“Walking the ramp in the fashion capital gave us a taste of success. It means we are closer to the dream of taking our brand International” says business manager, Thabang. In the 6 months since the show, their direct sales have grown by 33% and sales with their retailer, Urban Zulu, have increased by 40%.
Many of our participants are what we call “necessity entrepreneurs” – being unable to find a job, they start businesses as a last resort. Entrepreneurship is no small challenge, though, and even with our assistance, it takes a long time before they are able to start earning a reasonable income with their businesses. Some of our participants have accepted employment offers. This means a steady income and working experience for them, but does it also mean the death of their businesses?
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