Alex based entrepreneur is bringing fresh smell to the township
Local resident and entrepreneur Mashudu Mutheiwana celebrates community’s response to her new brand, both the good and the bad.
When life necessitated entrepreneurship as the only way to survive the effects of the economy on her pocket, Alexandra businesswoman Mashudu Mutheiwana (34) knew what she needed to do.
As a mother of two, Mutheiwana, who founded her home fragrance brand, creating diffusers and scented candles, in 2024, shared the path she traveled in establishing a nice-smelling business in Alex.
“I had been looking for something to do, not knowing what am I good at, until I took myself to candle-making classes, and that’s where everything started,” said Mutheiwana.
According to Mutheiwana, the community has been well-receiving of her brand and effort, celebrating their appreciation for how she ensures her products’ quality, by making everything from scratch.
“Most people were amazed by that,” Mutheiwana said. “My brand is fairly new but the response I got from the people of Alex is amazing.”
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Mutheiwana reflected on her products, and how she was able to present her brand and products to a larger audience beyond Alexandra – where she has faced challenges as an entrepreneur.
“Challenges in Alex are mainly a place to work from. You can’t just operate anywhere. So, I collaborated with two car washes, but that didn’t work out,” Mutheiwana said. “I still look forward to collaborating with other people with different approaches.”
Although most of her clients are locally based in the Alexandra township, Mutheiwana praised the role of social media platforms in gaining her clients outside of Gauteng as well.
“And remember, someone out there is always watching,” Mutheiwana said. “I have managed to reach a greater audience outside Alex, in communities like North west, KwaZulu-Natal, and clients in Soweto, and Roodepoort… The list is endless.”
When Mutheiwana isn’t making and selling diffusers for cars and home, and scented candles, she’s happily at home spending what free time she has catching up with her children. Still, she remains optimistic over her brand’s future in Alexandra.
“Given the opportunity I would like to open my very own store in Alex,” Mutheiwana said. “It will create employment for youth, as well as teach the youth how to make their own products.”
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