National Seed Event

Last Wednesday (26^th February 2015), Agri Pro Focus, in collaboration with

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Uganda Seed Trade Association(USTA),Bioversity International, USAID, Farmer’s Media, and Uganda National Famer’s Federation,  held the annual National Seed Event at the Kati Kati grounds in Kampala. The event, only the second, whose objective was to increase access and utilization of quality seed for improved livelihoods, was the perfect showcase of the various players in Uganda’s seed industry.

From nursery bed dealers, to seed growers, and even agricultural input deallers, every aspect of crop cultivation was on display. Participants were each given an opportunity to introduce their products for the public to gauge.

What you probably heard about reighning Miss Uganda’s passion for farming is no lie, Leah Kalanguka together with her runners up, Princess Tina, and Ibyara Akal, could be seen taking tours around each and every stall.

There was a host of exhibitors, among whom included, Pelum Uganda, Simlaw Seeds, Victoria Seeds, Agromax Uganda Ltd, Grow More Seeds & Chemicals Ltd, Fica Seeds, East Africa Seeds, Steel & Tube Industries.

At the stall of Agricawards Uganda, there was a call for visitors to nominate individuals and organizations for the upcoming annual agricultural awards under categories such as best extension worker, agricultural journalist, and agribusiness enterprise.

On the whole, it was a successful event, with my only disappointment being the absence of any serious banking institutions. Besides pride microfinance, whose representatives knew nothing about the agricultural credit facility, there was no other financial institution in sight to provide visitors with advice on financing options that are available.

Invited guests, participants, and visitors were treated to a business cocktail where there was an opportunity to network and create linkages.

National Seed Event

Last Wednesday (26^th February 2015), Agri Pro Focus, in collaboration with

Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM), Uganda Seed Trade Association(USTA),Bioversity International, USAID, Farmer’s Media, and Uganda National Famer’s Federation,  held the annual National Seed Event at the Kati Kati grounds in Kampala. The event, only the second, whose objective was to increase access and utilization of quality seed for improved livelihoods, was the perfect showcase of the various players in Uganda’s seed industry.

From nursery bed dealers, to seed growers, and even agricultural input deallers, every aspect of crop cultivation was on display. Participants were each given an opportunity to introduce their products for the public to gauge.

What you probably heard about reighning Miss Uganda’s passion for farming is no lie, Leah Kalanguka together with her runners up, Princess Tina, and Ibyara Akal, could be seen taking tours around each and every stall.

There was a host of exhibitors, among whom included, Pelum Uganda, Simlaw Seeds, Victoria Seeds, Agromax Uganda Ltd, Grow More Seeds & Chemicals Ltd, Fica Seeds, East Africa Seeds, Steel & Tube Industries.

At the stall of Agricawards Uganda, there was a call for visitors to nominate individuals and organizations for the upcoming annual agricultural awards under categories such as best extension worker, agricultural journalist, and agribusiness enterprise.

On the whole, it was a successful event, with my only disappointment being the absence of any serious banking institutions. Besides pride microfinance, whose representatives knew nothing about the agricultural credit facility, there was no other financial institution in sight to provide visitors with advice on financing options that are available.

Invited guests, participants, and visitors were treated to a business cocktail where there was an opportunity to network and create linkages.

Concentrate On Your Core Business Function

In the taxi on my way to work today, I chose to take the back seat. It has nothing to do with the fact that back in school, I was always a back bencher, I wish it did though! My reason is quite simple, the loud sound systems of most taxis are strategically positioned at the front, next to the driver, for his enjoyment of course. Then there will also be those days when you are blessed with a chatty driver who will insist on you contributing to his thoughts on the ‘faults’ of other road users that he encounters. Don’t get me wrong, a simple greeting and exchange of pleasantries is always welcome, but let it stop at that, I have way too much to catch up with in my chamber of thought.

So on this particular morning, taking precaution, I settled in at the back, far away from the already blaring radio speaker. Soon the taxi was full and everybody went about scrawling through their phones. Music, email, videos, you name it, this taxi was filled with the mobile millennials and I was glad that they all had the supporting accessories to ensure their own, self’s, personal, individual (…and I could go on!) engagement. I just can’t stand a public transport user who plays their, (usually cheap) sound devices at maximum volumes with no regard for other travelers’ privacy, but that’s an entirely different story for another day.

