Ricky Ruthenberg has truly taken a ground-up approach to his career. Adapting to opportunities as they present themselves is clearly a powerful skill. From waiting tables at Col’Cacchio to helping launch the first Bootlegger in Sea Point, he’s gone on to build the team that runs a national chain of nearly 100 Bootlegger restaurants.

From espresso to enterprise, this is the story of building something from nothing. Hard work, perseverance and self-belief are the ingredients in this delicious recipe.

On episode 5 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Ricky talks about what it takes to grow a local brand into a national success story.

Episode 5 covers:

• The hard work required when opening a restaurant and why owner involvement is critical in the early days
• Building the Bootlegger brand and overcoming challenges along the way
• Why the group runs a mix of corporate-owned and franchise stores and how that creates opportunity
• The pros and cons of having master franchisees vs many individual franchisees
• How the retail store model helps drive brand awareness and loyalty
• How his role has evolved from cooking and closing up the first store to leading a national team as CEO
• Managing coffee price volatility and the strategies behind it
• How the Bootlegger survived COVID and thrived afterwards
• The value of Capitec as a franchise funding partner

• (00:00:00) - Bootlegger's Success Story
• (00:01:09) - Which keeps you up more at night? Strong coffee or a newborn
• (00:01:44) - Coffee Bootleg
• (00:04:29) - Bootlegger's story on becoming an Equity Partner
• (00:06:41) - Bootlegger Coffee Co.
• (00:08:28) - Bootlegger's secret to success
• (00:10:16) - Peter and Ricky Bloom on Their Early Years
• (00:12:00) - The Coffee Chain's philosophy
• (00:15:02) - Bootleggers Coffee: A National Brand
• (00:17:12) - Keurig Coffee: Going Mainstream with Retail Stores
• (00:20:09) - When I was CEO, my role changed
• (00:24:31) - How Hard Do You Work In the Morning?
• (00:24:55) - Bootlegger's hybrid franchise model
• (00:29:49) - How to start a business with multiple stores
• (00:31:47) - Input costs in the coffee business
• (00:35:46) - Bootlegger's story of survival during the Covid Pandemic
• (00:38:46) - Franchise Banking: Capitec Funding
• (00:40:38) - What Keeps You Motivated?
• (00:42:17) - Support Your Local Bootlegger

Hugh Cunningham is as passionate about customer service and product assortment as he is about medicine. As the co-owner of The Local Choice Pharmacy Harmelia, Hugh focuses on business management, while his wife and co-founder Yolandi ensures the dispensary runs smoothly.

On episode 4 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, Hugh shares excellent insights on specialist retail and how pharmacies really work.

Episode 4 covers:

• Why separation of duties and having a clear decision-maker is critical
• The importance of doing proper financial analytics in any business
• How pharmacies make money and the differences between independent and corporate pharmacy models
• The benefits of being part of a franchise network
• The future of the pharmacy industry and how independent pharmacies can stay competitive

With a background in law and economics, Obaratile (OB) Semenya’s approach to property includes exposure at practically every part of the value chain.

From developing high-end residential projects through Legaro Property Development to driving sales at his real estate agency, Natural Property, he’s mastered the full property journey.

And with extensive experience working closely with Balwin, OB also knows his way around the biggest developments around.

On episode 3 of The Finance Ghost Plugged in with Capitec, he talks about building the world he wants to see around him, all while ‘nerding out’ on the business and sector he loves most.

Episode 3 covers:

• The risks and rewards of the property sector
• Lessons from working across the full value chain
• Insights from balancing development and real estate sales
• Why passion for what you do often makes the rest fall into place