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Self-taught graphic designer Siphokazi Anitta Nogojela is a young business woman based in Mzamba, Bizana. She started her printing and branding business in 2016 without any printing and branding machinery or any experience of how to run the business. To keep her business running she says used to outsource her material and sell to her customers. “I used to buy a T-shirt in Durban for R180 and sell it for R150 just so I could be known to keep my customers.” Her business is located at Msizazwe at Makerere business complex and at Wild Coast Sun.
In 2018 she registered her company so she could apply for funding since she could not afford the business machinery. The following year she managed to open her office and borrowed printing machines from a guy she knew through a friend. They made a deal that she could use the machines for six months and then after that they will partner up and split the profits.
“Things did not go as according to plan because even before the six months the guy came to fetch his machines. I don’t even know why but he took his machines and left.”
After a fall out with the gentleman Nogojela applied for NYDA funding and her R 50 000 funding got approved and she got her own machines. “I then started working with my own machines by myself without any fear of a partner who’ll change his minds at any time.’’ Said the young business owner.
From 2019 till now Siphokazi business has been doing very well, this year she approached Wild Coast Sun for more funding because she did not have an industrial machine since NYDA could only offer her the R50 000 machines which are smaller. “Wild coast Sun managed to provide the industrial machine I wanted for the business and they have also provided me with another office. So the business has grown from one office to two now and we do more printing and branding than we did before. There is nothing under we do not do under branding and if we cannot offer what the client is looking for, we then outsource from other local businesses.” Said Siphokazi.
Siphokazi Nogojela says her main target audience are SMMEs because every business needs branding. She works with schools and brands their uniform and SMME’S that need branding for their businesses. Just like any other business Siphokazi’s business has had its challenges she says one of her main challenges was not having graphic designer qualification. She says “Since I am a self-taught graphic designer without a certificate for this. I would struggle with creating certain designs for clients before I came to ask for donations at Wild Coast Sun I first saw them as my potential clients and wanted to make a brand for them but I got turned down because I do not have a graphic certificate and they wanted a qualified individual.”
Poshy A is a beneficiry of the Wild Coast Sun’s Enterprise and Supplier Development Funding, which is aimed at capacitating local businesses in Zone 5, in the Alfred Nzo district.
When Wild Coast Sun approved their funding for her business they first took her to a graphic design training. They then registered her for at Sun Academy where she’ll have the qualification for graphic design.
To those interested in starting a branding business Siphokazi advises them to research their business idea, know their target audience and advertise their businesses. She encourages young people to be curious and research everything they want to know and to take charge of the things they are passionate about.
