Meet GES Delegate: Nokwanda Thulile Mathenjwa
Organisation: Yamilet SA
Twitter: @YamiletOnlineSA
Country: South Africa
Website: www.yamiletsa.com
Brief Description of Organization: Yamilet SA is a retailer that allows ladies to sell their pre-loved items (clothes, shoes, accessories and bags); converting their closet to cash and allowing buyers to find treasures, protect the environment and save money. A retail unicorn that gives existing clothes a second life and appeals to stylish fashionistas, value-conscious consumers and passionate environmentalists.
What inspired you to start this organization? I asked myself this question: How many ladies including myself have clothing items they no longer wear or have never worn, yet are still in good condition? You would rather make money than give them away, especially those items that you paid a fortune for, right?. So, instead of incurring the costs of going to flea markets where items are rarely sold or pop-stalls where you spend more than you make; why not have a platform where sellers can connect with buyers they previously had no access to? Didn’t know your closet was a gold mine, did you?
What is the next big step you hope to help your organization reach? The market adoption of the new Yamilet SA shopping experience which is good for both the economy and environment is pivotal. Consumers need to understand that buying pre-loved means reducing the environmental footprint associated with mass production and supports the global green economy, as we gradually progress from a disposable to a recycling economy. Resale is the ultimate recycling.
What has been your biggest obstacle as an entrepreneur? Finding partners who not only believe in your idea or vision, but are passionate about their area of expertise and sharing their skills to add value to the business. I have learnt that partnership is not only finding an individual skilled in a particular field that the business needs, but rather a match of skill, passion and deciphering the business model and what it means and takes to bring the vision to life.
What advice would you give other emerging entrepreneurs? Try not to go for saturated markets, most of the opportunity has already been harnessed and competition is rife. Disruptive innovation means identifying an opportunity that has not been explored before, whether it emanates from within your industry, expertise or an industry unknown to you. Untapped markets offer you a wealth of opportunity, provided there’s a market, a buying customer and scalability.
