Pivotl - Issue 2-2023

www.pivotl.co.za Issue 2 - 2023 

WHITTAL’S 

Tasty treats 

with heritage 

and heart 

Feline’s 

FEATHER 

DUSTER 

FETISH 

inspires 

small 

business 

LauCrochet 

LOVE FROM 

MY HANDS 

REAL PEOPLE - REAL BUSINESS - REAL STORIES

COVER 

Editor 

Content Management & Marketing 

Vanessa Bentley 

vanessa@pivotl.co.za 

061 496 9498 

Associate Editor 

Marketing & Advertising 

Wendy Bezuidenhout 

wendy@pivotl.co.za 

082 963 7441 

Pivotl Magazine is published 

online as a digital magazine 

www.pivotl.co.za 

Cover 

Photo by Vanessa Bentley 

Janine Douglas of Whittal’s 

2 

Issue 2 - 2023

Howzit! 

We are excited to bring you the latest issue of Pivotl, packed with more inspiring and 

uplifting stories to brighten up your day. 

First off, we want to thank you for the overwhelming response to our first issue, with 

over 7000 reads! It's incredible to see the positive impact our magazine is having, and we're 

grateful for your support. 

In this month's issue, we have some fantastic features lined up for you. On page 4, we chat 

with Janine Douglas, the owner of Whittal's Bake Shop, who shares her inspiring journey from 

bookkeeper to full-time baker. 

We also have the heartwarming story of Koos Diedericks on page 10, who found his niche in 

generator repair after experiencing job loss. On page 12, we meet Laura Chido Rodi, the creative 

entrepreneur behind luxury crochet bags. 

And last but not least, on page 18, we have a story about Chantél van Rensburg, the owner of 

Kitty Kuddles, who creates sustainable soft toys for cats. Her story is sure to inspire and uplift you. 

We hope you enjoy reading this month's issue as much as we enjoyed putting it together. 

Remember, we want to hear from you too! If you have a story to share, please reach out to us. 

Let's continue building a community of like-minded individuals and spread positivity and 

inspiration together. 

Vanessa & Wendy 

CONTENTS 

4 

10 

12 

Heritage and Heart 

We chat with Janine Douglas, the owner 

of Whittal’s Bake Shop, a charming 

home industry business that offers a 

delightful range of homemade jams and 

biscuits. Janine shares her journey from 

bookkeeper to full-time baker and the 

challenges of being a small business 

owner. 

The Generator Whisperer 

From job loss to generator repair - how 

Koos Diedericks found his niche 

Love from my hands 

Laura Chido Rodi, has built a business 

creating luxury crochet bags. Laura 

shares her journey, successes, and 

challenges in small business ownership, 

as well as discussing how she stays 

motivated and inspired. 

18 

22 

24 

26 

Feline’s feather duster 

fetish inspires small 

business 

Meet Chantél van Rensburg, owner 

of Kitty Kuddles, who makes and sells 

sustainable soft toys for cats 

Attention first-time 

home buyers! 

O-Yes Properties 

On the shelf 

This month’s book store finds 

Sit, stay, fetch 

Is it time to enrol your pup into doggy 

bootcamp? 

28 

Snip snip! 

Our responsibility in keeping the cat 

population under control 

Issue 2 - 2023 3

BUSINESS IN FOCUS 

Photos by Vanessa Bentley 

Heritage 

and Heart 

We chat with Janine Douglas, a creative and passionate home industry 

business owner, who loves to sew, bake and cook. Her business, Whittal's, 

which operates from her home in Northriding, Johannesburg, offers a variety 

of delicious jams made with seasonal fruits, as well as freshly baked biscuits. 

Janine's love for baking and preserving began in her school days when she 

started collecting recipes, and her father passed down his passion for jam 

making to her. With Whittal's, Janine is continuing her family's legacy of 

traditional baking, and jam making, bringing her customers the freshest and 

tastiest products with love and care 

4 




Janine Douglas pours her heart and soul into 

every jar of jam and every batch of biscuits 

she bakes. Her passion for cooking and 

baking was kindled at a young age when she 

started collecting recipes and experimenting with 

different flavours in her kitchen. 

In later years, inspired by her father’s love for his 

mother’s homemade jams, Janine started 

experimenting with different fruit combinations, 

perfecting her recipes until she had a range of 

jams that tasted out-of-this-world delicious. From 

tangy apricot jam to sweet plumapple jam, every 

jar is a testament to Janine's love for her craft. 

The Whittal family has a rich history in South 

Africa, having arrived on the shores of Algoa Bay 

in 1820 as part of the 1820 Settlers. They built their 

homes, farms, schools, and churches from scratch 

and, through sheer hard work and determination, 

“took root and grew”. Janine's passion for jammaking 

is a continuation of this family tradition, a 

way of preserving and passing them down from 

generation to generation. 

When you taste Whittal’s jams, you can feel the 

love and care that went into 

making it. Every jar is beautifully 

packaged and labelled, with 

seasonal fruit that’s cooked up and 

frozen for later use. The jam is 

prepared no less than one month in advance to 

ensure that it's as fresh and flavorful as possible. 

With no preservatives or additives, you can taste 

the pure, unadulterated flavours of the fruit in 

every bite. 

Janine’s biscuits are just as incredible as her 

jams. Baked to order and delivered within 48 

hours, they're made with only the freshest 

ingredients. Whether you're craving a buttery 

shortbread or a chewy chocolate chip cookie, 

her biscuits are sure to satisfy 

your sweet tooth. 

For Janine, Whittal’s isn’t 

just a business – it’s a labour 

of love. And with every jar of 

jam and every batch of 

biscuits, she’s sharing a little 

piece of her heart. 

What inspired you to start your 

own business, and how did you 

get started? 

I have always loved baking, 

baking biscuits, cakes and 

making jams. I started collecting 

recipes from my teen years and 

loved baking then already for my 

family. It was always a joy for me 

to bake, a challenge to refine a 

recipe and find the perfect 

chocolate cake, or choc-chip 

cookie or make my jam just the 

way we love it. Scones or 

crumpets with my apricot jam 

with whipped cream have always 

been a treat and loved by all 

who’ve had some. 

