Oct 2022 Edition

Mnganam

Siyanda Myeni

Born and bred in Kwandengezi Durban Kwazulu Natal, Siyanda Myeni is the brain behind Emtwini sneaker brand - a new, anticipated and already on demand Mzansi footwear. Before talking Emtwini we asked the father of the “ one year old beautiful twins” Oyikhokonke and Onakhokonke Myeni, also father to the 10 year-old Sinakhokonke Myeni about which Mzansi brand besides his own that he likes and why, this is what he said, “Bathu is one of my favorite Mzansi brands as I have lots of pairs from them already. Why? The name just says it all and I love how they infiltrated the market. Their shoes promote comfortability”.

Take us through your hustling journey – where and how did it all happened? “It all started after I relocated as a teenager to Johannesburg in 2007 to follow my love for soccer. I remember playing for the University of Witswatersrand under 14 division and many teams thereafter. I later returned to Durban to further my studies in Information Technology and on completion I returned to Johannesburg to commence with my IT career as an intern, 11 years later I am now well versed in the industry”.

FounderofEmtwiniFootwear

“2019 and 2021 I lost both my parents, but that did not stop me to embark on a new journey when I saw the gap in the market for footwear - July 2021. So, I started my shoe range with flops and as time progressed, I started working on sneakers”.

"I faced lots of challenges which came with starting a business, but despite the financial challenges and negative criticism from people, I remained true to myself and my passion. With hard work and determination, the Emtwini brand was formally established in 2022".

“The word Emtwini in Zulu (slang) represents “Within a person ” this resonates with me because my dream for the brand is to be “Within” to infiltrate the South African footwear market. The sneaker range houses unique features such as criss-cross lace system, with a comfortable thick sole. Emtwini footwear boosts amazing quality and best prices. The logo signifies that no matter where you are you will always be “Within”. Since he has revealed the Since he has revealed the Since he has revealed the

public has responded with the public has responded with the public has responded with such great love and are very such great love and are very such great love and are very excited and can’t wait to wear excited and can’t wait to wear excited and can’t wait to wear the sneakers. the sneakers. the sneakers.

Which brand/company would you like to collaborate with in future if chance is given and why? “Bathu, because it is a very inspiring South African brand and creative at making something unique.

I’ve also just imagined naming the collaboration “Bathu Emtwini” which means shoe within a person. This would make good sense ” .

When can the public expect the sneakers to hit the market and what are the prices ranges?

The Suede edition which is already in S.A and launching 1 October price is R1500, The Criss cross edition dropping End of October is R1500

The Mpakamo edition dropping November will be R1200 The Emtwini Flops with bright colours will drop December with a price range of R300-R350

Lastly, when not busy building your business, what do you do to unwind? “I also work as an Independent IT Specialist, but to unwind I go to gym, (lift weights) go out with my wife and twins for lunch and drinks, go out with friends for a dance and drinks”.

A Flavourful Adventure

Lesele’s Homefoods was founded by Shaun Mabote, born and raised in South Africa and later joined by Lisa Chivanga whom was born from our sister country of Zimbabwe. The duo is not only partners in business but also personal, and is currently residing in Johannesburg where they run their day to day operations. Before commencing with your journey as Lesele's Homefoods please share if there is any brand/s that is your favourite in Mzansi and why? “We have been inspired by other companies to push our venture into entrepreneurship but one stood out in particular is Babylonstoren, we just love how they were able to grow sustainably throughout decades without the obvious intention to become mainstream”.

When did you commence with LESELE’S HOMEFOODS, what products do you offer and what inspired you to commence with the brand? “I started Lesele’s Homefoods exactly a year ago, because I was inspired but the very person the company is named after “ ma Lesele” of whom so happens to be my mother. She has always made her mango atchar for family and friends for as long as I can remember, so one day my brother and I dabbled on the idea of her starting a business and selling her beloved mango atchar.

I think at the time our family had never really thought or worked towards having anything as a business before. so I kind of shrugged it off as just a thought. But, a few years later here we are, taking the dream and trying to make it a reality”.

“We’ve launched the mango atchar and the strawberry Jam. The products go along with one of our ethos for creating high quality handmade condiments that everyone knows and loves. We’re excited to say that we ’ ve got more products we plan on launching in the future as well”.

