SoBae

SOBAE

FROZEN SORBETS

Interview by Sikelelwa Vuyeleni

From good friends to couple to business partners, Thula and Thato have been at it for a good 7 years. A couple in a rare business venture of frozen sorbets who saw ripe fruits being wasted and saw an opportunity to make something greater from those by making an alternative healthy dessert. We had a chat with them…..

IQHAWE: How did you see this vision coming to life? Did the experience of having worked in an ice cream store influence the beginning of the journey? SOBAE: The vision came to life by us existing. We first envisioned a clothing line, we wanted something that says this is us and our unity is strong. We did more research to find what problem we could solve- we love exploring the city of Johannesburg so that’s where we started. We saw that street vendors and the city market sell fruits and vegetables and once they go ripe they are thrown out into the street. And yes, working in an ice cream store and talking to people opened up our eyes to a gap in the market.

IQHAWE: From the inception of the idea to where you are now, what has kept you up and running, both as a business and as a couple? SOBAE: The business was established in spring 2017 and now we are celebrating 2 years this spring 2019. Our customers, community and NGOs have helped us keep our business up and running. We have had to understand the importance of working together and being patient with each other.

IQHAWE: As young black newly business people, how has the support from your immediate circles been- your family and friends? SOBAE: As a new business we do need support, more volunteers and family buying and working with us. When we were conceptualizing SOBAE it was not tangible to our friends and family, we wanted to prove to ourselves for the first year that this was a sustainable business. The communities started contributing fruits and herbs from their gardens to our business. Our family and friends are now volunteering and we are receiving grants from international and local NGOs, NPOs and some government organizations. The support is growing and we could not be more grateful.

IQHAWE: How do you balance “business and pleasure”? SOBAE: For the business to go well we both need to be pleasured emotionally, physically and spiritually. And we balance it all through communication.

‘For the business to go well we both need to be pleasured emotionally, physically and spiritually.’

IQHAWE: Considering your product is frozen and it is usually associated with warmer seasons, how have you managed to make it a 365 thing? SOBAE: Food consumption, food waste, illegal dumping – those are all 365. And fruits and vegetables are 365 things. SOBAE works with nature, seasonally and “ice cream” is a culture

when it’s cold. We also switch up our menu when it’s colder by introducing juices and more to come in the future.

IQHAWE: What should your customers expect to experience when tasting SOBAE FROZEN? SOBAE:To experience a taste of real fruit, nostalgic moments, to taste unique South African flavours with rich smooth natural textures. An experience of in-season fruits, veggies and exotic flavor combinations infused with spices and herbs. And mostly experience the LOVE.

IQHAWE: So, you are selling sorbets and your business is called SOBAE, please entice us with the story behind choosing that name? SOBAE: We were already in a relationship when we started the business and after we tasted the first batch we made, it was just SO BAE!

IQHAWE: From selling on the various streets of Jozi to having residency at Victoria Yards, where can we find you next? SOBAE: We are happy to announce that we have a website you can check us out on www.sobae.co.za. That’s where you can find where we are next.

IQHAWE: Lastly, what advice would you give any partnership going into business, especially a romantic one? SOBAE: To give each other chances, to be yourself and be a communicator. Remember to not slack on the romance.