A Mamelodi East businesswoman has told of how social media breathed new life into her business.
Dineo Rapudi (37) of Bufferzone in Mamelodi East has completely unprepared for the rigours of business ownership that she almost quit business when the struggle to attract got tough.
But all that changed when she discovered the power of social media.
Rapudi posted her African design accessories – ear rings, necklaces, bracelets, fabric and hand bags – on social media then watched as her business started booming.
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Rapudi said: “I had given up then I posted a picture of myself wearing African jewellery on Facebook and friends wanted to know where I had gotten the pieces.
“All my stock sold in two days after that post, I had to work day and night to meet the orders.
Friends of friends and colleagues and colleagues of friends kept on buying more,” she said.
Rapudi said after the Facebook success, she decided to open accounts on other social networks such as Twitter and reactivated her Instagram account.
“More customers came,” she said.
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Today Rapudi proudly exports to Zimbabwe, Botswana and as far as Kenya.
She said her dream now was to create more jobs for the young people of Mamelodi and open a shop of her own.
“I have been using my siblings as my assistants I think is unfair on them because they have jobs, I will get a full time person to help me in the future,” she said.
One of the customers, Nomthandazo Masilela (25) said she had no idea what she was going to wear on heritage day until she was referred to Rapudi’s Facebook page.
“And within five minutes of browsing her Facebook page, I knew what I was going to wear. Her accessories are unique and I like the fact that she is so understanding of what young people want, to look good while maintaining that Africans look,” she said.
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