Celebrating life: Passion Projects

Young black women are doing it for themselves! Be inspired by these entrepreneurs who turned their interests into thriving businesses.

OFENTSE MONYELA, 30

Setters Furniture Ofentse is the director of Setters Contemporary Furniture, which custom-makes furniture for the bedroom, living and dining room. A sound accounting and finance background after working in two prominent banks prompted a desire to invest in a business.

How did the business come about: “I wanted to give back to my community by sharing my experience and knowledge. In 2012 I started putting money aside and looked for a business to invest in. I moved into a new place and was looking for new furniture. A friend recommended a company she knew. The co-owner created beautiful pieces for me; they fit my needs perfectly. When they delivered my furniture, I noticed how small the team was. So I approached them about my investment interests and then we began formal negotiations in 2013. I roped in a friend with great business acumen to help me during the business talks.

“To prove to the business owners how serious we were, I started a Facebook page to sell some of the furniture online. All the money we made from those sales was deposited in a separate bank account. I hired staff to sell Setters furniture in exchange for 5% commission. I’d update the Facebook account every day with pictures of finished products so clients could see how it looked before delivery.”

Getting the business started: “We registered Setters Furniture in 2013. We liked the name because it’s taken from trendsetters, which is what we do in the furniture space. There are four of us in the company; the founding business couple still makes the furniture from the factory and are full-time, I’m responsible for the day-to-day management and sales, while my friend is a silent partner.”

The inspiration: “It made sense for me to invest in Setters Furniture because that’s what I wanted to do. I wasn’t passionate about décor or furniture – I just had a passion for business and seeing its potential for growth. A Setters client is a person who wants quality, tailor-made furniture at an affordable price.” Business growth: “We dedicated the whole of 2014 to promote the business. In April 2015, we found space in Randburg. I knew people wanted to see the furniture before buying it so getting a store was important. I resigned from my job in 2016 so I could focus full time on growing the business.”

Highlights: “In October 2017 we launched our second store in Menlyn Mall, Pretoria. We now have our own factory and 20 employees.”

Challenges: “Meeting the demand is a huge challenge. We’re looking at getting a second factory.”

PULENG MAKHETHA, 30 KGOMOTSO MOKHESI, 29

Dots, Stripes & Bows During the day, the pair works in the construction field but after 5pm, they swap their hard hats for designer and clothing brand caps. Kgomotso met Puleng at Wits University in 2007. Now they have their own locallymade baby apparel that boasts simplicity and style for babies between three and 18 months.

Inspiration: “I became a first-time mom in 2016. As I was shopping, I noticed shops had nothing in neutral tones, or what I liked was expensive. I moaned about it until someone said I should make my own.” – Kgomotso

How the business came about: “I approached Puleng because she has a design and art background and she knew what I liked. We knew that to set ourselves apart, we had to stick to neutral soft tones and quality unisex items but at affordable prices.” – Kgomotso

Getting the business started: “We know that we’re creating items for a modern mom who wants something different – gender neutral clothing is just that. We came up with a project execution plan and a time frame and divided the tasks according to our interests. ” – Puleng

“We met every week to monitor our progress. We registered in January 2017 and began producing the clothes in July. That’s when it felt real! Surrounding ourselves with knowledgeable and supportive people was really helpful. After doing our own research, we knew it was time to bite the bullet and go for it. We used our savings to get Dots, Stripes & Bows off the ground. The manufacturing costs the most.” – Kgomotso Business growth: “The feedback has been amazing. We’ve achieved a lot in a very short space of time. Innovation is what distinguishes Dots, Stripes & Bows. We use social media to engage our customers and to drive traffic to the website. We also have regular deals and pop-up stalls.” – Kgomotso

Challenges: “Finding the perfect fabric locally to match our designs can be challenging.” – Puleng

“Time is also another struggle. We still have our day jobs and families. We have to respond to orders, update our social media and website. We hold our planning meetings over the weekend.” – Kgomotso

Highlights: “Meeting people at the markets and seeing their reactions is wonderful. Also, being tagged on the posts of babies wearing our clothing is fulfilling.” – Puleng

MARCIA NOTSHE, 34

Zoya Naturals “I had natural hair for most of my childhood. My aunt would diligently do my hair every Sunday but, my goodness, it was pure torture and unbearable,” Marcia laughs. A pastor of Every Nation Church in Rosebank, she tells us how how Zoya Naturals was born while she was based in South Korea five years ago.