So along the way, this lady seated right in front of me, to gets to her stop and frantically endeavors to have the taxi attendant notify his boss to stop the vehicle. The music loud as ever, his head wandering out of the window for the next passenger, her screams go unnoticed. Its a few meters off her desired stop before we come to a halt, and the anger was evident on her face. She promised never to board this particular taxi again. I have made (to myself), the exact same vow on a number of occasions, all it ever achieves is elevate my urge to become a car owner.

If you are in the business of serving people like every single one of us all, please pay close attention to some key incidents in this. The taxi, the radio, the passenger’s call for a stop, and the taxi tout’s attention on the outside world.

It is these incidents that form the theme of my topic; core business functions.

Every business venture out there is characterized by distinct features and functions, the core function of a taxi, or any other transportation service is simply that; transportation. That for a security company, is that; security, that for saloon is that; hair care. Many business people, in a bid to go the extra mile, find themselves getting drawn into activities that not only add no form of value to their customers, but make their services more costly, less profitable (to themselves), and in some cases, drive potential clients away.

Take this taxi tout for example, all that we as his clients ask is for him to get us to our destination, safe and in time. I have never encountered a public transport passenger, in their right mind, complaining that a particular taxi lacks a functional radio. I have however heard many complain about loud radios, uncomfortable chairs, the delays along the way, reckless driving and many other issues.

This leads us to the moral of the story today: what is the core function of your business.

For most, they are quite obvious as mentioned earlier, but for others, you would need to do some self-contemplation before learning what exactly it is, you might even need to ask you clients to help you identify them.

Once you have successfully identified your core business functions, shift your focus towards achieving and impressing in these fields.

A saloon owner, who in a bid to distinguish herself from the competition, shifts her focus from styling client’s hair in the trendiest way possible, to say, offering digital television to waiting clients, or head massages (I have never understood that one, I came over for a bloody haircut, and now you are massaging my head!), is plainly getting it wrong.

Interestingly enough, all that this serves to do scale up your expenditures or make your services more costly. I would prefer to visit a barber who knows how to style my hair, even if I have to wait on him with no form of entertainment. Once again, I have never encountered a client at a saloon complaining about the lack of some form of entertainment, if ever they do, have them visit a video hall as they wait!

This should however not be confused with value addition and exquisite customer care. Take the taxi tout for example, added value and increased satisfaction for his passengers can be achieved by regularly servicing his vehicle, replacing worn shock absorbers, washing his vehicle regularly, and driving carefully. For the saloon owner, it could be offering training for staff to increase their skill levels, ensuring safety through sterilizing equipment and offering a simple wash after the haircut. (Notice the relationship with the core function.)

A guiding factor in deciding what to do to add value for your clients is to start by identifying your core business function, and them asking yourself what you can do to better you customers’ experience in regard to that function. As a teaser for you, try to identify many random businesses, identify their core business functions, and then come up with ideas on increasing satisfaction and adding value, for those particular business, answer this in the comments section.

@WoofyMatt

Investment Opportunities Around You-Dr. Maggie Kigozi

 The Global Business Labs-Uganda on 6^th February 2015, held a business symposium tagged ‘identifying business opportunities around you’. The fairly attended seminar took place at Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences, and started a few minutes after the advertised time (3; 00 pm). It was hosted by the much respected Pepsi Uganda director, Dr. Maggie Kigozi.

In her power point presentation, Dr. Kigozi tasked the audience that was made up of university students and aspiring youth entrepreneurs, to figure out what kind of entrepreneurs they were –the born or made entrepreneurs.

Using the example of her father who served in the civil service for 60 years, she stressed that in today’s Uganda, jobs, even in the public service , are no longer a given, and cannot be depended upon.

Quoting Mr.  Charles Ocici the executive director, Enterprise Uganda, who put the failure figure for Ugandan business startups, at 85%, she advised the youth to seek knowledge, and invest in business ventures for which they bear a passion.

Joining the bandwagon of those calling for the youth to embrace vocational skills, she noted that the most sought after individuals in Europe and the world over, are plumbers and electrical engineers because of their hands on technical skills.

The youth were warned not to shy away from formal business registration sighting taxation as a hindrance, saying that taxes cannot be charged unless profits are being realized.

They were also advised to properly set their priorities, with emphasis on their core business activities. Prof Kigozi didn’t run short of examples to draw from, this time using herself as one. She recently overcame the procrastination, going into large scale agriculture after shelving the idea for years owing to simple hindrances. Following her interaction with Mrs. Julian Adyeri Omalla of Delight Uganda, the manufacturers of Cheers fruit juice, whose vast farm land lacked basic accommodation to house her, she decided not to let the unavailability of accommodation on her own land, delay her plans. Plans for her first harvest are now in high gear, even without the accommodation structures that she allowed to hold her back all along.

