Wendy Dlomo

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BUSINESS

I grew up in the township of Sobantu Village in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZuluNatal, and graduated with an MBA from the University of Natal, and now run The Living Collective (TLC), which is a fullservice, self-catering accommodation rental company offering guests the option of short or long-stay accommodation, furnished or unfurnished apartments, with the added value of an in-house car rental service. Our collection of homes and apartment options has been sensibly designed to provide guests with the perfect combination of convenience and luxury.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE START OF YOUR BUSINESS?

The idea to start the company came when my family and I relocated from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in 2017. The house we were building in Pietermaritzburg was still under construction and we had already sold the property in Durban. We faced several challenges trying to find accommodation in Pietermaritzburg that could cater to our short-term lease needs and was fully furnished. This presented the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap in the market by providing a hotel alternative with the same standards but with the space and comfort of a home at a fraction of the costs. TLC was born in 2018.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO GET UP EVERY DAY AND WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS?

My love for property and decor and interacting with people!

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED AS A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR IN THE MIDLANDS AREA?

It’s not easy to be a black female in this industry. There are issues of collaboration that can be difficult due to the space we operate in as well as resistance we get over the type of business we provide. However, we have managed to deal with these challenges and continue to do what we do best, which is to offer a service that is loved and appreciated by a lot of our clients.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY LESSONS YOU'VE LEARNT ABOUT OWNING YOUR BUSINESS?

The buying process was more complicated than I anticipated. I also underestimated the amount of work that goes into maintaining a property. I learnt the importance of focusing on marketing your business no matter how much you may think your brand is out there.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS?

In the words of Robert Kiyosaki, real estate investing remains the tried and true means of building individual wealth and cash flow. You don’t need to invest where you would stay but where there is a demand for rentals. Market, market, and do more marketing. Love what you do so you are able to withstand the hard times, as there will be difficult moments in your journey.