I was not happy in my job at the 

time, it felt like I was going 

nowhere and in a way dying 

inside. I reached a crossroad in 

my life and had to make a choice. 

We went on holiday to the USA, 

and I decided to make that time 

a time of reflection and gathering 

of inspiration from coffee shops 

and bakeries. I spent a lot of time 

praying, preparing and dreaming 

about starting up my bakery 

business, gathering ideas for my 

artwork and approaching a 

designer/print company to 

finalise the artwork. I worked out 

a website plan on Microsoft 

PowerPoint and from there my 

web-designer created my 

website. My plan was to focus on 

corporate companies, providing a 

coffee station cookie jar and 

supplying a refill each week. I got 

my first corporate customer 

within a week of opening my 

business on the 1st of December 

2022. Prior to that, I was also 

offered the opportunity to have a 

table at our church Christmas 

market, and I decided to take a 

royal icing biscuit course at a 

baking supplies shop in 

Fourways. That inspired me to 

offer iced Christmas biscuits and 

they immediately took off. I had 

so many orders and feared I 



would not be able to meet the 

demand. I was excited and very 

stressed at the same time, but it 

was extremely successful. A 

major influence for getting 

started was the potential offer to 

supply a local deli with biscuits, 

jams, and cakes, as well as the 

opportunity to serve corporate 

customers and participate in the 

Christmas Market. I prayed a lot, 

and I believe that the door 

opened. It was a huge step of 

faith since it would mean a drop 

in income from my existing 

position as a full-time Office 

Manager/Bookkeeper. 

How long have you been in 

business? 

I started all my planning from 

August 2022 to 30 November 

2022, and officially started my 

business on the 1st of December 

2022, my website went live on the 

31st of December 2022. 

What challenges did you face 

when starting your business, and 

how did you overcome them? 

My biggest challenge was how 

was I going to meet the demand 

as soon as the business grew. I 

was a also a bit rusty on some of 

my recipes and needed to re-visit 

old favourite recipes. I had no 

idea on my packaging quantities, 

packets per batch and the time it 

would take to get the orders out. 

Time management was a big 

challenge for me as I had to learn 

what I was capable of producing 

in a day and a week. I overcame 

that by baking everything I was 

planning on selling and working 

out how many packets of biscuits 

I would get per batch. 

It was a sink or swim situation 

and I just had to go for it, I soon 

realised just how much I was 

capable of doing and got faster at 

producing the batches of biscuits. 

Time management is refined by 

having a very organised kitchen 

that works from right to left, 

ingredients cupboard and 

shelves, mixing station, rolling and 

preparing station, oven, baking 

and cooking, then weighing and 

packaging. Working systematically 

and according to my very strict 

diary/orders. 

How did you come up with your 

business idea, and what sets it 

apart from others in your 

industry? 

I have always loved baking. It was 

a passion passed down from my 

father, who learned from his 

mother, a farmer’s wife. I love the 

idea of baking my own biscuits 

and stocking up the pantry with 

jams, biscuits, and rusks. I also 

enjoy being able to offer my 

guests a lovely cake to enjoy with 

tea or breakfast scones with jam, 

or simply a cup of tea with a 

biscuit on the side. It's also a 

pleasure to bake biscuits to give 

as teacher's gifts or make jams 

for Christmas presents. 

Converting my love and passion 

6 



ABOVE 

Even the tiniest 

biscuits get special 

attention 

LEFT 

Rolling out and 

cutting the dough for 

the Easter biscuits 

BELOW 

The book “THEY TOOK 

ROOT AND GREW”, 

written by Janine’s 

father, Vernon Whittal 

Image supplied 


for baking into a business has 

always been a dream of mine, 

and it has never felt more right 

than now. 

My dad wrote the Whittal 

family book, which includes 

records dating back to when 

my family arrived in South 

Africa with the 1820 settlers 

who came from England on 

the sailboat, The Chapman, in 

Algoa Bay. My family “took 

root in South Africa and 

grew”, they became farmers, 

shopkeepers and bakers. 

Today, I proudly continue 

our family heritage with a 

love for baking delectable 

and comforting biscuits, 

jams, rusks, cakes, and 

muffins. I bring the heart 

of our family into your 

home, business, and 

gifting, where you can truly feel 

the love, passion, and warmth 

from my kitchen into your life. 

How do you stay motivated and 

focused on your goals as a small 

business owner? 

What motivates me and keeps 

me focused is always keeping it 

fresh, both literally and 

figuratively. My biscuits are baked 

fresh, and we don't keep stock of 

them; we bake them fresh. 

After taking the royal icing 

course last year, I found that it 

really took off as a gifting option 

since people have come to love 

pretty iced biscuits. My aim was 

not only to make a biscuit that 

looked pretty but also tasted just 

as nice as it looked. 

I also aimed to come up with 

great ways for my customers to 

buy a nice packet or box of 

biscuits to gift to someone, 

bringing joy and happiness to 

those around them. Keeping my 

customers happy and helping 

them enjoy life's little treats truly 

motivates me. 



What skills and experience 

have been most valuable in 

running your business? 

I am a qualified bookkeeper, so 

my financial background has 

been helpful in calculating my 

costs and selling prices. On the 

baking side, taking the royal icing 

course has opened up a whole 

new line of ideas that I can offer 

my customers to keep things 

fresh and exciting. This is not an 

ordinary day-to-day biscuit 

company; I want my customers 

to keep coming back for more 

and to be excited to see what we 

bring out next. 

How have you adapted your 

business to changes in your 

industry, such as new 

technology or market trends? 

I use my Instagram account to 

follow other bakeries and people 

in similar industries to see what 

they are doing to keep their 

customers coming back for more. 

I also use Pinterest for inspiration. 

How do you balance your 

personal and professional life as 

a small business owner? 

I adhere to a very strict baking 

schedule, and orders are slotted 

into that schedule. Time 

management is a significant 

factor, and I must stay on top of 

the load-shedding schedules. I do 

my best to complete all of my 

baking in the mornings. After 

fetching my daughter from 

school, I try not to have any baking 

that needs to be done. I like to 

keep time aside for my family and 

for rest, so that I can operate at my 

best when I do get into my 

kitchen to bake. If you don't rest 

well, you won't bake well. Sundays 

are devoted to the Lord; I go to 

church and make sure to rest on 

Sundays, as Mondays require me 

to be up and running again. 

