For Alexis Dukhanti, entrepreneurship began with a simple observation: young girls wanted affordable ways to look after themselves, express their style, and feel confident.

The young entrepreneur has since turned that observation into a small business offering products ranging from beauty and aesthetics to her plans for occasional baking.

Her current range includes products such as face masks, press-on nails, and other beauty items, with plans to expand into baked goods and other affordable luxuries.

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Primary school event sparked business venture

Dukhanti’s entrepreneurial journey began when she was 13 years old, after her primary school held an entrepreneurs’ day for Grade 7 learners. “I saw the number of young girls willing to purchase and enhance their natural beauty. I have always thought of starting my own business, and once I saw that I was capable, I started participating in selling goods at school events and community events.”

That first experience gave her the confidence to continue exploring business opportunities and understand what customers were looking for. However, starting a business has not been without its challenges. Dukhanti said finding capital was one of the biggest obstacles she faced.

Her parents have been an important source of support, helping her understand the practical side of running a business.

“It was hard to understand customers’ needs and wants, but my parents helped me pick out products, settle a selling price, and taught me what they knew about entrepreneurship.” With their guidance, Dukhanti was able to work towards making a profit while offering products that appealed to her target market.

Changing perspectives on entrepreneurship

Her understanding of entrepreneurship has also changed since she started her business.

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“Before starting up my business, I thought that entrepreneurship meant settling accounts and working with banks to make a living. Now that I have started my business, I can proudly say that being an entrepreneur is more than starting up a business to make a profit; it is also about giving the target market what they want or need.”

For Dukhanti, one of the most rewarding parts of running her business is seeing customers get excited about her products. “I love seeing girls’ faces brighten as they spot a pack of nails that they know they will use.”

When business is slow, she draws motivation from the work that has already gone into building her business and from the possibility of inspiring other young people.

“On days when business is slow, I often think about how much my family and I have worked so hard to reach where I am today. I also think about the other girls I will inspire just as others had inspired me.”

Learning from family

Her entrepreneurial journey has also allowed her to learn from those closest to her, including her sister, who runs her own small business.

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Dukhanti said her sister has taught her the importance of being polite while maintaining professionalism when speaking to customers.

She has also learned from watching her sister pursue her business with genuine passion. “I have also learnt from my observations that my sister is not just running her business for profit but also because she has a passion for it.” Looking towards the future, Dukhanti hopes her entrepreneurial journey could eventually lead to something even bigger.

“I can see my sister and I running our own business together.” For now, she is focused on learning, growing her customer base, and exploring new products.

Her advice to other young entrepreneurs is not to become so focused on profit that they forget to enjoy the journey. “Young entrepreneurs should remember that starting a business is not only about making a profit, but also about having fun, learning, and meeting new people,” Dukhanti said.

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