To do something that did not feel like a job was always Sam Sethosa’s desire.
And when the opportunity to open her first clothing boutique was presented, the 40-year-old grabbed it with both hands, as her love for clothing would finally meet her desire of having a business that did not feel like a job.
Samzee Closet seeks to create a shopping environment that caters for different women with different body shapes.
Please share some background on yourself and how the business was started?
I was born and bred in Butterworth, lived in the UK and US for three years then in Cape Town for 10 years before relocating to Gqeberha. I studied at NMU and Cape Peninsula University. I have always loved selling as I studied sales and marketing, so the love for entrepreneurship was triggered by the thrill of writing my own cheque and interacting with different people from different backgrounds.
Fashion has always been my passion so my business does not feel like a job. When I was looking for an additional income stream I knew I wanted to do something I enjoyed. I just love to look good and that is how I started Samzee Closet.
What is your core service?
To create a shopping environment that caters for different women with different body shapes.
What makes your business unique?
Samzee Closet creates a sense of culture and bonding with the community by offering good-quality clothes that are affordable to our target market.
What are some of the biggest inhibitors your business faced before getting off the ground?
When opening Samzee Closet the odds were all against us but we believed in our vision and pushed to make it happen.
Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs or new business owners?
Just start — experience is the best teacher in business. Quit talking about it and start doing.
What are some of your biggest challenges in day-to-day business operations and your particular industry?
The location of the business is in a high crime rate area as there’s lots of homeless people and criminals roaming around the streets of Central. Lockdown restrictions also play a huge challenge as buying power decreases when people are at home.
What is the best advice anyone gave you on success?
You reap what you sow. Consistency and hard work result in good behaviour that generates profits.
How do you measure or define success in your business?
We define our success by the level of cash flow (more money coming in than going out) and by understanding our role in the marketplace.
What are some of the best practices that have made your business successful?
We treat all our customers with respect and high integrity. We strive to build relationships with everyone who walks into our store as we believe that people buy from people and everyone loves to feel important and cared for.
What kind of advertising do you do?
Social media and word of mouth.
What is your company’s vision?
To be the first preferred women’s boutique offering trendy and quality clothes in Gqeberha.
What is your target market?
Women aged 21-50.
What have some of your highlights been in running your business?
Exceeding our sales target within the first month of opening our business. Surviving through the lockdown period. Having to dress one of the most-loved public figures in SA, Lusanda Mbane.
How important are social media and an online presence for your business?
They are very important as they are the only line of advertising that we can afford at the moment.
How many people do you employ?
I have three employees.
Do you have any plans for expanding the business, and how would you go about this?
We definitely are looking into expanding by opening another shop in one of the well-known shopping malls in Gqeberha.
How did you acquire funding for the business?
I was assisted by my family.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your business journey so far?
Insurance is vital to protect your business investment.
What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of running your business in a city like Gqeberha?
Disadvantage: People’s buying power in Gqeberha is minimal as most people earn just enough to survive.
Advantage: There are few clothing boutiques that offer affordable, good quality clothing. Because it’s a small city, news spreads quickly and word of mouth works wonders as an advertising tool.
What do you say are the three key traits of a successful entrepreneur?
Passion, ability to network and creativity.
What do you say are the key traits of a successful employer?
Competence, thinking out of the box and reliability.
What do you wish people knew about your industry?
Samzee provides a top-notch customer service to accommodate all women with different sizes. We don’t have a capacity for lay-bys but accommodate customers who need to keep an item for a week. We offer our services nationally as we use an overnight courier service.