Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
A few basic stitches lead to something big
Only two years on and Pick n Pay is already a customer, writes ASANDA SOKANYILE
AFTER observing people around her at work and realising they were not fulfilled, Ntombi Nonxuba decided to make a change. Nonxuba has turned a small township business into profitable enterprise that supplies uniforms to Pick n Pay stores around the country, and says this “was the start of bigger and better things”.
Hailing from the dusty streets of Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape, Nonxuba grew up watch her mother sew school uniforms for children in their township.
When Nonxuba started her business, Phakamile Enterprises, in 2007 with an informal trading service in Khayelitsha, she never dreamt she would land a contract of the Pick n Pay magnitude.
“This came as a huge surprise to my partners and me because when we went to Pick n Pay we went there to get some funding to help grow our own training centre.”
Nonxuba said in 2010 they formally registered their company so they could approach schools and churches around Khayelitsha for business.
“We trained 10 women and that meant we had the manpower to approach people for work.
“But, because we wanted to grow the business while also helping other women put food on their tables,we knew we had to seek funding from giant companies so we could train more women.”
Two years after they had registered their company they approached several other retailers for funding but it was Pick n Pay which showed an interest, assisting their brand and helping the company grow.
“We knew they had a supplier of uniforms and they could not give us a contract at the time.
“Then they asked us to make their bakery pants for the Pick n Pay Academy in 2013 and that is when the big business started. Now we also do their Mandela Day T-shirts.
“After seeing our beautiful work they offered us a five-year contract to supply their new Pick n Pay local stores. We supply uniforms for 10 of them.”
Nonxuba said they do not employ skilled seamstresses but rather opt to take on women who have little to no sewing experience so they can train them.
This was because many training centres she has visited train women only to make Xhosa traditional wear and nothing else.
“We wanted to move away from that trend and do something amazing with women while ensuring that they are able to contribute to the country’s economy.
“Phakamile Industries seeks to encourage customers to imagine what can be, and help make their vision a reality. We are driven to give every customer a brilliant experience by providing
‘We knew we
unique solutions in a fast and efficient manner.
“We also wanted to ensure that the women we take on can live sustainable lives and are able to grow their families while doing what they enjoy.”
Nonxuba said she now hoped that other retail stores would use her company.
“Having a big corporate company such as Pick n Pay as our biggest client has made a huge difference to the growth of our business, especially in changing the lives of our employees who are able to support their families today.”
Nonxuba’s business is in the Teguka business park in Khayelitsha and she said she wouldn’t have it any other way as the location of her workshop also ensures that her workers live close to work.