Wendy Bourbon
Restaurateur by trade, Wendy Bourbon found herself doing tele-sales for Kwikweb in Cape Town several years ago. While successful, she decided to move to Pretoria in late 2010 and focus on being a website consultant.
It quickly paid dividends.
Such was her passion and drive that in her first two weeks in Pretoria, Bourbon sold 12 websites. But for the dynamic Bourbon, who had no prior technical experience, the challenge now was to build those websites from scratch.
“During those early days, I was very technologically challenged. Fortunately, the Kwikweb platform is very easy to use and the head office gave me incredible support. It was quite something getting those initial sites off the ground but I had a lot of fun, and still do.”
With Kwikweb, Bourbon says that companies of any size can afford to get a website that is custom-designed to fit their needs.
“One of the biggest concerns small company owners had in 2010 (and still do) was the high cost of getting a website up and running. But with Kwikweb, this is no longer the case. I have done sites for virtually every budget catering for entrepreneurs all the way up to large organisations. “My clients can focus on their business while I take care of designing, publishing, and maintaining their sites.”
Such has been her passion for growing her enterprise that Bourbon already has 340 clients, well on track to hit her goal of 500 by the end of 2016. This is even more impressive given the fact that she took off six months in 2014 to have a baby.
“With Kwikweb, I can customise websites according to the industry of the business. So whether it is a restaurant, an estate agent, or a doggy parlour down the road, there are modules that suit their every need. The simplicity of the tools makes them easy to learn but their capabilities are really powerful.”
In fact, she advises any new Kwikweb agent to first get comfortable in using the tools and seeing first-hand what can be done with them.
“Once you are comfortable with the platform, selling becomes so much easier. People should also not be afraid to make phone calls and speak to as many potential clients as possible. Remember never to get discouraged and keep on knocking on doors for new company.”
With Kwikweb, a consultant can create any kind of website. There is always a way to fit into the budget of a company.
“I honestly believe in the product. It adds real value to my clients’ businesses and doesn’t cost a fortune. This of course helps when selling the product - which I do with a clear mind. I also love the freedom and flexibility that being a Kwikweb consultant brings. There is still so much untapped potential in the country for companies needing quality websites. Anybody with commitment and perseverance can be successful.”
David Gouws
Another such success story is that of David Gouws, the founder of Sureweb in Port Edward, KZN. Gouws came across the opportunity so start selling the website design and hosting packages five years ago. Today he has a team of 8 people that include web designers, graphic designers and content managers to help service the growing demand for cost-effective websites.
When asked about how he switched from restaurant owner to website development businessman, Gouws responded "I knew the owners of Kwikweb well and thought I'd give it a go on a part-time basis. After a few months into it I thought I had better give my full attention to the opportunity and that's when I really started seeing the growth. I employed an office assistance and we kept growing the enterprise from there. What has been pivotal in our success is our belief in the product. No one can build a website with this type of functionality faster or cheaper".
Gouws is also involved with Kwikweb's leadership programme that trains new resellers. "This is a job opportunity for individuals who are open to developing their sales skills. What's great about reselling this product is that there is no need for any prior design or web developing ability. I certainly didn't start with any. That said, you can and will learn valuable new skills and have the potential to generate an income through a lucrative and recurring revenue share model".