Transformation cannot happen without empowerment. This is the model that My Glass uses, we look at empowering individuals, allowing them to grow their businesses.
When you own something and you have the right tools to do your job, you can only be successful. That is our model at My Glass. You must be successful for all of us to be successful.”
Breaking Barriers: MyGlass' Journey to Inclusive Entrepreneurship in the Glass Business
From Vision to Reality: MyGlass' Impact on Job Growth and Female Empowerment in South Africa
Key points:
• Small Business and Employment: Small businesses, such as My Glass, are recognized for playing a significant role in providing employment, constituting nearly 60 percent of the country’s workforce.
• My Glass Business Model: My Glass employs a unique business model centered around empowering individual entrepreneurs, particularly in the previously protected glass industry.
• Private Sector’s Responsibility: The interview emphasizes the responsibility of the private sector, beyond the government, in creating job opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
• Licensing Model and Empowerment: My Glass utilizes a licensing model that targets previously disadvantaged businesses, providing empowerment without charging franchise fees.
• Relationship with Insurers: My Glass establishes crucial relationships with insurers, ensuring a steady flow of claims that directly benefit entrepreneurs in the system.
• Diversity and Inclusivity: Efforts are made to bring diversity and inclusivity to the industry, with approximately 30 to 40 percent of female-owned franchises and around 60 percent black-owned businesses in My Glass.
• Employment Impact: My Glass has a notable employment impact, boasting around 500 total employees within the system as of November, with the potential for significant growth.
• Inclusive Business Ecosystem: The My Glass model is described as inclusive, creating a family-like community where everyone is part of a shared journey toward empowerment, positively impacting society.
Summary
Mumtaz Moola, the Director of My Glass, offers a comprehensive overview of the innovative business model that has propelled the company into a leading position within the glass industry. At the core of My Glass’s success is a commitment to empowerment and transformation. Moola stresses that transformation in the industry cannot occur in isolation but must be accompanied by empowerment. My Glass operates on a unique licensing model that targets and uplifts previously disadvantaged businesses. The company deliberately forgoes franchise fees, allowing entrepreneurs to reinvest those funds into building their own enterprises.
A key aspect of My Glass’s model is its inclusivity. Mumtaz Moola has been instrumental in driving female inclusion within the industry, with approximately 30-40% of the franchises being female-owned. The company’s success is further evident in achieving a remarkable 60% black-owned businesses, showcasing a commitment to diversity and empowerment.
Moola elucidates the operational aspects of My Glass’s licensing model, highlighting the relationship with insurers. The company manages relationships with insurers, and claims are channelled through My Glass to individual entrepreneurs based on their geographical locations. This streamlined process, coupled with an existing IT infrastructure, ensures a steady flow of business for entrepreneurs without the need for active solicitation.
Mumtaz Moola also shares a success story of an entrepreneur who, within 18 months, expanded from operating one vehicle to managing four. This growth not only exemplifies the success of the model but also underscores the consequential job creation – for each vehicle, at least four additional employees were engaged.
In conclusion, My Glass’s transformative and empowering business model, coupled with its commitment to diversity and inclusivity, has positioned it as a notable player in the South African economy. The company’s impact extends beyond mere economic contributions, fostering job creation, community satisfaction, and empowerment on a significant scale.