Without adequate rest, you won't 

be able to find inspiration or have 

the energy that physical work like 

baking demands. 

What have been some of your 

biggest successes and proudest 

moments as a business owner? 

My biggest success has definitely 

been the royal icing biscuits. I did 

my first lot of royal icing-iced 

biscuits for Christmas last year, 

and baking and icing some 20 

bottles of Christmas biscuits was 

crazy. But then, when I advertised 

my Valentine's biscuits, I received 

orders for over 80 boxes of 

biscuits, of which 60 were from 

one corporate customer. It was a 

crazy order, but it was definitely 

very rewarding to package and 

deliver everything nicely. 

How have you built and 

maintained relationships with 

customers and clients? 

Communication is key, I keep in 

contact with my customers and 

make sure that they are happy. 

How do you market and 

promote your business, and 

what strategies have been most 

effective for you? 

I use Instagram, Facebook, and 

my website for marketing and 

promotion. Additionally, I use 

WhatsApp marketing and email 

to communicate with my 

customers. I prepare 

photographs of my products in 

advance, as customers love to see 

what they can expect to get. As 

they say, you eat with your eyes. 

How do you measure the success 

of your business, and what goals 

do you have for the future? 

It is still early days, but I would say 

that you know you are making a 

success of your business when 

your orders keep coming in, and 

you stick to it no matter what. 

Don't give up, keep going, even 

when it may be quiet. You can 

use that time to gather 

Images supplied 

@whittalsbakeshop 

@whittalsbakeshop 

https://whittalsbakeshop.co.za 

8 




found the perfect, tasty sugar 

cookie that would be the perfect 

canvas for our speciality biscuits. 

I am proud to say that I am very 

happy with the Royal Icing 

biscuits I now produce and sell to 

my customers. What I learnt was 

not to give up. Stop, step back, 

tomorrow you can bake some 

more cookies and you will find 

the solution. 

Image supplied 

ABOVE 

Janine with a wedding 

cake that she baked 

LEFT 

Beautifully iced 

Valentine’s Day and 

Christmas cookies 

LEFT 

Easter biscuits 

inspiration and bring something 

new and fresh to your customers. 

I truly love bringing joy to my 

customers. I want them to feel my 

heart in my baking. I never want it 

to be about chasing the money, 

but always about my love for 

baking. The rest will follow suit. 

How have you dealt with 

setbacks or failures in your 

business, and what did you 

learn from those experiences? 

It was not really a setback, but 

rather a bit of a failure when I had 

some challenges with one of my 

biscuit recipes that gave me 

difficulties with the royal icing. 

I ended up giving away so many 

“reject” biscuits to the car guards, 

home help, gardener, you name 

it, as I felt they did not meet my 

standards. 

I wanted a biscuit that would not 

lose its crispiness when iced, 

would keep its shape and hold 

well. I re-baked many batches, 

researched, and tried again until I 

What impact do you hope your 

business will have on your 

community or the world at 

large? 

My hope is to create more 

speciality biscuits for events such 

as baby showers, bridal showers, 

and weddings. I always aim to 

bring something new to the 

table, whether it's for Easter, 

Mother's Day, Father's Day, 

Christmas, or any other occasion. 

I don't see a rejected biscuit as 

a waste. When the dough 

doesn't work out the way I 

hoped, I bake the batch anyway 

and give the biscuits away to 

those in need. I believe in giving 

to receive, and I feel very blessed 

in my business. Keeping it real, 

and putting my whole heart into 

it and seeing it grow. 

What advice do you have for 

other entrepreneurs who are 

just starting out? 

Make sure you have the support 

of your family because, at first, 

your income may drop, but it will 

grow as you keep going. My 

husband has been an amazing 

support, not only financially, but 

he has also built my whole bakery 

kitchen for me. I bounce a lot of 

my ideas off my family, and they 

are my greatest source of 

encouragement. It will cost you 

to get your business going, so 

don’t be afraid to invest in some 

good equipment (not the most 

expensive, but essential items). 

Set yourself up properly, and 

make sure you have all the 

necessary tools and resources to 

make it a success. You cannot 

do it just 50%, you need to be 

100% all in. Pray. n 



The Generator 

Whisperer 

From job loss to generator repair - 

how Koos Diedericks found his niche 

For Koos Diedericks, starting his own 

business was a product of necessity. 

When the Covid-19 pandemic 

happened, his work contract in KwaZulu- 

Natal was not renewed, leaving Koos in a 

rather challenging situation. As a result, 

Koos and his wife Lynne no other choice 

but to relocate to Johannesburg to live 

with their daughter. Even after settling in, 

Koos was unable to find employment in 

his field. Koos would have to think outside 

the box to ensure an income for himself, 

and his over 40 years of mechanical 

experience in both petrol and diesel 

engines would be the key to his success. 

Koos shared the story of how he got 

started: "The idea came when I had to 

repair my daughter's generator. She 

then started to advertise my services for 

me, and so the first generator service 

came in, and I have been going since 

then." From that day on, Koos Diedericks 

Repairs and Services was born. 

Based in Witpoortjie, Roodepoort, Koos 

specialises in the repair and 

maintenance of generators, and has now 

also included brush cutters and 

lawnmowers. With South Africa 

experiencing long hours of loadshedding 

every day, generators are becoming 

increasingly important, and for those 

who have generators for their homes or 

businesses, being without them for more 

than a day or two can be very disruptive. 

Koos understands this, which is why he is 

dedicated to repairing and servicing 

generators as quickly as possible. "With 

the high stages of loadshedding we are 

experiencing, I try to get it out the same 

day or soon thereafter," he says. 

Starting a business from scratch is 

never easy, and Koos faced some 

challenges along the way. "The biggest 

challenge was starting from nothing 

and slowly building from there," he 

explains. "It was difficult as trust had to 

be earned along the way." However, 

Koos embraced each challenge and 

made it work. What sets him apart from 

others in the industry is his efficiency in 

getting equipment back to his clients as 

soon as possible, minimising the 

inconvenience that comes with 

loadshedding. He is also happy to not 

only do off-site repairs but also to go to 

his clients' homes and offices and carry 

out service or repairs on-site. 

