NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS MOGUL WHO USED SELF-HELP BOOKS TO BROADEN HIS BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE

Johannesburg, 29 June 2018 - Jacques Steenkamp (33) is a man with a mission. Born on an ostrich farm in the Northern Cape, and the only child of an industrious Afrikaans couple, he grew up on the vast arid plains of the Cape, learning to appreciate the smaller things in life, but developing aspirations that would one day extend right around the globe. With an interest in how the business world works, Jacques began dabbling in business from an early age, farming with chickens from Standard 7 already. Yet despite an idyllic farm life, his analytical way of thinking and an interest in finance and statistics was calling him to study, which saw him, graduate as a Chartered Accountant with a Masters in Taxation from NWU several years later.

While at varsity, his enquiring nature for more information really began to take off, getting his hands onto any sort of self-help book or business journal that would broaden his knowledge.  He is a maximiser (can take the least and make something from it), analytical, deliberative (able to anticipate risks and work out a solution), futuristic and responsible). But accounting wasn’t his game. While doing his articles, he realised that there was more to life than pushing papers and crunching numbers. So he resigned, and returned to the farm, where his entrepreneurial spirit thrived again.

In 2007, he travelled to China (and every year since) subsequently seeing a professional relationship with a Chinese businessman develop, who is now a partner too. In 2013, Jacques launched Cool SA, a supplier of top quality evaporative and portable air coolers. The business is thriving, with most of its sales occurring online, and is at a point of setting up a distribution hub in either Cape Town or Joburg. The firm imports coolers from China, branding them under the name “Viento” (meaning wind in Spanish) and selling them off a well-ranked website. His intention is to grow the business nationally, with plans to focus specifically on the Western Cape, KZN and the Eastern Cape (the hotter areas in the summer months).

“I have plans to expand  through a different business  into Africa – meeting the needs of different countries, by working through embassies and having goods manufactured either locally, or in China, and exported into these countries, but that is a long-term plan” Says Jacques Steenkamp

He also has been farming for many years in Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape. He has a company called Muttlam which is well known for quality sheep meat. It specialises in the production of sheep meat, from breeding, slaughtering to distribution. Jacques farm Vleismerino sheep and have his own feedlot, with an abattoir & meat production facility to supply great tasting meat.

 Another opportunity is to potentially launch an online fashion retail store where a percent of sales would be donated to charity – something of which is close to his heart. But for now the focus is on building Cool SA, as well as his professional profile.

For more information, please contact:LEBOGANG SERAPELWANEEntertainment & business Publicist.073 0634 607