The hardest business decision? Knowing what not to grow

Loading player...
In this episode, Guy Hamlin of Republic Lifestyle shares the journey of building a Durban-based manufacturing company that supplies everything from umbrellas and bedding to baby products, pet ranges and hospitality goods across South Africa.

Guy discusses the realities of competing against imports, adapting to changing retail trends and one of the toughest lessons in business: knowing when to walk away from an investment that no longer serves the bigger picture. It's a conversation about resilience, local manufacturing and why protecting what already works can sometimes be the smartest growth strategy of all.
2 Jun English South Africa Business News · Business

Other recent episodes

Fly Ash Africa Turning Waste Into Opportunity

What if the waste from our power stations could help build our roads, bridges and homes? That’s the opportunity Themba Nyembezi and Dirk Odendaal saw when they founded Fly Ash Africa. Their journey hasn’t been straightforward, but persistence and smart South African engineering have helped them turn industrial waste into…
20 Oct 6 min

Neo Technologies targets growth by finding new clients and skilled South Africans

Neo Technologies has built its business by delivering IT and security services across South Africa’s corporate, government and education sectors. But staying relevant in a constantly changing industry is only part of the challenge. Now the question is: how does Neo Technologies find more clients, attract skilled South Africans and…
13 Oct 7 min

Seaweed-powered growth: Afrikelp takes South African innovation global

This episode of Future 50 shines a spotlight on Afrikelp, a South African company using scientifically proven seaweed solutions to improve crop resilience and boost agricultural yields. Pavlo Phitidis explores how founder Nicole has built a business with both local impact and international potential. The conversation focuses on Afrikelp’s ambitious…
7 Oct 6 min

They don’t just sell drones… The bigger business behind Africa Drone Kings

What started with drones has grown into something much bigger. Africa Drone Kings has clocked more than 10,000 hours of drone flying, helping farmers, mines, security companies and other customers turn drone technology into a practical business tool. But as the company expanded, founders Vice Phiri and Andrew Mokoto, alongside…
29 Sep 5 min

Fabrinox: How existing customers became a global growth engine

How do you turn a once-off manufacturing order into a long-term business relationship? Fabrinox Managing Director Wessel van Zyl joins Future50 to unpack how the Paarl-based manufacturer has expanded from metal components into complex assemblies, major projects, installation and maintenance across 36 countries. Plus, Pavlo Phitidis shares the growth lesson…
22 Sep 4 min