Koos is a diesel mechanic by trade, and 

this has been invaluable in running his 


10 



LEFT AND ABOVE 

Koos Diedericks 

ABOVE RIGHT 

Koos’ workshop 

where most of the 

work is done 

business. When asked how he stays 

motivated and focused on his goals as a 

small business owner, Koos says, "I have 

remained thankful for each and every job 

that has come my way and give the best 

customer care possible. I believe word-ofmouth 

has helped me immensely." 

He markets and promotes his business 

on Facebook, which has helped him get 

off the ground. He also hands out 

business cards whenever and wherever 

possible. Koos measures the success of his 

business by the satisfaction of his clients, 

and his goal is to further grow his business 

so he can trade his car for a panel van. 

Koos has built and maintained 

relationships with customers and clients 

by checking in with them after each job 

and ensuring that their equipment is 

working well. By doing so, Koos has 

fostered strong connections with his 

clients, and as a result, some have 

become regular clients, offering him 

repeat business. 

When asked how he has adapted his 

business to changes in the industry he 

replied “I have not found adaptation a 

problem, I have just carried on with what 

I know”. Nonetheless, he recognises the 

significance of keeping up-to-date with 

industry standards and regularly seeks 

out resources to expand his knowledge 

and skills as a business owner, 

particularly when he encounters new or 

unfamiliar situations. Regarding any 

setbacks he might have encountered, 

Koos mentioned "The only setbacks 

would be the acquisition of spares, where 

I have to drive further afield to get them." 

Looking to the future, Koos hopes to 

continue to grow his business in the 

West Rand and make an impact in his 

community. He knows firsthand how 

load shedding can disrupt people’s lives, 

and he hopes to provide a reliable and 

efficient service that can help ease some 

of that burden. As he puts it, “For me, the 

load shedding has been and will 

probably have a huge impact on the lives 

of people in the community. I hope in 

some small way, I can help make it a bit 

easier for them.” 

Koos' wife Lynne describes her husband 

as a quiet man by nature, but quick to 

crack a joke once you get to know him. 

"He has some really good ones," she says. 

He has a strong work ethic, is well-liked 

and hardworking, and when a client 

needs work done, he doesn't waste time 

and gets straight to work. 

He balances his personal and 

professional life by prioritising his work 

but still taking time to unwind by 

playing golf. "Work comes first," he says, 

"but, when possible, I take to the golf 

course for some R&R." 

Koos is an inspiration to anyone who 

wants to start their own business. His 

story shows that with hard work, 

dedication, and a positive attitude, 

anything is possible. He is proof that 

even in challenging times, there are 

opportunities to be found, and success 

can be achieved. n 

076 328 7194 



Love from 

my hands 

Laura Chido Rodi, has built a business creating 

luxury crochet bags. Laura shares her journey, 

successes, and challenges in small business 

ownership, as well as discussing how she stays 

motivated and inspired. 


Crochet artist Laura Chido Rodi, owner of 

LauCrochet and Crafts, has built a business 

that specialises in crafting luxury crochet 

bags, offering customers unique pieces that stand 

out from other bags in the market. We sat down 

with Laura to discuss her business journey, her 

successes and challenges, and how she 

navigates the world of small business 

ownership. 

Starting her business in 2017, Laura was 

inspired by her love for crochet and a 

growing passion for creating her products. 

"What inspired me to start was the passion 

to crochet and I just couldn't stop. I kept 

on going on and on," says Laura. "My 

family already had some of my products 

and it was time I started selling the other 

ones I had." 

She used the money she earned by 

helping her sister with her baking business 

to start her own crochet business, which 

introduced her to the world of markets. 

12 




Although she started her business in 

2017, it wasn't until 2020 that Laura 

decided to take it seriously. 

In the beginning, she made crochet 

beanies for her college friends, but she 

eventually branched out to making bags 

and anything her customers requested. 

Starting a business comes with 

challenges, and Laura faced her own set 

of obstacles. The biggest challenge she 

has had to face and still faces is the 

inconsistency in sales. Some markets are 

highly profitable, while others only use 

up the profit she gained from the 

previous market. Despite this challenge, 

Laura remains undaunted and continues 

to persevere. 

What sets LauCrochet and crafts apart 

from other crochet businesses is Laura's 

focus on producing luxury crochet bags 

with mixed pattern designs and colour 

combinations. She wants her customers 

to feel special and unique when they 

carry her bags. 

Staying motivated and focused on 

one's goals as a small business owner 

can be a difficult task, but Laura has 

found ways to stay inspired. "The fact 

that I get to crochet every day and just 

stay in love with it, and the need to 

create an income," she said. This is what 

drives her to continue creating new and 

exciting pieces. 

The COVID-19 pandemic had a 

significant impact on many small 

businesses, and LauCrochet and crafts 

was no exception. "I did not get to sell 

much during COVID, but a few family 

and church members tried to support 

me," Laura said. 

ABOVE AND RIGHT 

Some of the highquality 

bags that 

Laura has crocheted 



Laura shared with us three skills that 

have been crucial to running her 

business successfully: basic business 

finance, organisational skills, and 

communication skills. "I need to be able 

to monitor the inflow and outflow of 

money," Laura explained. "I also need to 

be able to arrange my products on my 

market table, or the pictures on my 

Instagram page so that customers can 

really get a better look at the product. 

Communication skills are also important. 

I was mostly an introvert, but the market 

world helped me to get out of my shell 

and speak to people and the people who 

purchase from me are usually the ones 

with whom I have conversations." 

Like any industry, changes in the 

market can present challenges for small 

business owners. Laura shared that she 

has tried using the Instagram online 

advertising platform, but has found that 

it can be costly with uncertain returns. 

"It's good to a certain extent but I 

noticed that you usually get buying 

customers after spending R300 or more 

and some customers will then only buy a 

product for R150, which can leave you 

with a loss," she said. However, Laura 

sees potential in the platform and is 

continuing to research how to maximise 

her sales through Instagram. 

