Bubu had to wing it at first, but now soars
She thought she was born for the stage, but today Unathi Bubu is an Eastern Cape businesswoman who owns three franchises.
Bubu says she was at the right place at the right time when she saw an advert in the Daily Dispatch of the Airports Company South Africa putting out a tender appealing to potential companies to apply to run restaurant outlets at the top floor of the East London Airport.
She now owns Mugg & Bean, Fishaways and Keg & Spitfire with a staff complement of 90 employees across the three restaurants.
At the time, the Lusikisiki-born entrepreneur was between catering and cleaning contracts with Eskom and Transnet in East London and Johannesburg when she decided to try her luck and apply for the life-changing opportunity of owning a big business.
“I saw it and I knew I wanted it, even though everyone around me thought I was being too ambitious. They were convinced that not just anybody could get space at the airport,” said Bubu.
“However I got a lot of support from my family and approached franchisors who were more than willing to have a young black woman own their franchise and I received guidance from as early as when I was applying for the tender.”
The Nelson Mandela University graduate said she was encouraged by the support from the franchisors who were impressed with her ambition and drive, especially because she was 26 at the time.
“I was honestly at the right place at the right time. During that period when I approached Famous Brands, my franchisors were really excited and looking for young black women to empower and they still are. They gave me support until I got the call in 2016 that I was awarded the tender.”
She said she then had to deliver and find money to make her business happen.
“With time against me, I couldn’t wait around for government funding agencies even though I had applied. Their funding models did not work for me because time was of the essence and I needed incumbent cash as in yesterday,” she said.
Bubu said she received funding from an Absa franchising development officer and the Thembani Guaranteed Fund, which helped her get the business up and running.
With only a Btech qualification from TUT and four years working experience at Japan Tobacco International, Bubu said she was not ready for running a business of this magnitude.
“You can never be ready. Every day is a learning experience and everyday I still make mistakes but some things are just lessons that nobody can teach you.
“What is important is to keep communication open with all your stakeholders and to get involved in your business.
“People are always so scared of failing and applying, with the belief that ‘that job or that tender has someone’s name on it already’ but you never know until you try,” she said., with some conviction.