Zania.S skincare range a winning formula

Nonhlanhla Nomcebo Sikhakhane has always dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. Overcoming a variety of obstacles, Sikhakhane remained firm about her goal and established Zania.S, a skincare product range. This is her journey…

Woman Entrepreneur Of The Year

What was your journey to starting your business?

Since the age of 13, entrepreneurship has always been my passion. In primary school I used to make extra cash by selling sweets and chips. No one in my family owned a business and I wasn't raised around a lot of business owners where I grew up in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Losing my job as a property practitioner and suffering from dry skin myself, motivated me to start Zania.S. I wanted to solve this problem for people who are like me, those with dry sensitive skin and dry feet and who prefer organic products that are free from harmful chemicals, parabens and perfumes.

At first I had no clue where to begin. I spent months researching the kind of products I wanted to introduce to the market. With no capital to fund my idea I then had to work as a domestic worker for a while to raise funds for my start-up costs, and a few months later Zania.S was born.

The skincare manufacturing company is based in Ratanda in Heidelberg, and was registered in 2020, with operations starting in February 2021. Unlike many businesses that repackage and resell, I formed a strategic relationship with a certified manufacturing company. They manufacture my skincare products according to my specifications, quality and scent. Using a qualified and certified laboratory has allowed me to aggressively market and gain a fair market share for my products.

Our current products include bath salts, body butters, body wash and hand wash with a variety of fragrances. I outsource the manufacturing process as the business currently has no operating equipment for manufacturing.

I intend to expand my service offering by acquiring machinery to perform the production process, reduce costs related to outsourcing the products, and thus creating employment opportunities.

All our products are developed from natural ingredients, and 64% of those are organic. If the product is not 100% natural it is because we’ve used a small amount of quality fragrance oil instead of natural oil.

The ingredients we choose are always selected with a purpose in mind. For example, the ingredients used in our shower gels are not only to clean but to leave the skin moisturised.

What key characteristics makes you a successful entrepreneur, and what motivates you?

I set achievable goals, and I am creative. I always look for creative ways to solve problems.

I believe in myself and my abilities, and I’m always willing to learn.

What were some of the challenges you have faced as an entrepreneur, and how have you overcome this?

Lack of sufficient equipment for our in-house production; my business is new and does not have sufficient financial capacity to maximise its operations and expand the production and distribution of our products.

Insufficient finance has crippled the marketing and production aspects of the business. Insufficient capital for operations has also resulted in a poor cash flow. My limited manufacturing experience is another challenge.

Our solution is to work on forming strategic relationships with local hotels, especially those that support locally produced products and the growth of small businesses. We will supply them with personal care products.

What were some of the highlights of your journey as an entrepreneur?

The highlights on my journey include the fact that my business has been nominated twice, first by Total Energies competing in 2022 as a Start-Up of the Year; and secondly by Santam as a Rising Star in 2022.

What are the key lessons you have learned?

Entrepreneurship is all about taking calculated risks. Don't be afraid to take a chance on something that excites you.

How do you foresee your business growing in the next five years?

We are working on a few new products, which we will introduce to the public soon. Some of these products include body balms, hand and body moisturisers, bath oils, shaving creams, and bubble bath for children. In the next five years we hope to increase our sales significantly, improve gross margin percentage of the product line and maintain that level. We also want to add products and services to meet market demand and create sustainable jobs. ■