Family counts cost of looted business
The Lab clothing store facing closure
A 10-year family business is at risk of not getting revived after it lost stock valued at over R500,000.
The Lab, a clothing store that sells formal and casual attire at Chris Hani Mall in Vosloorus on the East Rand, is owned by the Tema family. It needs around R250,000 to get back on its feet.
Started in 2010 as a bridal wear and deco shop, it expanded in 2015 when the entire family got involved to include fragrances and clothing. Last Monday, the work put in by the family over the years was like water down the drain in a couple of hours after the entire stock was stolen and the shop damaged. Modishane Tema, the store manager, said it was started by his mother after she and his father pooled their savings to open a bridal wear and deco shop, which initially struggled because weddings are seasonal.
“My sister and I got involved in 2015 when my mom wanted to close the shop as she was struggling with rent,” Tema said.
Their involvement transformed the business and brought about success, which was hindered by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Not only did they lose stock, they also lost customers’ laybyes valued at around R30,000.
“Everything is all gone and we don’t know what we are going to say to those people if they were to call. We had a lot of stock with a value of around half-a-million rand,” Tema said.
Tema said they don’t know where to start as none of the items in the store is insured. “We now have to look for money somewhere and already we are operating on loans, so financially we are over-committed.”
The family is yet to rebuild the shop and mannequins were scattered across the store with nothing of value remaining.
A part of its wall has been broken down, seemingly as looters tried to access a safe of the next door shop as they ravaged the centre.