THRIVE ISSUE 5 DECEMBER 2024 9 A Few Words of (Semi-Sincere) Advice for Emerging Businesses If you’re starting in the industry, welcome to the circus. Here’s what you need to know to survive: Train and Train Again: Service is a marathon, not a sprint. Invest in your staff, and don’t be afraid to get creative with training. Make them love what they do, and customers will love it, too. Be Real: Stop attempting to imitate others. Bring your culture, history, and flavour to the table. Decor, music, food, and even how you say “hello” should exude authenticity. Partnering up: Connect with local artists, storytellers, and craftspeople. Give tourists the inside scoop to demonstrate what “authentic” actually means. Tell stories: Everyone enjoys a good story. Encourage your team to share their culture and background. It will mean more than any expensive plate could. When we get it right, customers walk away with memories, not souvenirs. The key? Train like your business depends on it — because it does. Blend hard skills (yes, the basics matter) with soft skills that leave a lasting impression. Bring in the community, showcase local talent, and turn your service into a story worth sharing. Give customers the best version of your culture while keeping it accurate to its roots. In conclusion (since we need to wrap this up) Balancing authenticity and profitability is not simple, but it is worthwhile. When done well, your business becomes an unforgettable destination. You produce something authentic that people will talk about long after they leave. So, here’s to being loyal to ourselves, keeping the spirit of Africa alive, and possibly—just maybe—making a little cash along the way. Cheers to that!.
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