In her presentation of the various opportunities that one could invest in, she sampled the service sectors of education, citing the examples of Lawrence Mukiibi and Dr. J.C Muyingo, tourism, where she regretted the absence of a functional city tour service for international visitors.

Forget the popular belief that the entertainment industry is a nuisance, Prof Kigozi encouraged those with talent (….and I join her to emphasize, ‘...with talent’), like her own son Navio, to cash in on the various talents they have. Warning that this particular sector is talent based, she called on those who can’t do mainstream entertainment to reap from entertainment support services such as  events management, equipment hire, video and audio production, to mention a few. 

Agriculture was also cited as an area with potential with a call for the young generation to think towards mechanization and value addition. Uganda is blessed with good climate and fertile soils and these, according to her, should not go to waste. There was mention of the vast opportunities in livestock farming, fisheries, and forestry, where she expressed concern about the massive deforestation going on in the country today, and wondered what would be left for future generations. 

Following this was a presentation on the various barriers and hindrances to investment and entrepreneurship such as poor infrastructure, bureaucratic registration procedures, with ideas on how to overcome such obstacles.

While presenting the opportunities in the energy sector, focus was placed on the recently discovered oil and gas which are bound to create jobs and increase business activities in particular areas, where entrepreneurs should rush to provide goods and services. Regretting the lack of local investors to exploit Uganda’s vast minerals, she called upon the youth to look back at this sector when they have amassed reasonable capital.

While responding to questions put forward by the audience, advised against the #Tusabagov’tetuyambe, i.e. waiting on the government for all kinds of assistance. Loans are available, but the few thousands that will be lucky enough to benefit from them are nothing compared to the millions in need of financing. She therefore asked those in attendance to look for other forms of financing such as soft loans from friends and family, but with caution and honesty. Still on financing, she advised budding entrepreneurs to maintain a positive credit record , as a tainted record will always come back to haunt those who default on credit capital. 

She called on the youth to shun extravagance in their lives by opting to invest the money they would have used to fund luxurious graduation and wedding parties. There were also calls for aspiring entrepreneurs to make use of available information resources and guidance from government agencies and organizations such as Uganda Investment Authority (which she said, now has a fully-fledged SME department), Enterprise Uganda, Skilling Uganda,

In all, it was a well-organized event and at the end of it, the audience was invited to participate in different entrepreneurship competitions such the Anzisha Prize as they munched on light snacks and interacted with one another. I am looking forward to the next meet where youthful, like-minded individuals will get together to discuss, not politics, unemployment or gossip, but entrepreneurship and investment!

Forever Living, A Scam Or The Real Deal?

Forever Living, A Scam Or The Real Deal?

Coming a few months after the sudden collapse of Telex Free, an online “marketing” firm which asked unsuspecting individuals to invest huge sums of money on the promise of getting impractical returns, my interview with Forever Living’s Matthew Leach could not have come at a better time.

I realized much later that his move to take charge of our appointment right from the very start (never mind that it was I who reached out to him), was all part of a wider set of occupational tactics picked from his involvement in multi-level marketing over the years.

While on the phone, prior to the actual meeting we had exchanged greetings and it was then that I realized from the “muzungu” accent that I would be dealing with a foreigner, so I had to up my seriousness. I agreed to meet him at a quiet coffee shop just next to the newly built Acacia Mall in Kisimenti, at five the next day. As I was pacing to the venue on that chilly Tuesday evening, his phone call came as no surprise; he had arrived and was seated at table nine patiently waiting on me. Remembering to apologize for my late arrival, I took a seat and the interview got underway.

A professional nutritionist and fitness instructor, Matthew’s engagement to Forever Living can be likened to a not-so-secret family recipe passed down from one generation to another. While growing up and still under the care of his parents, Matthew’s brother suffered regularly bouts of asthma and eczema, which drove his parents to give the products a try. Encouraged by the positive results and the business side to it, they stuck with the products and later incorporated their children into the program.

Founded in 1978 by current C.E.O, Rex Maughan, Forever Living Products International, Inc. (FLPI) is an Arizona-based multi-level marketing company that sells aloe vera-based drinks and bee-derived cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and personal care products.

