May
28
In this story, Nedbank Chief Economist Nicky Weimar explains to the Dolphin Bay Brief why she hopes the ANC does not fare too badly in the elections, and the implications of various outcomes for the economy – which includes our timber treatment industry, of course. Hoping the ANC slips –...
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Apr
24
When we create a business, we create a new world. Everybody who steps into the business, steps into our world. What kind of world do we want it to be? A frozen wasteland where people live with fear and growth is impossible – a deflationary world, really – or one...
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Apr
24
The South African timber treatment industry is suffering from self-inflicted deflation, which is threatening the collapse of many businesses in a matter of years. Timber traders are the key players driving this trend by insisting that suppliers consistently cut the prices of their treated timber, then playing treaters off against...
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Mar
05
We are entering a Twilight Zone, where the boundary between fantasy and reality begins to blur, as does the line between right and wrong. That may sound like science fiction but it’s the age we live in, as artificial intelligence and robotics increasingly blend into our everyday lives. Daunting, yes,...
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Mar
05
Operations at Africa’s ports are becoming increasingly privatised, a move that many commentators hope will bring increasingly better efficiencies. This is the case in Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, and now in South Africa too. In October 2023, the UAE-based multinational DP World signed a 30-year concession agreement with Tanzania Ports Authority...
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Mar
05
I’m a captain* of a boat sailing through dangerous waters around the African coast. My job is a hair-raising one. There are violent storms to weather; rocky outcrops to navigate past; pirates to rebuff and these days, even missiles to avoid. Perhaps most hazardous of all, my crew becomes demoralised...
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Jan
29
Picture the scene. I ask my nephew Ryan* to pack some crockery into the dishwasher. Evidently, my tone was too kindergarten-teacher, as he looked up at me with a glint in his eye and began to play a game. “You mean these ones? But where? I don’t understand, please explain...
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Dec
11
Our industry forged a more secure future in 2023 by tackling challenges that shook our very foundations. The regulatory uncertainty continued this year, creating enormous uncertainty. But for the most part, we’ve managed to overcome these obstacles. It serves as a reminder to us that sanity must prevail, even in...
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Dec
11
Negative reactions such as fear and outrage can be powerful motivators, providing us with the kick to overcome very sticky challenges. I say this knowing that Dolphin Bay has an unremitting dedication to remaining positive. Nonetheless, there is a power in confronting negativity head-on; this enables us to transform it....
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Dec
11
It has been a year of feast for the timber treatment industry in some of the regions we serve, famine in others and, in South Africa, a period of hanging on tight. Many of the influences are beyond our control, such as shifts in the global economy and unexpected legislation...
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