Salt Rock entrepreneur is winging her way to success

An entrepreneur is someone who jumps off a cliff and builds a plane on the way down.

A saying to live by, says innovative Salt Rock-based entrepreneur Kerryn Tremearne, the founder of Kapas Baby, an e-commerce business selling baby clothes and baby related products.

Tremearne certainly has found her wings. Her start-up business is not quite three years old and has already been recognised numerous times.

In 2015 she received two awards at the SA eCommerce Awards with first place for Best Small eCommerce Business and second runner-up for Best Shopping Process. Now in 2016 her business took a proud third place at the Ilembe Chamber’s entrepreneur competition.

Kapas is the Hindi word for ‘cotton’ and was started when Tremearne identified a gap in the market for beautiful, unique, cotton baby clothing.

“I started the business in 2014 by sourcing the clothes and products from suppliers around the country. A year later I realised that there was a high demand for baby clothes from baby boutiques. I started designing and making my own clothes to be sold through wholesale and retail channels,” she said.

The bubbly entrepreneur woman said she was determined to debunk the idea that online shopping was impersonal.

“That mindset comes from poor customer service and the response and design of the site. Kapas Baby aims for brilliant customer service. I add a personal touch to every order by adding a branded postcard with a personalised message to the customer.

“I offer a great range of locally made, top quality baby products and an online gift registry and it is all powered by a quick and easy convenient store.”

Tremearne said that the knowledge and experience that was gained at the Ilembe Chamber Entrepreneur programme has been life changing.

“I would still feel like a winner even if I did not win third place at the competition. The advice that we gained from our mentors was priceless. I know the ins and outs of my business and I know what my strengths and weaknesses are. I also made so many good friends with the other entrepreneurs,” she said.