Balancing personal and professional 

life can be difficult, especially for small 

business owners. Laura faced this 

challenge in the beginning, as her family 

had assumptions that she would be 

"sitting at home doing nothing." To 

address this, Laura set boundaries and a 

schedule for when she would crochet, 

take lunch, and end her business day. 

This helped her manage her time better 

and interact with her family outside of 

her business hours. 

Despite the challenges, Laura has had 

many successes and proud moments as 

a business owner. "It's the small things 

that matter on my part," Laura shared. " 

My proudest moment was when I 

realised my true passion for bag making 

and the fact that I could fully focus on it." 

Building and maintaining relationships 

with customers and clients is critical to 

any business's success. For Laura, this 

has mostly happened through meeting 

people at markets and then connecting 

with them on her Instagram account. 

"On that space they get to see me at 

work, they get to know me a bit more 

and also see my latest designs," she said. 

Laura has found that selling at markets 

has been an effective strategy for 

marketing and promoting her business, 

and she is currently working on 

developing her marketing skills. In 

addition, she uses WhatsApp to 

advertise to friends, family, and 

members of her church, and Instagram 

also helps to showcase her products and 

connect with potential customers. 

14 



At Pivotl Magazine, we truly believe in the power of personal connections. 

That's why we are passionate about sharing the stories of the people driving 

businesses forward. 

If you are a small business owner or provide a business service and would 

like to be featured in Pivotl Magazine, we would love to hear from you. All we 

ask is that you are willing to complete a questionnaire and have a chat with 

us to ensure we capture the essence of your story. Additionally, if possible, 

please provide us with photos of yourself and your workspace, as well as 

images of your products or services in action. 

Johannesburg 

Vanessa Bentley 

vanessa@pivotl.co.za 

061 496 9498 

CONTACT US 

Pretoria 

Wendy Bezuidenhout 

wendy@pivotl.co.za 

082 963 7441 



Images: Vanessa Bentley / supplied 

Above 

Crocheted earrings with bead detail 

Dealing with setbacks and failures is a 

common experience for many 

entrepreneurs, and Laura is no 

exception. However, she has learned to 

take breaks when needed, be it a week 

off from crochet or a month away from 

markets when she loses a lot of money. 

This helps her regroup and come up 

with another plan to rise again. As she 

puts it, "from experience I've learned that 

it's best to steer clear of certain markets 

or people and just move on." 

When asked about the impact she 

hopes her business will have on the 

community or the world at large, Laura's 

response was passionate and inspiring. 

She wants to create jobs, especially 

when she goes international. As she 

explains, crochet work is often taken for 

granted, and workers are usually paid 

very little, especially when one looks at 

some of the cheaper imports. She wants 

to change that by making crochet work 

of high-quality value. "Anyone with a 

crochet gift will know that if they work 

for me, they can have a steady job," she 

says. 

To stay current with industry trends 

and continue to learn and grow as a 

business owner, Laura is always looking 

for new opportunities to connect with 

other crochet artists and entrepreneurs. 

She finds Instagram to be particularly 

helpful in this regard. "I connect with 

other crochet artists, and Instagram has 

been a big help because I get to connect 

with people from all over the world and 

see how they operate," she says. 

Laura also attends business 

conferences and workshops to learn 

about new materials and techniques. "I 

go for bag making workshops that 

introduce me to different materials on 

the market that I can use to 

make my bags luxurious," 

she explains. 

For other entrepreneurs 

who are just starting out, 

Laura has some valuable 

advice. "Discipline is key," 

she says. "Most 

entrepreneurs work from 

home, and you have to give 

yourself boundaries and 

deadlines to stay up to date 

and focused." She also 

emphasises the 

importance of consistency 

in both advertising and 

production. "People should 

know you for your 

efficiency and excellent 

work," she says. 

Having a solid financial 

plan is also crucial. "I 

suggest that as you start, 

you should have another 

source of income to keep 

you sustained," she advises. 

"Stay true to yourself and 

never ever give up!" n 

@Laucrochet_and_crafts 

Laura.chido.rodi@gmail.com 

BELOW 

Laura’s neat and 

well-organised 

Instagram feed 

16 



Malamute Media 

DIGITAL TRANSFER SERVICE 

VHS 

Beta 

Cassette 

Vinyl 

Slides 

Negatives 

Don't let your memories fade away into obscurity 

Contact us today to start preserving your memories in the digital age. 

Don't wait until it's too late to relive the moments that matter most! 

Wendy 

Cell: 082 963 7441 

E-mail: wedancer@gmail.com 



Feline’s 

feather 

duster 

fetish 

inspires small 

business 


Meet Chantél van Rensburg, owner 

of Kitty Kuddles, who makes and 

sells sustainable soft toys for cats 

Batcat 

Everyone has their reasons for 

starting a small business. How 

many can say that their business 

idea came from a cat? Kitty Kuddles is a 

small business that sells hand-sewn cat 

toys. Chantél van Rensburg works with 

cat rescue organisations and has often 

fostered little kittens. As a result, being 

able to make her own soft toys for 

kittens has been really handy. 

But the story actually starts when 

Chantél owned a rescue cat called Batcat 

who was found on the side of the road as 

a kitten. Unfortunately, Batcat had a 

slight obsession with feather dusters and 

would often come home with his 

newfound feathery prize, much to the 

shock and embarrassment of Chantél. 

She couldn't return the items to their 

rightful owners because she had no idea 

where he stole them from. What if 

people found out that all their items 

were finding their way to her house? This 

was just too embarrassing. She returned 

what she could but still found the 

number of feather dusters increasing. 

Realising that Batcat needed 

something to distract him, Chantél set 

out to look for a solution. “I love going to 

pet shops, I love seeing what ideas there 

are,” she says. Store-bought cat toys can 

be expensive. It was then that she 

thought, “I’m sure I can make this 

myself” and started looking for some 

patterns online, but evolved to making 

her own patterns as she went along. 

She says, “I strongly believe in recycling 

or up-cycling. One person's rubbish is 

another person's treasure.” She put the 

word out to friends and family and kept 

an eye out online for people giving or 

throwing stuff away that could be used. 

The less glamorous part of it was that 

she was even doing a bit of dumpster 

diving, keeping in mind that what she 

used had to be safe for a cat or kitten. 

