also contact them and network. Let them know who you are and what your Company provides. It’s no longer passive marketing, but an active approach. All laid on a silver platter before you. Go get em, Tiger!

Got it? Step two – Check!

Step 3

Knowledge is Power

The Awards section. Yes indeed. Knowing who you can approach is all important. Now not only do you know that, but you can send your prices directly to them! Exactly. The Power is once again in your very eager and proactive hands. To price, all you have to do is identify which award matches what you can provide and click on it. You will recognise the distinctive pricing pages along with the options to insert your T&C’s, notes and documents you may need to send.

Got it? Step three – Check!


Funnily, as knowledge goes, it really isn’t all that difficult or complicated. It basically comes down to converting opportunities. Who better than to do it than you? The one who has the experience, passion and drive to succeed.  So take the opportunities and run with them. Run Forest Run! Go get those business opportunities and lock them in.

Like I said at the start, sometimes it is easier to start at the end. You can have this all for R60 per month fee.

 

 

If you are keen to find out more, you can fill in the form below and we will contact you. Easy Peasy 🙂

Mail Me More Info on Open Quotes

 

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About Carmen Barends

Social media adventurer for Leads 2 Business, exploring new frontiers and taking new ground. “Not all those who wander are lost.” JRR Tolkien

Did you Know #DYK – The Art of Finding Business

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The Art of Finding Business

I think most people like to think of themselves as Artists. Or at least like to feel they are creative in some way (don’t burst my bubble). There are some people who make finding and doing business a work of art. It is done with such eloquence and momentum that it feels seamless. I often wonder what it would feel like to have that skill?

 

With that in mind, I decided to put some facts together to keep a reminder for myself on how finding business can be an art form I can cultivate….

 

Without further ado ladies and gentleman, please find your creative notes below :

 

 

 

 The Art of Finding Business

 

I hope this has been helpful to you. Please feel free to share this to any business groups and please comment on anything you utilised to find business in your industry.  Until next time … 🙂

 

If you are interested in becoming one of our subscribers, please visit our website.
To view notes with screenshots on how to use our website, please visit our Wiki site.
To view more articles, please visit our blog.

 

 

 

 

 

About Carmen Barends

Social media adventurer for Leads 2 Business, exploring new frontiers and taking new ground. “Not all those who wander are lost.” JRR Tolkien

Highlights of 2015

 

Leads 2 Business : Highlight reel

 

It is always inspiring to learn about developments that are taking place in our country, especially those developments that aim to uplift communities by providing necessary infrastructure, and that have the community’s best interests at heart. Also many projects are using innovative technologies in construction which will help to reduce negative impacts on the environment, which is something of great importance. There are also other large and exciting developments to look forward to, some of which will change landscapes forever. Many developments have progressed throughout 2015. Some highlights, which cover developments across all nine provinces over 11 months of the year, are mentioned below:

 

January

 

February

  • In February, The Green Point Athletics Stadium was officially opened, after a two year delay. The stadium boasts state-of-the-art facilities, such as a cobalt blue tartan track.

 

March

  • March contained an abundance of positive construction news, completing the first quarter of 2015 on an exceptionally high note.
  • The Youth in Construction Expo took place at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg from 2 – 6 March 2015. The focus of this Expo is to provide high-school learners with information on the many different career choices that are available in the construction industry.
  • Also in the first week of March, the Steyn City development was launched. Steyn City is a huge mixed-use development and is the largest construction project to take place in Gauteng in many years, after Waterfall in Midrand.
  • The Coega Development Corporation made an announcement early in March that a notice for an Environmental Impact Assessment would be issued for the possible development of a cargo airport and an aeronautical or aerospace industrial cluster in the Coega Industrial Development Zone.
  • A sod turning ceremony took place towards the end of March 2015, for Phase 1 (Roosendaal) of the massive Delft integrated housing project. The four phases of the development are: Roosendaal; The Hague (Phase 1); Eindhoven and The Hague (Phase 2). This development will improve the living conditions of many of the area’s residents.
  • The KwaDukuza Municipality approved the site development plans for the Ballito Junction mega mall (PPA’s 14139 and 14140) . The existing shopping centre will be expanded to more than six times its current size.
  • After much anticipation, Unit 6 at Medupi power station in Limpopo finally began to produce power, marking new beginnings.

 

April

  • The Robert Clarke Water Treatment Plant at Matla Coal Mine in Mpumalanga was launched in April, and is designed to alleviate water storage constraints, make sure mineworkers are safe and protect natural water resources.

May

  • On the technological front, students from New York have developed the M-App. M-App is “a real-time tool that monitors and evaluates road construction projects to maximize service delivery and root out corruption”.
  • An announcement was made in May that an International Convention Centre will be built in Rustenburg.

 

June

  • The V&A Waterfront was named the preferred bidder for the new luxury cruise terminal in Cape Town.
  • Thavhani Property Investments and the Thulamela Municipality announced the transfer of the land on which the Thavhani Mall (PPA’s 13674 and 13675 ) will be constructed.

 

July

  • Construction of Phase 2 of Central Square in Sandton (PPA’s 10792, 10793 and 10794) commenced in July, and will comprise a 12-storey apartment block.

