Winston Naidoo | Equipped Digital Goods & Electrical (EDGE)

Programme sponsor: Shell LiveWIRE

“I was always into renewable energy. Now, I have a business that focuses on renewables and technology, and I’m able to create jobs. To me, that’s the biggest achievement.”

I went to a trade school and I would always run side projects –buying solar panels and building my own lighting systems, looking for ways to reduce electricity consumption, knowing that prices would rise. It’s gratifying to look back and see I was right.

After school, I got my certification as a wireman. I also studied IT – I knew the Internet of Things would merge with the electricity part. Bringing those things together, I started EDGE.

Investing in my growth

Technology is constantly changing. I enjoy it because it keeps me on my toes. There’s always something you can learn and new ways to grow. But, as an entrepreneur, I’m constantly reminded of aeroplane demonstrations where they say you need to put your own oxygen mask before you can help anybody else. So, I’ve always been intentional about learning and doing courses. I knew I had to put myself on the right path to create jobs.

Accountability and benchmarking

When you head up an organisation, there’s nobody pushing you to do something – you’re not accountable to anyone.

Shell LiveWIRE sponsored me on a Supply Chain Support programme, powered by Raizcorp. As part of the programme, you’re assigned various guides, which gives you someone to hold you accountable; someone to talk to about the things you’re facing who understands and who provides you with guidance and tools you need. One of the most helpful things is just knowing how you’re doing – are you headed in the right direction? Is there an area where you’re lacking? That helps to build confidence.

I’ve always known it’s important to work on the business and not just in the business, but I found that difficult. It’s like wanting to lose weight – you know what you need to do, but it’s hard to do it.

Being part of the programme has made me set time aside. Now I’ve seen for myself the benefit of doing it. And when you realise it for yourself, that changes things.

Navigating tough times

Through what I have learned on the Raizcorp programme, EDGE has been able to grow, even through tough times where other companies haven’t made it.

I first joined the programme in 2020. We set our sales target at R100 000 per month. That was during COVID-19, and it was a struggle to survive. But since then, we’ve grown thanks to increased demand for solar energy solutions. When I rejoined the programme in April 2023, we grew the average monthly sales to R1,26 million in the first seven months.

While the recent lack of loadshedding has meant business is slower, we’ve taken on our biggest project to date in 2024: installing a 300kW system at a distribution centre for one of South Africa’s largest online retailers. We’ve also got a 4.3MW project at a new development in the pipeline, which means about 8000 solar panels we’ll need to install.

We’ve even had to purchase additional vehicles for our team. That’s a big change from when we started and I was driving around doing everything myself in a little Hyundai Getz.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the jobs we’re now able to create – hiring professionals and paying them professional salaries. I’m currently considering opening a second branch. It’s a business accomplishment, but also a personal one for me: to have enough work to have that opportunity.

Advice for other entrepreneurs

There’s that expression, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life”. But I would add you need to know why you’re in business too, beyond making money. Because if that’s the only reason, you’ll never be satisfied. You’ve got to do what you love and you’ve got to fight each day. If you’re fighting it means it’s worth something – you don’t fight for something that’s worth nothing.

A message for my sponsor

I’m grateful to Shell LiveWIRE and to Raizcorp for the opportunity to be on the programme, to further my education. We would not have had the success we’ve had if it weren’t for the tools Shell and Raizcorp have given us and the way they’ve believed in us and pushed us to get here.

I’m also thankful to my wife and business partner, Janelle, for standing by me and helping me face the challenges we endured and helping to balance our work and family.