18 



“Then I started making these toys, 

Batcat absolutely loved them, which was 

the whole idea.” Pretty soon Chantél was 

able to provide Batcat with a variety of 

toys to play with and his feather duster 

stealing days came to a quick end. 

Chantél continued making cat toys, 

which came in handy when she was 

fostering little kittens. 

When the kittens were adopted and 

went to their forever homes, she would 

send them off with a little Kitty Kuddles 

toy. The idea of sending them to their 

new homes with something made by her 

was heartwarming to Chantél. Whoever 

was adopting the kitten or cat would get 

to choose a toy for their new kitty. 

That’s when she realised that she 

actually enjoyed sitting in front of the TV 

at night and sewing. So now Chantél was 

making these toys, all the while still 

collecting stuff, making toys and 

collecting more stuff and making more 

toys. “My mom would say I’m a bit of a 

hoarder,” she jokes, “but I believe I'm very 

selective in what I collect." 

During our interview with Chantél, she 

mentioned that she had some material 

with her which she received from a 

friend. She had cut it out the previous 

night and intended to use it to make 

new toys. 

All of her toys are hand-sewn. She 

doesn't own a sewing machine and says 

that she doesn't know how to use one. 

“I sew all of these with a needle and 

thread. I’ve worked out what stitch 

works nicely – I use a double thread to 

make sure my toys are a bit stronger and 

can take a beating. People would give 

me stuff, and I’d be like, what can I do 

with this?” 

It pushed and challenged her to think 

creatively and turn it into something 

that a cat would enjoy. 

Soon after, requests for toys started 

coming in from friends and rescue 

organisations, and Kitty Kuddles was born. 

“I had this hobby where I was making 

these toys, selling them ad-hoc.” She 

then played with the idea of doing craft 

markets. “Markets at the time didn't 

work out so nicely for me. Sometimes I 

would have a great day of sales, and 

sometimes I would have none.” Chantél 

even thought to herself, “Is it worth it?” 

But she enjoyed making the toys 

and found that the process 

forced her to think outside the 

box, coming up with new ideas 

and creative solutions. 

Because of this, she decided to 

continue making them. 

More recently Chantél has 

found success at markets and 

attends a monthly event held at 

Delta Park in Randburg, called 

The Local Market, and finds 

that it is a great way to gain 

exposure for her business. 



LEFT AND ABOVE 

Loki – self appointed “product control 

manager” keeping an eye on production 

She tells us that the best thing that 

could have happened was Covid 

lockdowns. She says that when Covid 

struck, she asked her brother, who works 

in IT (it-on-demand.co.za), if he could set 

up a website for her. With everyone 

going online during that time, it would 

probably be the way to go, especially 

since she was now sitting with a heap of 

toys that she had no real way of selling. 

So this could be the start of a real 

business. Her brother helped her set up 

a WordPress website with an online 

store, and she had to learn how to use it. 

Chantél also has friends, one of whom is 

a Marketing Director who gave her 

plenty of help, insight, and ideas, and his 

wife, who also has an online business, 

offered support and advice. 

The funds that came in from sales on 

Kitty Kuddles could then be put to good 

use in Chantél’s desire to foster kittens. 

So she is using a hobby to pay for a 

passion. When it comes to marketing 

her small business, it's mostly been 

through friends and family, as well as her 

connections to kitten rescue and 

fostering organisations. She also uses 

Facebook to market her business. 

Sadly, Batcat, the inspiration behind 

the business, passed away from feline 

leukaemia. 

Chantél rescued a mischievous kitten 

named Loki shortly before Batcat's 

passing. He has taken on the role of 

“product control manager”, inspecting 

and trying out new products. If he 

approves, the toys receive the Kitty 

Kuddles stamp of approval. The 

attention to detail and dedication to 

quality are apparent in every handmade 

toy and accessory. 

If you're interested in durable 

handmade toys and accessories for your 

feline friend, look no further than 

KittyKuddles.co.za. Each toy is made with 

love and care, ensuring that your cat will 

enjoy hours of playtime. Batcat 

may be gone, but his spirit lives 

on through Kitty Kuddles. n 

https://kittykuddles.co.za https://web.facebook.com/KittyKuddlestoys @Kitty_Kuddles_ 

20 



Make sure you don’t miss 

out on the next issue of 

Head over to our website 

and you’ll be notified by 

email when a new issue 

is published. 

www.pivotl.co.za 


PROPERTY MATTERS 

Attention first-time 

home buyers! 

Here are some simple ways to 

understand different ways to buy 

a property: 

Buy your own home: Buying your 

own home is a way to secure a place 

to live and build long-term wealth. 

You can get a loan to pay for it, and 

as you pay it off, the value of your 

home is likely to increase. Once 

you've paid it off, you'll have a 

valuable asset that you own. 

Become a rentvestor: This means 

you can buy a home in an area that 

you can afford, while renting in a 

more convenient location. You can 

rent out your investment property to 

earn income that can help pay for 

the costs. 

Buy a fixer upper: You might be 

able to find an older or smaller 

property at a lower cost that you can 

 

 

fix up and improve. This can be a 

more affordable way to update a 

property and add value to it. 

Purchase in an area with lower 

price points: By buying in a less 

expensive area, you might find a 

good property that you wouldn't 

have considered otherwise. Just 

make sure there are basic facilities 

and schools nearby if you plan to 

start a family. These areas can also be 

good for rental properties. 

Buy in a new development: Buying 

a property in a new development 

before it's completed can be a good 

way to get a fixed price and 

potentially make money once it's 

finished. There are often mortgage 

loans available for buyers, and these 

properties can be good for rental 

investments. n 

22 


PROPERTY MATTERS 

Your Resident 

Property 

Practitioner 

We know the market,we know the 

area,we know the locals,who 

better to choose as your Property 

Practitioner of choice. 

Why Choose Us 

As the trusted Property Practitioner for 

my clients, I understand that selling 

and/or buying a home is complex and 

deeply personal. There is also a lot at 

stake financially and personally. The 

perspective on the process and the 

responsibility felt towards my clients 

drives me to truly be an expert at my job. 