Challenges you faced at the beginning and how did you tackle those? “Honestly one of the hardest things is starting off the business without much of a business mindset. We are creatives at heart, so thinking about the logistics of things was and is still a healthy challenge that gets us out of our comfort zone. We’ve also noticed that creating a large quantity can affect the quality of the product and so we vouch for quality over quantity by creating small batches”.

What makes your PRODUCTS unique? And share your business highlights? “What makes our products unique is that they are completely natural and don’t contain any artificial additions of any kind, so that goes for coloring, preservation, thickening and taste. We love the fact that they’re handmade because it gives you a better understanding of the ingredients used to get a consistent vibrant taste with every batch. We also think it just makes it more personal, it’s like cooking for a friend”.

“One of our upcoming highlights is that we’ll be collaborating with Ryū Ken Chi Dojo as a co-sponsor for their Kendo Spring championships, October 2022. This is our biggest one yet, as it gives us a sense of supporting and giving back to our community”.

Who/which brand would you like to collaborate with in future and why that brand/person? “We don’t have a specific person in mind but we would love to collaborate with someone who focuses on bettering themselves through the sense of ‘ubuntu’”.

We asked the duo when not busy with work, what do they do to unwind? Shaun, who is more of a laid back person with intentions to always just focus on what truly matters said, “ one thing that I really like doing is taking care of my space like watering the plants and waking up first thing in the morning to clean and tidy up my apartment, it gives me a sense of comfort knowing that there’s a sense of order around me ” .

“I’m an artist that enjoys researching and learning about the rich histories of different and diverse cultures. So, when I’m not catching up with family and friends, I am a student of the Japanese Martial Arts called Kendo, at the Ryū Ken Chi Dojo based in Rivonia, JHB”, added Lisa.

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Born & made eMzansi Born & made eMzansi

Mnganam is a clothing brand by Zukisani Mrwetyana, who was born in the small village of Ngobozana, near Qobo-Qobo in the Eastern Cape. Currently, Zukisani resides in Cape Town where he runs his daily operations as a growing and renowned clothing brand owner. His response to our matchmaking question about which brand he loves besides his own and why - he replied by saying, “The South African brand that I love is Yaka Denim, their innovative, fresh and stylish approach to denim is beautiful”.

Tell us about the brand, when did you commence with it and what inspired you to even begin with it? “Mnganam is a diverse, authentic & expressive clothing brand based in Cape Town. Founded in the township of Gugulethu, in 2015, the inspiration is drawn from rich South African street culture, incorporating origins of relevancy of cultures into Mnganam Wear. We capture a culture of owning ones dreams, walking and enriching a heritage for a modern South African today”.

Challenges

you faced at the beginning? Market: Carving a niche market for the brand was one of the challenges we faced.

Choosing to focus on a niche helped us with our business strategy, as we now focus on our best customers first because they understand the brand, potential customers second and the rest of the world last. We have find that it is pointless to listen to all the buzz and no business from the larger market that do not understand the brand”.

Manufacturing :With the constant changes in inflation, it is difficult to keep our prices the same and since there are tons of brands in the market, the customers move on to the cheaper brands when they cannot afford your brand. Outsourcing also meant meeting minimum requirements from the manufacturers and we ended up having large stock that we could not move. Setting up our own production studio meant we can produce garments as per orders rather than just outsource everything. Sitting with large stock gathering dust is something we cannot afford as a small business”.

What makes the MNGANAM clothing brand stand out? “True to the meaning of its name (MNGANAM) - Friendship, Design and Fashion are the fundamental roots of the brand emphasizing high importance of celebrating our diverse cultures as South Africans and that is what makes us stand out. And ours, is a genderless brand”.

Who/which brand would you like to collaborate with and why, if chance was given? “The person we would love to collaborate with is Bongeziwe Mabandla, one of the most culturally significant artists to have developed from South Africa in recent years ” .

When you’re not busy pushing the MNGANAM BRAND, what do you do to unwind? “I love hiking with friends, that helps me to unwind and find time to be with people close to me ” .

