Perfume Co. Africa summit in Badplaas addresses youth unemployment
The Perfume Co. Africa is calling on young people to venture into entrepreneurship to fight unemployment and create their own income instead of waiting to be employed.
Local supply chains, from packaging to distribution, offer vital entrepreneurial pathways for women.
The Perfume Co. Africa has called for greater investment in local beauty manufacturing, skills development and small businesses to help address South Africa’s high unemployment rate.
The call was made during the company’s second annual Supervisors Sales and Leadership Summit, held at Badplaas, A Forever Resort, from September 11 to 13.
The summit brought supervisors together to discuss how the beauty and personal care industry can create opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for young people and women.
Unemployment figures highlight urgent need for jobs
According to StatsSA, the country’s official unemployment rate rose to 33.6% in the second quarter, with 8.5 million people unemployed. Mpumalanga recorded an unemployment rate of 36.6%.
Perfume Co. Africa founder and CEO Bathabile Moreki said the beauty industry could contribute to economic activity beyond the products sold to consumers.
“Behind every locally produced fragrance or personal care product is a potential chain of economic activity involving manufacturing, packaging, transport, distribution and retail,” Moreki said.
Supply chain links drive broader economic activity
The summit focused on personal development, customer service, communication, product knowledge, leadership and the practical challenges of running an independent business.
Moreki stressed that people entering the beauty industry need more than products to sell.
“They need accurate information, practical guidance and someone who remains available when challenges arise,” she said.
The company also emphasised responsible onoarding, saying independent business opportunities should not be presented as formal employment or as guaranteeing income.
Moreki said entrepreneurship must be based on honest communication and realistic expectations.
“Job creation cannot be measured simply by counting how many people register for a business opportunity. We must ask whether people are active, developing useful skills and serving real customers,” she said.
Practical skills key to long-term business survival
The summit also gave supervisors an opportunity to discuss challenges faced by independent business owners, including finding customers, managing limited resources and sustaining businesses over time.
Moreki said skills such as customer service, financial management, communication, digital promotion and stock management could provide young people with valuable experience applicable to other employment and business opportunities.
The company said the success of the summit would ultimately depend on how supervisors apply what they learned in their communities by strengthening business practices and providing practical support to entrepreneurs.
About The Perfume Co. Africa
The Perfume Co. Africa is a South African fragrance and personal care company founded by Moreki. The business combines local production and distribution with entrepreneurship development and practical support for independent business owners.
