FOCUS Fashion business
FOCUS Fashion business turnover increased nearly 100% after focussed interventions Seda helped fashion designer Lindiwe Makhoba take her Colenso-based business to another level. Fashion design business Unalisa was established and registered by Lindiwe Makhoba in 2016. The business operates from the founder’s home and is located in Narrow Lane in Colenso in the uThukela District. Lindiwe is a self-taught designer who provides beauty and fashion products. As the entrepreneur who started the business, Lindiwe aimed from the beginning to serve customers with simple, elegant and stylish fashion. The fashion-designing idea came about while Lindiwe was studying in Durban. She would often do fashion consulting and offer advice to friends and fellow students. The next step was to establish relationships with other small sewing businesses in Tsakane to do the sewing after the design phase. Unalisa has been represented at various trade fairs in KwaZulu-Natal and in Mpumalanga since it was established. As part of the business idea was to offer beauty products to her customers, Lindiwe signed up for training in perfume and lotion manufacturing. After this training, these products were added to Unalisa’s offering to the market. Intervention and solutions The business was assisted with access to the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg (Trade Exhibition) for more exposure to the market. In May 2021 Unalisa (Pty) Ltd received funding of R93 000 from Sefa and this was used to purchase five pieces of industrial sewing equipment and two over-lockers. Seda’s interventions benefitted the client in the following ways: • The number of employees doubled from two to four. • The Sefa funding came through to boost the business. • Annual turnover increased by 98%. Through the trade exhibition the following improvements were noted: • Unalisa was noted by TIKZN and the business was later assisted to exhibit at the London Fashion Week. • A contract was secured to supply Superbalist, an online shop, with designer clothing. Challenges An assessment of the business conducted by Seda revealed the following challenges facing the business: • Lack of business exposure, marketing • Lack of finance to purchase equipment “I am very delighted about the help I got from Seda and wish other businesses could be helped like I was.” KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2022/23 22
FOCUS An interactive website propelled a tourism business to success PSN Travel Frenzy gained access to multiple markets after Seda gave advice. PSN Travel Frenzy is a black-, female-owned business established and registered in 2017. It is currently run by the youthful owner, Pretty Ngubane, and is based at No 86 Ceramic Curve, Unit 7, Alton, Richards Bay. The business provides travel management services (local and international), tourism marketing for township-based hospitality establishments, tour operator services and events management. Its focus is on historical, industrial, cultural heritage and township tourism. The business works hand-in-hand with prominent events management companies, game reserves and hospitality establishments in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo in order to gain a sustainable market and promote its brand. It is affiliated to the Umhlathuze Community Tourism Organisation and Tourism KwaZulu- Natal to have access to industry-related market information, compliance information, advocacy and marketing platforms, as well as continuous training and development. Challenges PSN Travel Frenzy was initially assisted by the uThungulu branch of Seda with the first intervention in September 2019 through a trade exhibition. An assessment was conducted and it was found that the business needed assistance with access to markets. There was limited exposure of the business to customers and no platform for customers to access information that could be used to improve its base. The business also had very limited marketing material to put into effect the marketing strategy it had adopted. Interventions and solutions Seda recommended e-marketing through website development. The website was designed and developed to have a responsive and mobile-friendly eight-page website, allowing tour-package bookings (including booking forms, automated responses and a secure online paygate), flight bookings, car rentals and accommodation. The digital platform was developed for the client to tap into the national and international markets. Seda’s interventions benefitted the client in the following ways: • Revenue increased by 109%. This was as a result of online presence which allowed accommodation establishments to secure shuttle as well as car-hire services offered by the client. • The number of employees remained at two (including a tourism intern). “The intervention is assisting a lot in terms of generating leads and I can interact directly with customers while they are busy viewing the website.” 23 KWAZULU-NATAL BUSINESS 2022/23