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Good things take time

We chat to Ayavuyo Sibisi, a 21 year old from Durban KZN, who is the owner and founder of Tropical Paradise Smoothie Bar. Ayavuyo grew up in a business focused family where almost every member of the family had their own business but the most dominated industry by her family was the taxi industry, an industry she believes had led most of her family members to either death or jail. Before we jumped into her Smoothie business we wanted to hear which is her favorite Mzansi brand and why, “I do not really have a specific one but I love every black business, the fact that we are breaking general curses and building each other is what I love and enjoy to see ” . When did you commence with Trpical Paradise Smoothie Bar and what inspired you to even start? “I started the business in 2019, while I was doing my first year in UKZN. Also, I must say this was not my first business as I previously had a loan shark business in high school. However, the smoothie bar is that one business I told myself that I want to grow. The inspiration was of course the business background from home but most importantly it was about reflecting the brightest parts of my childhood and bringing them to life, as I grew up in Venda – Limpopo, a place which is a tropical paradise and my mom used to blend fruit for me and my brother to try out smoothies. So, I used my NSFAS funds to get my business off the ground because the drive to start my own business was to high”.

Challenges

you faced when you were starting? “Main challenge was the less knowledge I had about the necessary equipment to run a smoothie bar. The fact that I had to use my NSFAS funds to fund my business was also a challenge as I had to sacrifice some of my essentials. And after I started the business and products had high demand, at times I would run out of stock from early in the morning. The blenders I had were also for home use, so they could not always manage with the amount of production that was needed to meet the demand – so they would burst or have breakdowns every now and then. Basically, the finances was the most challenging thing because if you start a business with less capital you are mostly going to bump into challenges almost every day”.

What makes your smoothies easy to take and unique? “Since this was all inspired by my mom I think I could confidently say I was taught by the best. Firstly, there are basic home made smoothies and there are smoothies made by us at Tropical Paradise – and not to make it sound like I am marketing my business but we make healthy and quality smoothies, not watery and not tasteless but a good enough balance to deliver what people are paying for”.

Highlights of your business since inception?

“My highlights are including my personal growth, which is influenced by the growth of my business. To be honest, I have seen myself growing as an individual ever since my business started running in 2019. The relationship I have with my business has really made me a wiser, better and smarter person. I really have never imagined being one with my business but it really is such a high for me as I continue the journey”.

Lastly, when not working on the business, what do you do to unwind? “I am always with my son, always teaching him what I do and yes he is so young but I enjoy having him around whether I work seriously or unwinding”.

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linen linen and homewares and homewares

Launched in 2020 by Tumelo Monare, who is the founder and owner of the business. Phomolo Linen is an online store for the finest 100% cotton bed linen and other homeware goods. The business is based in JHB but operates online only for now. “All our products are made in JHB, Durban and Cape Town from imported material”, added Tumelo.

“The brand has done well since inception and that is exciting but it is getting harder and harder as the demand grows, especially that the business is self-funded. With all the growth that our brand has experienced I feel like it is vital to keep up with the demand. For example, I no longer have space in my apartment to keep the products and that means I need to problem solve and find a formal space for the business”, explained Tumelo.

Phomolo Linen has the variety of homeware products that they sell, from duvets to pillows, curtains, gowns and etc. The brand believes in finding time to relax, as much as hardworking is recommended to excel life. The word “Phomolo” only - says it all about their drive to encourage rest, and not just rest but in a comfortable space and comfy bedding.

“Our bed linen goes a long way in ensuring uninterrupted sleep through luxurious comfort that's complemented by stylish simplicity. And we strongly believe that good rest is half the work, so make the most of it - phomola”.

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CALLING ALL 18+ FEMALE SURVIVORS OFSEXUALASSAULT

It is no secret that South Africa has some of the highest statistics of sexual assault worldwide. Often people become desensitised by these statistics and miss out on the stories of the people behind these numbers. As a clinical psychologist, I am trained in numerous therapeutic interventions that are used to enable clients to work through their trauma. We are challenged as clinicians to move beyond our theoretical knowledge and apply it to the individual and the context we find ourselves in. Yet how do we come to understand the path of recovery often paved with judgement, shame and fear, anxiety, and eventual triumph without listening to those who have walked it? I am continuously inspired by the survivors I see in my practice that manage to share their stories wholeheartedly. We sit and talk about the struggles and the triumphs because they matter. They matter in the sense that events do not have to define people, but they can shape them. As Brene Brown says, “Shame cannot survive being spoken and being met with empathy.”