Megan Genga 

Dedicated Agent 

We understand the market, 

the players, and all of the 

variables involved in a real 

estate transaction. We want to 

make sure you feel supported 

and that you have a trusted 

advisor by your side. 

24/7 Customer Care 

We are dedicated to serve 

and assist in the transaction 

that changes your life forever. 

Charmaine has been a pleasure to work with, 

from the onset Charmaine has maintained 

contact and kept us informed. When we were 

uncertain or needed matters to be reviewed 

Charmaine was ever willing to assist. Thank 

you Charmaine for all your hard work and 

dedication during this process. 

Marketing & Research 

We have all the tools to ensure that 

we give you accurate and informative 

information to ensure the right 

marketing plan is conducted. 

CHARMAINE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN 

+27 74 703 9034 

charmainev@o-yes.co.za 

www.o-yesproperties.co.za 

Issue21 - 2023 23 13 

R A N D P A R K R I D G E | F O N T A I N E B L E A U | M A L A N S H O F | R A N D P A R K

BOOK BUZZ 

On the shelf 

Like, Comment, Subscribe: How YouTube Drives 

Google's Dominance and Controls Our Culture 

MARK BERGEN 

The story of YouTube, the global 

phenomenon which single-handedly 

upended traditional media and 

transformed Google into one of the 

world's most profitable companies 

Since 2005, YouTube has exploded, 

giving a platform to unique and 

valuable voices, but also to 

propaganda, misinformation and illicit 

videos. The algorithm which 

determines whether a channel lives or 

dies – how or when videos are seen, 

and how much creators earn through 

advertising - is notoriously secretive, 

remaining a mystery to consumers 

and broadcasters alike. At the same 

time, the site is massively profitable 

for parent company Google, helping 

turn it into one of the most influential 

powers on the planet. 

In Like, Comment, Subscribe, 

Bloomberg tech journalist Mark 

Bergen delivers the definitive account 

on YouTube, detailing how it started, 

how it works and ultimately how it 

drives Google's success. It can be seen 

as the story of a technical marvel that 

has upended traditional media and 

created stars out of everyday people, 

or the story of the rise of a ruthless 

advertising conglomerate with little 

regard for its impact on the world 

beyond the bottom line - but in reality, 

it's the story of both. 

Bricks for Chicks: Property investment 

for women who kick ass! 

TANYA HAFFERN 

Bricks for Chicks introduces women 

(and men who are smart enough to 

read it!) to property investment, 

demystifying industry lingo and 

introducing the basic strategies a 

budding investor can employ to 

maximise returns in what can often 

turn into a field of broken dreams. 

The book aims to grow the reader’s 

financial skill set to acquire the 

confidence to become financially 

independent. The author’s savvy, fun 

personality shines through as she 

delivers invaluable insights into 

property investment so that reading 

this book feels like having a fun 

conversation with a battlesharpened, 

clued-up girlfriend who 

doesn’t spare the punches and, at 

the same time, makes you believe 

that you, too, can succeed in 

property investment. 

The case studies keep the book 

light and humorous and make it easily 

accessible for novice investors. For 

anyone who wants to start investing 

in property but feels overwhelmed by 

the terminology, expenses and 

inherent risk, this book is going to 

change her life, starting TODAY. 

If you have any book recommendations please send them to info@pivotl.co.za 

24 


BOOK BUZZ 

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in 

Uncertain Times 

MICHELLE OBAMA 

The powerful, insightful follow-up to 

the critically acclaimed, multi-million 

#1 bestselling memoir Becoming 

In her inspiring follow-up to 

Becoming, former First Lady Michelle 

Obama shares practical wisdom and 

powerful strategies for staying hopeful 

and balanced in today's highly 

uncertain world. 

In The Light We Carry, she opens a 

frank and honest dialogue with 

readers, considering the questions 

many of us wrestle with: How do we 

build enduring and honest 

relationships? How can we discover 

strength and community inside our 

differences? What do we do when it all 

starts to feel like too much? Michelle 

Obama believes that we can all lean on 

a set of tools to help us better navigate 

change and remain steady within flux. 

The Light We Carry offers readers a 

series of fresh stories and insightful 

reflections on change, challenge, and 

power, including her belief that when 

we light up for others, we can 

illuminate the richness and potential of 

the world around us, discovering 

deeper truths and new pathways for 

progress. Drawing from her 

experiences as a mother, daughter, 

spouse, friend, and First Lady, she 

shares the habits and principles she has 

developed to successfully overcome 

various obstacles – the earned wisdom 

that helps her continue to "become." 

With trademark humour, candour, 

and compassion, she also explores 

issues connected to race, gender, and 

visibility, encouraging readers to work 

through fear, find strength in 

community, and live with boldness. A 

rewarding blend of powerful stories 

and profound advice, The Light We 

Carry will inspire readers to examine 

their own lives, identify their sources of 

gladness, and connect meaningfully in 

a turbulent world. 

An African Bite 

CHEF MBOMBI 

An African Bite celebrates the simplicity and authenticity of African food 

for a contemporary cook. Chef Mbombi has a deep connection to his 

culture, yet he is also a modern man living an urban lifestyle. Recognising 

that if we don’t keep cooking ‘heritage’ dishes, there is a risk of them 

being lost forever, he set out to create a cookbook that celebrates the food 

he was raised on. 

Traditionally, cooking skills were passed from mother to daughter and 

there were no written recipes or YouTube videos to refer to. Nowadays, 

social media can overwhelm us with too many choices and it is hard to 

know who to trust. 

An African Bite is Chef Mbombi’s tribute to the women who taught 

him to cook – from his mother and grandmother to the high school 

economics teacher who made him realise that he could turn his passion 

into a career. His uncomplicated, straightforward recipes will encourage 

even hesitant cooks to attempt dishes like curried tripe, chicken gizzards, 

goat meat stew, amathambo (meaty beef bones) umleqwa, shisanyama, 

vegetable sides like imifino (leafy greens) and muboora (pumpkin leaves), 

and traditional drinks like umqombothi and amahewu. 

Available from the following online stores 

takealot.com Exclusive Books Wordsworth Books Graffiti Books Loot 


WAGS & WHISKERS 

Sit, stay, fetch 

Is it time to enrol your pup into doggy bootcamp? 