Responding to the comparison I made earlier, he had this to say. “The kind of business that Forever Living is involved in, is in no way similar to the dupery that many ignorant Ugandans were subjected to under the Telex Free scam.” He was quick to point out the differences between the two: starting with the fact that one is fully registered and legally permitted to operate in Uganda and the over 160 countries it exists. He also made mention of the fact that while Telex Free barely lasted a year, Forever Living boosts of a 36 year history and is growing its over 9.5 million user and distributor base rapidly.

A major point of comparison that was drawn between FLPI and illegal pyramid schemes is that its participants are said to be rewarded primarily for recruiting new members to the organization, rather than for selling products to genuine end-users, a practice synonymous with Ponzi schemes.

After only a year, Matthew was earning in the excess of 1000 USD every week and he decided to take things to the next level by exploring the prospects of a virgin African market.  Two weeks in Uganda is all it took for him to make up his mind about what he wanted to do, and where. He came back immediately after returning home to sale off all his belongings and say his good byes’.

After launching in Uganda, and barely two years later, in Kenya, Matthew set off on his way to South Africa where he spent a year growing his network.

True to the saying, east or west, home (Uganda in this case) is best, Matthew’s journey has seen him explore the African continent and Uganda in particular. He is set to walk his Ugandan bride down the aisle later this year. Tina’s success as a protégé under Matthew’s guidance ,despite her being a professional lawyer,  laid  proof to his later assertion that just about anybody can succeed at multi-level marketing, -all it takes is the visionary guidance of a determined sponsor.

Pretending not to be distracted by its endless buzzing, I insisted that he answer his phone, to allow me clear my thoughts from the being consumed into what now seemed like an attractive way to make a living.

“Ah, that was a young corporate I met last evening. She’s expecting her second baby and isn’t happy where she works. I opened her eyes to the possibility of limitless returns and financial freedom.

Look Matthew(referring to me),” he was quick to add, “...unlike all those scams out there, what Forever Living offers is an opportunity for anybody who knows anybody to earn clean, residual income with an unconditional money back guarantee. Even if I chose to stop working this very moment, I would continue earning and so would my children and family, after my death. I have business in about 19 countries, some of which I only discovered the other day.

Who are the majority of your clients I inquired? “Our ideal client is anybody breathing; tall, short, black, white, basically anybody with a desire for better health, longer life, and money. One doesn’t have to be sick to use our products, there is something for everyone.”

According to Wikipedia, FLPI launched its Forever Bee products—a dietary supplement line consisting of royal jelly, bee pollen, bee propolis, and pure honey, in 1983. The company later expanded its product line to include dietary supplements consisting of aloe combined with vitamins, ginseng, minerals, fish oils, garlic, and other substances.

The company now also markets various personal care and household products made from aloe, including lotions, creams, soaps, hair care products, deodorant, aftershave, lip balm, toothpaste, colognes and perfumes, laundry detergent, and a burn salve.

It’s not a rose bed as one may choose to think, because of the freedom associated with multi-level marketing many people fail to strike the perfect balance and end up devoting insufficient time to their work. It is those who create the false impression that this is a business not cut out for everyone. Matthew however pointed out that it is and has always been part of his strategy to sit down with his those under his patronage and offer training and guidance for them to be able to maximize their full potential.

Under the Multi-level marketing (MLM) model, also referred to as network or referral marketing, the sales force is compensated not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of the other individuals that they recruited under them. This recruited sales force is referred to as the participant's "downline", and can provide multiple levels of compensation.

Forever Living Products International , just like many other companies using Multi Level Marketing models have been frequently subjected to criticism and lawsuits mostly arising from their similarity with illegal pyramid schemes, the cult-like behavior, product price fixing , high initial entry costs (for the marketing kit and first product purchases), and their emphasis on recruitment of others over actual sales. Also part of the criticism is the fact that aloe vera products and plants are nowadays locally available (many grow them in their back yards and can simply snap a leaf off and squeeze the gel out), so it is difficult to see the business sense in it.

However, logically speaking there are a few thought provoking pointers that I reckon would support a fair conclusion to the question about FLPI’s case.

Firstly, if there was anything phony about their operations Forever Living would not have withered through a series of hard economic times to exist all these years. It also would have never existed among the world’s most “successful” and highly regulated economies such as the United States and the UK. Plus, for an entirely debt free company, that only last year recorded a sales turnover in the excess of 2.8 BILLION USD, they seem to have their financials  in order and can’t therefore be faulted in that regard.