My passion for working with trauma survivors has led me to seek a deeper understanding of how we in psychosocial services can move beyond theory and truly help South African women recover from sexual assault. Historically royal or tribal gatherings aimed at discussing important matters were held under trees, here people could highlight their concerns and needs.

What are we doing?

The journey of recovery for a sexual assault survivor has numerous stages that we would like to learn more about. The aim of this study is to develop an intervention guideline for professionals working with sexual assault survivors that is informed by the voice of the women who will receive these services.

To look at what we as professionals need to do to help survivors activate their strengths and resources in the recovery journey, we are assessing several aspects of current survivors.

In this study, we assess where survivors are currently in their recovery journey by looking at their psychological well-being and posttraumatic stress. We look at internal and external factors enabling or inhibiting their recovery by measuring their resilience. And lastly, we are looking at whether they have experienced any forms of posttraumatic growth since the event occurred. The questionnaires do no ask participants about the event itself, only the dynamics involved in the recovery that follows.

We are asking; What helped, what didn’t and what advice do you have for professionals and other survivors?

Who are we looking for?

The current study only includes female survivors. This is because the dynamics surrounding recovery are different for males and females. We hope to conduct a similar study for males in the future. Do you meet the following criteria?

Female above 18 in Gauteng who has experienced a sexual assault more than three months ago. The sexual assault happened when you were 18 years or older. You have told someone about the assault and attended some therapy or intervention. You feel you can help others better understand the journey of recovery from sexual assault. You are NOT currently involved in a court case about the assault.

Your voice matters: let your story be heard. What will happen if you complete the questionnaires? You will be expected to complete five short questionnaires that should take about 30min in total. Firstly, your participation is completely anonymous. You will be sent an R30 data voucher to reimburse you when you have completed the questionnaires if you give us your cell phone number. Your number will not be shared with anyone outside the research team and will be deleted after your voucher has been sent. Participant scores and narratives will be used with current interventions to develop a new South African guideline that will be freely available for organisations that work with sexual assault survivors.

Author: Lindokuhle Ntshingila

Have

They always look stunning, and their wallet seems like it s never empty - at the same time! Let me tell you the secret sauce: thrifting.

Unfortunately thrifting can get overwhelming, especially if you ' re not experienced. Rummaging through hundreds of clothes to find one item is not for the faint hearted but luckily for you I've got some tips to help you get started (or improve) your thrifting journey.

Preparation

Wear comfortable, fitted clothes and shoes you can easily slip out of. Some thrift stores don't have dressing rooms so you have to be able to try the clothes on top of what you ' re already wearing.

Carry physical cash, especially small notes. Most thrift stores only accept cash as payment so having small notes makes the transactions quick and efficient. Keep your cash somewhere that's safe and secure but easy for you to access. If you thrift in the streets like I do then this tip is essential for safety.

Create a list of the clothing you ' re looking for. Having a list gives you direction and prevents costly distractions. Keep your list short - two to four items at a time is a good number.

Thrifting

Reference your list as you shop. Look for any colours, patterns, styles or materials that catch your eye. This cuts your thrifting time down and reduces your chance to impulse buy. Take your time. Thoroughly check the quality of each piece of clothing that you want to buy. Look for any holes, tears, stains, loose thread or discoloration. You want the best quality for your money.

Try it on over what you ' re wearing. If the clothing item passes the above step then try it on. Trying the item is important because you need to know whether it fits and how the material feels when it's on your body.

Don’t be afraid to buy bigger items because you can always get the clothes altered. Opt for materials that age well. These are materials such as leather, silk, hemp, denim or cotton. If you thrift items made from these materials they'll just get better with time. Thrift with a friend and make it fun! It's way easier to shop all day when you ' re having fun.

Styling and Wearing

Once you ’ ve brought clothes home, always wash them before you wear them.

Alter any clothing that doesn't fit well. Getting your clothes altered is crucial to looking well put-together regardless of your clothes being thrifted or store bought.

Consider repurposing any regret purchases. Maybe you hate the way that patterned shirt looks on you, so why not wear it as a head scarf? Or maybe it looks better if you wear it as a skirt? Get creative in the way you use your clothes.

Don't forget to add accessories to your outfit. Clothes are great but accessories bring an outfit together. Keep an eye out for belts, bags and jewelry when you ' re out thrifting.

