Creative entrepreneurs from the JCCI
ROSEBANK– The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a creative market fair to showcase their latest creative entrepreneurs.
The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s unique SME Export Incubator is one of its kind. With a focus on developing sustainable exporters, it offers the complete package.
The chamber held a global market fair to showcase their creative entrepreneurs in fashion, gaming, animation, crafts and jewellery on 13 February – an ideal opportunity to see amazing products crafted and produced locally.
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette spoke to one of the business owners at the fair, Bakang Mabotja, about her plus-size intimates brand Fiery Rose.
The company designs and manufactures everything from bras to nightwear and, all their products are made in-house.
“Everything is proudly South African, made from scratch. Each bra is made by our ladies at Fiery Rose,” Mabotja explained.
She added that the store officially opened its doors in 2017. “I saw a gap in the market and saw the need for something like this. I’m plus-size myself and I always struggled with finding comfortable underwear and just comfy home clothes. There has been a great response and I’m happy where I am going on this journey.”
Mabotja was part of a four-month incubation programme with the JCCI and the aim of the fair was to showcase everything participants learnt from the programme. “My new collection had a focus on nightwear and the main thing for me is looking good just as you wake up. I always think of this scenario: ‘What if the government tells us all to evacuate one day and it’s the middle of the night’. You’d want to wake up looking good right?” she said.
The programme taught everything from pricing to training on how to make their company a global name. “The JCCI programme has afforded me the opportunity to learn how to make my brand first-class and follow a proper and effective business model. While in this programme, I have gained new clients and my loyal customers still come around.”
She has big plans for Fiery Rose in Africa. “We definitely have plans of expanding, so watch this space. The plus-size world is about to get a whole lot bigger.”
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