How did the business come about: “While in South Korea in 2013, I realised there was nothing for my daughter’s curly kinky hair. I did research and started mixing shea butter and oils for her hair. It worked very well; my hair also loved it. I learnt how to take better care of our unique hair texture.”

The inspiration: “Two years later, we came back to South Africa. Soon enough, friends who had children of similar age as my daughter started asking what I was using on her hair. I started making the mixes for them. The feedback was encouraging so I dedicated a lot of my time to perfecting the product.” Getting the business started: “I officially started selling Zoya Naturals in May 2016. I used unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and extra virgin oil. I scented it with ylang-ylang or grapefruit. I’ve since ditched the virgin oil from my mixes. Starting the business was emotionally overwhelming but getting amazing referrals from friends and family made me carry on trading. I worked with knowledgeable people and fans to create the website and logo. I had to hustle to find the perfect packaging and suppliers! I spent so much time on the road, searching for them, but it was an enjoyable challenge.” Business growth: “Zoya Naturals is selffunded, but once we were up and running a friend invested in my business. That extra money enabled me to get the website up and grow the business. I don’t have an entreprenerial background but I feel more confident now in pushing the product and the brand because I know first-hand how the products work. This year, I plan to market and sell Zoya Naturals more rigorously. The online space is working for me. We also offer hair consultations, which is a great brand extension. I get to meet the clients, which is a personal touch. Zoya Naturals is for young professionals and moms who want the best for their children when it comes to looking after their natural hair.” Highlights: “Having a product that caters to Black African women and knowing it was made solely with them in mind. Creating such a platform is great and amazing for the brand.” Challenges: “I’m juggling many balls as a mom, wife, pastor and businesswoman. Finding the balance can be a challenge.”

ANN MALINGA, 39

Blaque Petals Ann is the owner of Blaque Petals, which offers the beauty of nature through fresh luxury flowers. This online floral boutique is a tailor-made service and aims to encourage love. “We specialise in the provision of fresh flowers like boxed roses, floral decoration, floral walls, floral booths for events, luxury gift hampers, office and home flowers. Our flowers are arranged in a wet oasis that keeps them fresh. We also source luxury gifts for our clients,” explains Ann.

How the business came about: “I founded Blaque Petals in 2016 and launched on Mother’s Day. I’d never dreamed of being a florist – it’s something that came when I accepted that I’m addicted to flowers and unique gifting. My love for fresh flowers and the effect they have on women attracted me to the flower business.”

Getting it started: “We cater for individuals who have a love for the finer things in life. Branding is something I’ve always been passionate about because I’m creative. I like experimenting with different styles and colours. I was able to develop a unique brand that is about luxury. I also found inspiration from international companies that sell boxed roses. In order to be able to deliver flower arrangements, we developed an extensive marketing network that enables us to guarantee timely delivery to the designated destination. Our network comprises of a well-trained team, which includes drivers and dealers who have prominent market presence and excellent logistical facilities. That really helps Blaque Petals provide speedy supply and delivery of the floral arrangements.” The inspiration: “There are many factors that set us apart from our peers and competitors. Our mission is to offer quality flowers and gifts at affordable prices. We also have a loyal customer base thanks to our customer-focused employees and fast and efficient service.” Challenges: “Inconsistent rainfalls, climate changes and high importing costs affect the business. The stress that comes with making sure our flowers are of superior quality and delivered on time is high. When I started, my biggest fear was failure, and the fear of people dismissing Blaque Petals because our prices.” Highlights: “We’ve witnessed tremendous growth and business expansion; we’ve even reached Namibia! I’m always looking for new ideas and working on expanding in the continent.” *This interview was done before Ann’s husband, Robbie Malinga, passed away in 2017.