Young businesswoman remains positive while trying to keep her business afloat

Twenty-six-year-old business owner Nomsa Nhlabathi and her staff have been feeling the side effects of the lockdown.

She has, however, made it her mission to remain positive and lift her staff up where she can.

Nhlabathi is an entrepreneur at heart and takes the lead, although the rest of her team has the freedom to grow within any space they choose.

Her Bedfordview business recently turned a year old.

“I chose Bedfordview as my business’ headquarters because I grew up in the East Rand and I wanted to be a part of the change which will completely shift the quality of the East Rand.

“I see the potential of its growth and I want to contribute immensely to it,” she said.

Nhlabathi’s father is a warrant officer at the Bedfordview Police Station.

“I spent most of my childhood admiring Bedfordview and as I grew older, I knew it could be and would be a place for business,” said Nhlabathi.

On why she decided to start her own business, Nhlabathi said while studying for her BCom in economics, she needed a job, and worked for a prominent business.

“The business I started out with was impressed by my business acumen and hired me on the spot.

“I quickly realised I was innovative in my methods and the systems I had established for myself brought success to the business,” said Nhlabathi.

She added she has always loved business as a whole, and wanted her own business as the best retirement plan for herself.

She registered her business in 2017, and had a number of challenges launching it.

“I had run out of money and I could not market it as well as I would have loved to,” said Nhlabathi.

Even with many struggles, she described having her own business as a joyful experience.

Nhlabathi sites educating in-house and outsourced staff as bringing joy to her.

“I enjoy that I am able to constantly pour into my staff, in spheres of life related and unrelated to my business,” she said.

She also stated her clients have become like family and it makes her happy.

“When they invite me for their family functions or lunches or anything else outside of work, it truly warms my heart,” said Nhlabathi.

On difficulties being a business owner, Nhlabathi said she is a problem solver and loves being one.

“Our biggest hurdle would have to be the bootstrapping.

“I have great ideas on how to run the business, how to grow it and how to impact more people but the ideas need resources,” she said.

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Nhlabathi described these resources as not immediately available without financing; therefore, bootstrapping is a process she needs to go through until there is no need to go through it anymore.

“I have been blessed with a staff who understand that,” said Nhlabathi.

Nhlabathi’s business has been affected negatively as a result of the lockdown.

“We are a commission-based business with normal business overheads. so we are expected to pay those regardless of whether or not we are making sales,” said Nhlabathi.

The businesswoman said level four of the lockdown is no different from complete lockdown as certain businesses, including her own, are not allowed to operate.

She added that her business has hardly stayed afloat.

“I expected SMMEs would be hit harder than most, therefore, I was a little bit prepared and assisted some of my staff with food, data, some rent and other essentials they may have needed,” said Nhlabathi.

Nhlabathi believes her staff have been affected terribly, although she has tried her best to keep the spirits up through bi-weekly meetings.

She described her staff as having high energy, as most of them are extroverts and keeping them home and happy has been a struggle for her.

“I am mostly concerned about their mental health coming back and the adjustments needed to in order for the team to thrive, but I am excited about bringing new people and expanding my business,” said Nhlabathi.

Because of the nature of her business, Nhlabathi said she was unable to get SMME fund relief but she and her team are staying positive and looking forward to the new normal.

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