Congratulations on your 

new furry friend! Training 

classes can be very 

beneficial for both you and your 

dog. Dogs can start their training 

as early as 8 weeks old, but the 

ideal age for starting formal 

training classes is usually around 

12-16 weeks, after they have had 

their vaccinations and are able to 

socialise with other dogs. 

As for the type of training 

classes you should attend, it 

depends on your dog's 

personality and your goals for 

their training. Here are some 

popular options to consider: 

Puppy socialisation classes: 

These classes focus on 

helping puppies learn 

appropriate behaviours 

around other dogs and 

people. They are usually 

 

 

 

aimed at puppies under 6 

months old. 

Basic obedience classes: 

These classes focus on 

teaching your dog basic 

commands such as sit, stay, 

come, and leash walking. 

They are a good starting 

point for all dogs, regardless 

of age or experience. 

Advanced obedience 

classes: These classes build 

on the skills learned in basic 

obedience classes and teach 

more complex behaviours, 

such as off-leash walking and 

distance commands. 

Behaviour modification 

classes: If your dog is 

exhibiting problem 

behaviours such as 

aggression or fearfulness, 

behaviour modification 

classes can help you address 

these issues and improve 

your dog's behaviour. 

Agility classes: If you're 

interested in a more active and 

challenging form of training, 

agility classes can be a great 

option. These classes focus on 

teaching your dog to navigate 

obstacles such as jumps, 

tunnels, and weave poles. 

When choosing a training class, 

look for a qualified and 

experienced trainer who uses 

positive reinforcement 

techniques. Positive 

reinforcement involves rewarding 

good behaviour with treats, praise, 

or play, rather than punishing bad 

behaviour. This approach is 

effective and humane, and it 

helps build a strong bond 

between you and your dog. n 

26 



Old Dogs, 

New Tricks 

It's a common belief that you can't 

teach an old dog new tricks, but 

that couldn't be further from the 

truth! Dogs of any age can benefit 

from training classes. In fact, 

training classes can be particularly 

beneficial for older dogs. 

As dogs age, they may start to 

develop problem behaviours or lose 

some of their physical abilities. This 

is where training classes come in – 

they can help address these issues 

and keep your dog mentally and 

physically stimulated. Plus, they 

provide an opportunity for you and 

your dog to bond and work 

together as a team. 

Behaviour modification classes 

can help with issues like separation 

anxiety or leash reactivity. And if 

your dog is starting to slow down 

physically, consider training classes 

that focus on mental stimulation, 

such as puzzle-solving or scent 

work. 

When enrolling your dog in a 

training class, make sure to choose 

one that is appropriate for their skill 

level and physical abilities. And 

always use positive reinforcement 

techniques to ensure a happy and 

successful learning experience. 

Don't hesitate to sign up your 

senior pup for training classes – 

they're never too old to learn 

something new! 



Snip snip! 

Our responsibility in keeping the 

cat population under control 

Domestic cats are one of the 

most beloved pets in the 

world. They are cute, 

cuddly, and make great 

companions, but also have a 

reputation for being prolific 

breeders, and their population 

can quickly get out of control 

without proper care. 

Female cats can start 

reproducing as early as 4-6 

months of age, and a single 

female cat can have up to three 

litters in one year, with an average 

litter size of 4-6 kittens. That 

means that in just two years, a 

single unsterilised female cat and 

her offspring can produce up to 

80 kittens! It's easy to see how 

quickly the cat population can 

get out of control without proper 

care. Many of these kittens may 

not find homes and end up on 

the streets, where they can face a 

life of hunger, disease, and 

danger. This is why it's essential to 

get your cat spayed or neutered. 

Spaying and neutering are 

simple procedures that prevent 

unwanted litters and help control 

the cat population. Spaying is the 

surgical removal of a female cat's 

ovaries and uterus, while 

neutering is the surgical removal 

of a male cat's testicles. These 

procedures not only prevent 

unwanted pregnancies but also 

offer numerous health benefits 

for your cat, such as reducing the 

risk of certain cancers and 

infections. 

Moreover, spaying and 

neutering can have a positive 

impact on your cat's behaviour. 

Spayed and neutered cats may 

exhibit improved behaviour, 

including reduced aggression, 

spraying, and yowling. 

Additionally, these procedures 

can prevent reproductive 

disorders such as ovarian cysts, 

uterine prolapse, and testicular 

torsion. They also decrease the 

risk of roaming and fighting for 

unneutered male cats, which can 

increase their risk of injuries, 

infections, and exposure to 

diseases. 

It's important to note that 

spaying and neutering should be 

done by a licensed veterinarian. 

The procedure is typically done 

under general anaesthesia and is 

considered safe for most cats. 

Your vet can provide you with 

more information about the 

procedure and what to expect. 

If you have any questions or 

concerns about spaying or 

neutering your cat, talk to your 

veterinarian to learn more. 

Remember that spaying and 

neutering not only benefit your 

cat but also help reduce the 

number of cats that end up on 

the streets and in shelters, 

improving the lives of cats and 

communities. n 

28 



About us: 

We are a non-profit, no-kill cat wellfare 

organisation. We have been operating 

since 2000. We do not receive any 

government funding and rely on the 

generosity of animal lovers throughout 

Gauteng for support and donations. We 

work tirelessly through a network of 

volunteers and fosters to improve the 

lives of hundreds of unwanted and 

abandoned cats and kittens by finding 

them loving homes. 

How to get 

involved: 

We need foster parents! People who can 

provide a loving environment for kittens to 

grow up and thrive in. All you need is a spare 

room, transport and lots of love to give these 

babies. We provide food and cover medical 

costs that are needed to foster, 

 

We also accept donations to help look after 

all these angels. 

You can donate 

through an EFT into the following account: 

Account name: Kitty Shelter 

Bank: FNB 

Account number: 6274 2088 900 

Branch: Melrose Arch 

POP: info@kittyshelter.co.za 

How to contact us: 

www.kittyshelter.co.za 

@cataholics_kitty_shelter 

info@kittyshelter.co.za 

To visit us at the shelter, email 

merien@kittyshelter.co.za to make an 

appointment (by appointment only)

Pivotl - Issue 2-2023

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?