The existence of an unconditional 60 day money back guarantee across the entire range, if a buyer is not satisfied with the product is in place to avert cases of uninformed purchases and fleecing. It is therefore hard to believe that they would have been able to enjoy the kind of success they have seen even with such options on the table, if the products were not superior.

I am also a subscriber to the principal of common sense, and judging from the diverse array of respected professionals they have been able to enroll as sellers, distributors and users overtime, one would be at distinct odds to write off all these as brainwashed.

But then I am drawn to wonder, If at all their products are significantly superior to the more readily available , and cheaper options, why then are they unwilling to invest in reputable independent research  to prove those claims. Why the secrecy regarding actual contents of their vitamins and minerals even with the existence of patents and copyright laws.

I happened to chance on a failed pitch by an unfortunate rookie sales representative during one of my recent taxi journeys. Her seemingly enlightened target went to extreme lengths schooling her about the products she was attempting to sale. When she spoke of her sponsor’s fortunes to back her claims about its business case, he was on hand to clarify that it was only those at the top who stood to benefit while she and her like-minded colleagues at the bottom, would naively continue toiling to grow their sponsor’s incomes.

Curious on how he would go about a first time meeting with a random potential client, Matthew envisaged me as that potential client and then went ahead to casually introduce himself. He skillfully eased me into a conversation about my “daughter” after glimpsing at her picture as a screen saver on my phone (for the record, she is my niece).We were soon joking about her smile and the silly statements she is found of making, plus that discomforting skin rash she catches every now and then . That was shortly followed by an aptly presented pitch on how a product he was familiar with would help solve the problem. Before I knew it, we were exploring the additional financial benefits of using the products and exchanging contacts. According to Matthew, there’s nothing to lose from pitching to a total stranger, friend or family member. The worst that could happen is someone respectfully saying they are not interested in the idea, at which point you offer them your number and close by saying, “Thank you for your time, please think about it some more and if you change your mind or know somebody interested in making some money, have them get in touch with me.”

Ignoring the possibility that it could have been a marketing ploy, I once overheard my cousin on the phone delivering a sermon about a particular product she had discovered.

“I use the gel and propolis cream with amazing results. I had a bad case of reoccurring spots, none of those mainstream products worked and I mean nothing!! The propolis cream did the job! My skin feels soft, it took the oily shine away. The deodorant is amazing! As for the prices I think you can buy cheap similar stuff but the question is, do they work? I am self-employed and make a good side earning selling these products, I have made every penny. I went to a party, bought sum stuff and told my friends and family about them and made my money back.”

Among the benefit associated with Forever Living products is the car plan scheme and global travel annually, in the most luxurious location, all fully paid by the organization. “Tina had never been outside Uganda, but thanks to Forever Living, coupled with her hard work, she has been to South African, United Kingdom and Hawaii in the short time she has been working.” Matthew’s face lights up as he jokes about how easy it has been for her to grow her network. “Her friends are always asking what she uses to get her skin looking like it does, she is a product of the product!”

Matthew is in the final stages of opening the doors to another fruit of his hard work with Forever Living Products; The Marafiki Safari, a tours and travel company complete with accommodation services. He and a number of friends are also starting a charity organization whose core objective will be to save the Queen Elizabeth National Park from environmental degradation and wildlife poaching.

FLPI's products are sold through online distribution chains by the company's network of independent distributors in over 160 countries around the world. Accordingly, intending members can only join under a sponsor, creating a parent child relationship which demands full cooperation between sponsors and their down lines.

Simply translated, you have to support those below you, in order to grow yourself.

Given all the above, what you and I have been subjected to in the past is no more than a rollercoaster of unfounded personal opinions and isolated cases of success or failure, (instead of a well-argued case backed by scientific and statistical facts, for or against). Mine is therefore a personal conclusion based on the contents of this particular piece:

·       Multi-level marketing is very legal and so are the activities of Forever Living international.

·       This kind of business is actually rewarding.

·       Even as much as anybody can try it out, not everybody is cut out for it.

·       One requires to work hard and be dedicated to realize some benefit.

·       Forever Living products have cured a number of ailments over the years.

Matthew’s word of advice to those willing to join is to pick what product they want to deal from the vast array, and to realistically align ones expectations with realist .He goes on to recommend that those who are interested should give it at one year of consistency before they can make up their minds on perusing it full time. For those already involved, Matthew’s advice is to talk to as many people as possible and seek guidance from their sponsors.  Anybody who might be interested in giving it a try can get in touch with Matthew Leach on +257775941189 or send an email to matt@absmangement.com