Rucien Petersen, Founder and Managing Director of Spottmedia
Apr 03, 2024
Please tell us your name, where your business is located and what is it that you do?
Rucien Petersen, Founder and Managing Director of Spottmedia (Pty) Ltd. We are located in Cape Town (Western Cape).
Tell us about how you got started.
I interviewed business owners in 2017 in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban and found that they were challenged in 3 aspects of Marketing (Time, Skills and Knowledge). I then realized that there is an opportunity and based on my experience that I could serve those entrepreneurs and businesses with Marketing.
What makes your company unique?
We focus on building personal relationships with our clients to understand their needs and challenges. This helps us to align our services according to their requirements. We understand that we are not here to be served, but to serve our clients and customers.
No business is without setbacks, can you tell us about a time when you faced a significant setback and how you recovered from it?
COVID dealt us a heavy blow in 2020, we lost a few clients due to businesses unable to operate. Due to the pandemic we decided to transition and adapt offering online marketing webinars which helped us to connect with more potential clients.
How do you define success and to what do you attribute your success?
Success is defined by dealing with clients, customers honestly and ethically, while having the ability to solve their problems. Besides working hard, being disciplined and consistent. I think success is also attributed to previous experiences. Your career had to start somewhere so those who gave you an opportunity to learn, grow and gain experience they are the ones who you should always be grateful to.
What's next for your business, what will it look like in 5 years?
What’s next for us is launching our own exclusive business events for entrepreneurs, marketers and business owners as well as a programme geared towards teaching, educating young entrepreneurs and youth with digital skills in order to create jobs to overcome the high unemployment rate.
What do you think the future holds for Africa-focused entrepreneurs and advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are just starting out?
I think the future is filled with opportunities for those willing to work, partner and eager to grow. Africa has many opportunities for solutions, but young, new Entrepreneurs need to be open to see and identify the opportunities. If you starting out, be humble and always seek the opportunity to learn and grow. In the technology space things are continuously changing so never think that you know everything. But continue to remain hungry.
Owning a business while balancing a personal life can be challenging; how do you take care of yourself?
As a husband to my wife and father to two children (3 years old and 1 year old) life can become quite busy and overwhelming at times. The task in raising children as well as managing the family and business is not an easy task and process. What keeps me grounded are my weekly visits to the gym. Exercise is a great stress reliever. As a family we prioritize taking time off and going away, this allows us to relax, rest and to bond as a unit. I do believe that these breaks throughout the year allows us to remain level headed and calm during the difficult times.
What is your favorite quote or mantra? What keeps you going?
Philippians 4:13 (I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength) I love this verse as its always a great reminder that I can achieve anything when I put him first and allow Christ to be the centre of my life. As an entrepreneur your journey is filled with many ups and downs, moments of confidence or doubt and this verse provides me with assurance and keeps me going through the difficult seasons.
What is your favorite app or a business tool that you can't live without
YouCut – Video Editor This tool is a great video editing tool that allows you to upload videos, add music, add text saving it in a high-res format making sure it aligns to any social media platform.