When her daughters’ confidence plummeted due to hair breakage, momma bear Nonzukiso Dibela did not hesitate to step in, and in the process she launched a thriving business.
In 2018, Dibela’s daughter desperately turned to her mother for help when it came to the breakage of her crown. While her mother’s heart bled to see her daughter’s confidence plummet, she started experimenting with natural oils to create a product that could help with hair growth.
“My daughter was struggling with her hair. Her hair was very thin and it was traumatic for her. She was constantly saying that I need to figure out something that will help her because other kids were laughing at her hair,” she says.
This led to the launch of her hair care line, Imvelo Riches, based in Khayelitsha in Cape Town. They sell natural hair products with ingredients sourced from well-trusted farmers. She currently has five products in the range: shampoo, conditioner, growth oil, spray, and moisturiser. These products are infused with oils and herbs such as moringa, neem, black pepper, and fenugreek.
“All these products are manufactured with organic oils, there are no harmful ingredients in the formulations,” she says.
Funding and research
Dibela started with R20 000 and although it wasn’t easy to spend so much money, it was worth it. She believes that there are so many opportunities available to capture the right audience which was her focus from the start.
“The business is very sensitive, so I am careful when I work with preservatives. There’s a lab that is currently helping with the production to make sure that everything is working well,” she explains.
Initially, Dibela started with skin products, however, that venture did not pan out. But a woman with a plan never gives up. The natural oils worked and she ran with it. “It is not an easy journey. It is difficult,” she says.
Social media works like a bomb
Social media is a gem when it comes to a small business. It opens up a world that helps expose your business. “Besides selling on your website, for awareness, you need to have social media so that people be exposed to your brand,” she says.
Products on the market
For a set of five products, it costs R690. It is also sold individually.
Prices:
- Shampoo: R140
- Conditioner: R160
- Hydrating spray: R130
- Moisturiser: R120
- Hair growth oil: R130
Dibela’s advice for someone thinking about starting a business:
- Know your “why” and stick to it. Understand your goal and the challenges you will face but remain focused on the reason you started.
- Find a mentor who will drive you.
- Get more information, research is important.
- Find people who are doing the same thing.
ALSO READ: Mom-daughter duo jump at the chance to showcase rabbit meat
Get Stories of Change: Inspirational stories from the people that feed Mzansi.
