Melany Viljoen – Giving Back is in Our DNA
Since the start of Tammy Taylor Nails South Africa in 2013, giving back has been part of the fabric of the organisation. Through various initiatives over the years, this local company representing an international brand has demonstrated its commitment to helping others.
Tammy Taylor Nails South Africa is a franchise started by Melany Viljoen (née Lindeque) after discovering the brand based in the USA. “I was looking for nail tutorials on YouTube, always looking to enhance my skills and inspire my craft, when I came across Tammy Taylor presenting her products and techniques,” says Melany, who is the President and Founder of Tammy Taylor Nails South Africa. “I was impressed by Tammy’s commitment to quality, but also by the way she gave back to the beauty industry through education.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, Melany quickly planned a trip to the US to meet Tammy, and a lasting professional relationship was born. “When I brought the brand back to South Africa through securing the sole distribution rights in Africa, I knew I wanted to do more than just open a chain of salons,” explains Melany. “I saw this as a fantastic opportunity to give back, not only to the beauty industry, but to the broader community.”
Over the years, Tammy Taylor Nails South Africa has participated in a number of community involvement initiatives. These range from headlining a major women empowerment programme, supporting charities such as Tekkie Tax and various non-profits, and supporting women entrepreneurs and aspiring nail technicians through business-building and education.
“Our Tammy Taylor Nail Academy is a great example of our commitment to education,” explains Melany. “Here, we train nail technicians and skincare therapists to enter the beauty industry armed with the very best in product knowledge and the skills required to practice their craft in our world-renowned salons. Our master educators ensure that every student who qualifies through our Academy has the tools they need to make a success of their chosen career.”
Every franchisee that purchases a Tammy Taylor Nails salon receives free training, not only in nail products and techniques, but business and marketing training to enable them to make the most of their investment.
View Tammy Taylor Franchise Opportunities
One of Melany’s more recent projects was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic facing the world, and South Africa in particular. “Before the lockdown, our textile manufacturing and fabric stitching operation was used to manufacture uniforms, masks and other clothing items for the beauty industry,” explains Melany. “When the pandemic struck, we quickly found a way to repurpose this factory to mass-produce fabric face masks. Through this operation, we are able to donate thousands of face masks to various groups of people, from essential service workers such as the police force, military personnel, government employees, retail workers, petrol attendants, security guards and healthcare workers, to less fortunate members of our community such as SASSA grant recipients, children in care homes and people in old age care facilities.”
Melany also spearheaded the local manufacture of 70% alcohol hand sanitizer, distributing this along with the fabric masks, as a way to help curb the spread of the pandemic amongst those not able to purchase these protective items themselves.
The face masks produced by the factory team are reversible and washable. “They can easily be disinfected, which makes them reusable, and the breathable material they are made of means that people can wear the masks comfortably for hours,” explains Melany. “The fabric has moisture-wicking properties, and is both water- and tear-resistant, making them durable.”
When Melany first started this mask-donation project with a few hundred masks to a police station in Soweto, she didn’t realise the national impact that would soon be the result. “We’ve had people from all over the country highlighting the plight of the needy, and we’ve made a concerted effort to help where we can,” she says.
“We even supplied over fifty masks to the Office of the Presidency, and our President Cyril Ramaphosa was seen wearing his mask donated by Tammy Taylor Nails South Africa on national television during his address to the country late in May this year. It makes me proud to see people wearing their Tammy masks, not just because it’s something we made happen, but because people are committed to protecting themselves and others through wearing a face mask. It is up to each one of us to help stop the spread of the virus in our communities, and by giving out free face masks, I know that our company has made a positive difference in this regard.”