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Final judging round in front of a panel, done.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Event Awards (NMBBEA) aim to showcase the depth and professionalism of suppliers to organizations who wish to host their business events in our city.

Business events include conferences, seminars, tradeshows and expos. More than 200 nominations were received this year, representing a diverse and inspiring group of local businesses and entrepreneurs.

The selection process is rigorous. After nominations closed in July, nominees had to submit a portfolio and references to proceed to the next level. These portfolios went through a first round of judging, at which 3 finalists were chosen for each category.

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Amandla – Stand up for tolerance, respect and peace.

Following last year ’ s intercultural exchange from the Amandla 2021, where they featured Poeticsoul and Nomabotwe from the Nelson Mandela Bay. This year the team hosted Edgar Muzah, joined by Mthokozisi Mabuza and Tavern Solomon. Through these exchanges the team seeks to have long term intercultural exchange programs between Eastern Cape artists and Lower Saxony artists, facilitated by aBantu Development Agency in the Eastern Cape and the sister Organisation aBantu Development e.V. the sister organisation in Osnabrück Lower Saxony in Germany.

Under this year ’ s theme "Stand up for tolerance, respect and peace " , the exile association invited the Osnabruck community to a meeting evening on Friday, September 16, at 8:00 p.m. in the Lutherhaus as part of its 35th anniversary and the "Festival of Cultures". On the one hand, information can be obtained and exchanged about the work of the association and especially about the counseling and support for victims who have experienced right-wing, racist, anti-semitic or any other form of inhuman violence. On the other hand, the association invited the community to a special musical concert program, because music is an excellent medium to draw attention to social issues.

One of the guests from South Africa who performed this year was Edgar Muzah & Friends. Edgar is a Zimbabwean born and now resides in South Africa. He is a musician, bassist, music producer, composer and arranger – who has played and worked with some of the best musicians in South Africa and around the world.

The Konvenient Magazine

Edgar's unique and distinctive sound is deeply rooted in Africa, but also contains global musical elements. With his wonderful recent debut solo album "Son Of A Tribe", Edgar addresses themes of the continent and paints a clear picture of the true Africa as he sees it through his eyes. Besides Edgar Muzah on bass, the band consists of pianist Mthokozisi Mabuza and drummer Tavern Solomon. We spoke to Edgar about his experience on the festival and this is what he said, “First, the call to go to Germany was such a great honour for me, as I sometimes go play in Europe but this time I was invited. Also, the fact that it was an opportunity for me to play for a new crowd, I was so excited because I knew new crowd means new organic following to my music. The overall experience surpassed everything I thought it would be, great reception and warm crowd. Prior our performance some local artists did mention how difficult the crowd can be at times but I was so happy when the same crowd shouted that “ we want more ” just after our last set”.

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Images by: Angela von Brill Click

HOW CUSTOMER RETENTION CAN GROW ONLINE STORE

Are you wondering why your online store is just not growing as quickly as you thought it would? Maybe you had it all planned out. Maybe you even had a business plan? You know, numbers and stuff that made sense. And the theory checked out.

But now you ’ ve put it to practice,and things are just not going the way you thought it would? You have sales, but every month is a struggle to break even. Even when you make profit, it’s minuscule. You see, most eCommerce store’s revenue and profit charts look like the graph below.

It’s gettingharder and harder to break through revenue plateaus. Every month is a fight! Worst of all is profit is declining regardless of your efforts. Sound familiar?

If it does, it’s okay. You are not the only one. But that’s why I’m writing this article. It’s my job to help you gain clarity on why your business might be stuck in the mud. Are you ready for it? Here we go!

The Reason You Aren’t Seeing Massive Growth Might Be Because Your Repeat Customer Rate Sucks!

Let me explain. Did you know thatmost eCommerce stores don’t make much profit on their first sale? And that’s okay. That’s actually normal in case you were wondering!

That is why growing an eCommerce business is so difficult. Rising advertising costs on Google and Facebook is already making it difficult to find your first customer.

However, getting people to come back and buy again… Well, that’s tougher than trying to find an open table at a nice restaurant on valentine’s day.

It’s possible, but you are going to have to make a few calls. However, don’t take my word for it. Just have a look at the graph below.