Suki Suki Naturals Linda Gieskes-Mwamba
STARTUP COSTS: ‘I had about R16000 in savings to start with,’ says Linda.
TURNOVER: ‘We’ve had a minimum of 100 percent growth every year since launching in 2014. And 2020 is looking great as we’re working on both local and international expansion.’
What inspired the launch of Suki Suki Naturals?
I hadn’t planned to start my own business. In 2010, I decided to grow my hair into an afro but finding the right product was nearly impossible. At the time, the market for natural haircare wasn’t very big and although some natural products were starting to pop up, they were really expensive and available only in the US or Canada. So I decided to experiment. I did some research on oils, plants, butter, and clays, and found ways to cleanse and condition my hair. My hair started growing so well: faster, stronger, and thicker.
Which specific ingredients did you play around with?
Jamaican black castor oil, shea oil, peppermint oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil – the combination of these oils made up the first version of the Miraculous Oil, which is still my bestseller today. That initial version had about six oils but the current one has 13 ingredients.
You practiced law before taking on this venue. What was that career shift like?
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