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This young business man who is also a surveyor by profession is the founder of ‘SANM Eau De perfum’ a brand that was released on the 20th of February 2023.
Andile says he has always been into business since he was younger.
“The love of business is something I developed while I was still younger because I grew up working in the streets, working with people has always been my thing. I started selling sweets and chips at the taxi rank in town.” He says.
The 33 year old says he got the idea of inventing his own brand of perfume when he bought an expensive cologne for himself.
“I once bought myself a very expensive perfume and I got a lot of compliments about how nice I smelled whenever I wore that perfume. That got me thinking about people back at home who could not afford expensive perfumes that cost R2300, or that costs R1500 and more. I conducted a research to see how I can make an exotic and lasting perfume at an affordable price and that’s where the idea was born” says Andile.
Andile adds that he also draws his inspiration from national and local business entrepreneurs such as the likes of Dj Sbu who he follows, the late Mfundo Matha who was a young very popular self-made business man from Lusikisiki.
Although SANM Eau De perfum is new in the market it has been well received by consumers. He says “I have not yet done an official launch of the brand but people love it and I am very grateful for the support I am receiving from people.”
This local brand owner is both brilliant and creative because he mixes his fragrances himself to produce a very unique and pleasant scent unlike anything else.
“I do not buy the perfumes. I buy the material and mix them myself with the help of the ladies I work with, who are my employees. I have a unique scent called Hala for men and Hala for women which is a scent that I came up with. It is unique and you cannot get it anywhere else. Other fragrances are inspired by already existing scents such as Diesel plus, Lady Million and One million. Says this entrepreneur.
Without any funding Andile has managed to start his own brand of perfumes that are for men and women and has even managed to get a shop in the Metro building in the CBD of Lusikisiki.
Andile voices some of the difficulties he has faced in starting his own brand. He tells us that starting a business is challenging because you work with different people who do not work at the pace you require. He expresses that sourcing funding to start a business is the hardest part.
“I do not have any funding because it’s not easy to get funding. Funders require a lot of details that we usually do not have as beginners in business. The only people who have helped me are my friends, with the little that they could lend me. One friend who came through for me is Sibusiso Mzobe.” Says Andile.
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Andile Nkomonye says he is not only limited to making perfumes but is looking into expanding his brand into clothing as well. “People who visit my shop are requesting for T-shirts so soon we will be venturing into clothing because if the people want something we will give it to them.” Says Andile.
Nkomonye advises people who are interested in business to just start. He says, “If you really want a business do not think twice about it just go for it, if you have an idea and you hesitate someone else will go for it. Remember every time you think about a business someone else is also thinking about it. The best thing you can do for yourself is to believe in yourself, don’t panic and don’t listen to negativity from social media. Take it from people such as myself who grew up in the dusty streets of Lusikisiki selling chips and sweets at taxi ranks competing with so many people who sold the same thing. But never got discouraged because I knew that God will provide people who will buy from me. So whatever you’re thinking of starting go for it and believe that God has people he reserved for you, people who will support only you.” Says the zealous entrepreneur.
SANM perfumes are available online and at Metro building in Lusikisiki next to Boxer Super city.
