BLOOMING BUSINESSES How do you grow a small business in tough times? Five entrepreneurs share their stories with DELIA DU TOIT
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hen it comes to business, the news has been full of doom and gloom in recent years. An economic slump pre-dated the pandemic, which desiccated the South African business landscape. Yet a few standout start-ups have managed to rise above and build resilient enterprises in tough times. It just goes to show that a smart idea and an agile mindset can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
TWINKLE BERRY
A smocked dress from Twinkle Berry.
Though she’s been creating smocked children’s clothing since 1992, Soraya Samaai’s business has gained several fans and followers in the past year. Her bespoke outfits are so well-loved that they’ve become family heirlooms. “Some of the children who wore my smocked outfits years ago have since become mommies themselves, and I am now making clothing for their children. I only use very high-quality cotton – I even have the very first dress I made, for my daughter’s first birthday, and it’s still in perfect condition. Most of my dresses are custom-made for children to celebrate important milestones like christenings, birthdays or weddings. These garments hold memories for the children as they grow.”
“I TEACH SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE HOW TO SMOCK AND HAVE LECTURED ABOUT SMOCKING AT FASHION AND DESIGN SCHOOLS. IT’S IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THE CRAFT TO ENSURE IT STAYS ALIVE.” – SORAYA SAMAAI, TWINKLE BERRY
Soraya Samaai
Samaai also makes off-the-rack garments for sale at Stitch ‘n Stuff in Claremont, Cape Town, and has started sharing her love for the craft with others. “I teach small groups of people how to smock and have lectured about smocking at fashion and design schools. It’s important to educate the next generation about the craft to ensure it stays alive.” She’s also learned that nothing beats customer relationships in building a resilient business. “Understanding customers’ needs and wants is vital. You must build a relationship with your clients so that they always come back.” Instagram: @Twinkle_Berry_SA
studio that uses timber from demolition yards or building sites under renovation. One of her most popular products yet is the My Africa Lap Desk, which she started making during lockdown when more people worked from home. “I was inundated with people requesting the product. It’s portable, foldable and a great solution for students and people working from home or in small spaces.” In March this year, she took home the South African Women Lizl Naude Entrepreneurs Climate Change Award (SAWECCA) honouring “the most innovative climate-smart women-owned enterprises in South Africa”.
www.lillyloompa.com Lilly Loompa’s My Africa Lap Desk.
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Though Lilly Loompa started as a jewellery business, Lizl Naude’s successful venture is now known far and wide for its quirky, upcycled decor items. And it all started after a misfortune. “I was working as a corporate PA and events co-ordinator when I fell down some stairs and nearly broke my back in 2004. I started making jewellery while in bed for eight weeks, and it gave me so much pleasure that I decided to quit my job to pursue the business,” she remembers. After later completing an interior decorating course, she switched to making upcycled decor items from waste and officially launched Lilly Loompa Upcycled Homeware in September 2016. She’s since employed an assistant and outsources some production to a local, environmentally conscious manufacturing
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LILLY LOOMPA