 

August

  • A launch and ribbon cutting ceremony took place in August, for the construction of Sizabantu Piping System Manufacturing Plant. The SPS Manufacturing Plant is the first plant to be built as part the RBIDZ’s Phase 1A.
  • A sod turning ceremony, to mark the official commencement of the Thavhani Mall in Limpopo, took place in August.
  • A Tender for the design and construction of a solar-powered plant was issued by Telkom. The proposed solar plant will form part of Telkom’s Centralised Energy Centre Project at Telkom Park in Pretoria, and will eventually allow Telkom to be electrically fully self-reliant.
  • A briefing session took place in August for a Tender that was issued by Transnet National Ports Authority, for a cruise terminal facility at A and B Berths in the Port of Durban.
  • Construction commenced on the Botshabelo Shopping Centre in the Free State.

 

September

  • This is not exactly a highlight in terms of construction in particular, but definitely in terms of educating people about the natural environment in which construction takes place in. With the start of a very warm Spring season and the location of some construction in close proximity to forest areas, a very large African Rock Python, measuring 3.8 metres in length and weighing in at 31 kilograms, was found at a construction site at Izinga Park in Umhlanga in September! Thankfully, the snake was not harmed, but instead a snake removal company was called in to remove and relocate the reptile. Applause for all involved!

 

October

  • Sanral received awards for both the Umgeni Road Interchange and the Candella Road Project. The Candella Road Project forms part of Sanral’s “green roads” initiative. This initiative aims to reduce the impact that road construction has on the environment. The innovative design of the Candella Road Project also increases skid resistance. The bridges in the Umgeni Road project were built using an innovation construction method, known as incremental launch.
  • During the month of October, it was announced that there are plans to revamp the former Victoria Embankment, to be ready for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
    Another announcement made in October, was that of the major R1.1 billion revamp on the cards for The Pavilion shopping Centre in Westville (PPA’s 16674, 16675 and 17164) , near Durban.

 

November

  • During this month of November, it has been reported that the VW PeoplePavilion, a multi-purpose complex for Volkswagen which is located in Uitenhage and was completed in 2013, received an award from the Eastern Cape Institute of Architects. The building was recognized as one of the leading architectural buildings in the Eastern Cape.

 

December

  • December is fast approaching, and with the builders’ shutdown period looming, many developments are nearing completion. I am sure that there will be many positive news stories reporting on the completion of exciting new developments.

 

 

I hope you enjoy many of the new or upgraded facilities that may be opening in your area during the festive season!

Here’s to all the new and exciting developments that will be taking place in the year ahead. Bring on 2016!

 

 

 

 

Sources:
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2015/01/08/construction-starts-on-new-gauteng-city
http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/trade/2015/01/26/transnet-ports-announces-r9.65bn-in-infrastructure-projects-at-saldanha
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/green-point-athletics-stadium-opens-1.1820739#.Vj8SLDaheUk
http://connect.citizen.co.za/2020/construction-made-cool/
http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/south-africa-provincial-news/eastern-cape-commercial-property/7180-coega-plan-under-way-for-cargo-airport.html
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/sod-turned-for-new-cape-housing-project-1.1839617#.Vj8UPzaheUk
http://www.sacommercialpropnews.co.za/business-specialties/property-construction-development/7162-steyn-city-raises-mixed-use-development-to-new-heights.html

Medupi power station finally starts to produce electricity

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/western-cape/work-begins-on-new-myciti-routes-1.1839325#.Vj8UbTaheUk

Ballito Junction R1.4 bn mega mall gets green light from KDM

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/exxaro-unveils-r250m-water-treatment-plant-at-matla-coal-mine-2015-04-09
http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/r4-6bn-for-nelson-mandela-bay-housing-1.1852542#.Vj8WFzaheUk

Anti-corruption app takes aim at crooked construction thieves

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/north-west/r683m-icc-planned-for-rustenburg-1.1863607#.Vj8X-zaheUk
http://www.eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/18886-land-transfer-brings-thulamela-s-new-r950m-thavhani-mall-development-a-step-closer.html
http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/gauteng/n14-highway-set-for-r295m-upgrade-1.1885723#.Vj8bOzaheUk
http://www.iol.co.za/business/news/next-phase-of-sandton-development-begins-1.1889295#.Vj8bUzaheUk
http://pressoffice.mgafrica.com/richardsbayindustrialdevelopmentzone/PressRelease.php?StoryID=260285
http://www.eprop.co.za/commercial-property-news/item/19059-sod-turning-ceremony-marks-the-start-of-construction-on-limpopo-s-new-r1bn-thavhani-mall.html

Telkom to build a 3MW solar plant in Pretoria

http://traveller24.news24.com/Explore/SAHolidayGuide/Durban-a-step-closer-to-its-new-cruise-terminal-20150814
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/31kg-python-found-at-KZN-construction-site-20150917
http://www.iol.co.za/travel/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/kzn-eyes-another-tourist-paradise-1.1929556#.Vj9mJGaheUk
http://pressoffice.mg.co.za/sanral/PressRelease.php?StoryID=262171
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Local/UD-News/VW-PeoplePavilion-wins-architectural-award-20151104
http://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/116720-two-new-massive-solar-plants-for-sa.html

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.