Mulanga Muofhe. Skincare company, Mulanga Naturals owner and founder, Mulanga Muofhe.
Image: Supplied.
Battling with troublesome skin conditions was one of the reasons Mulanga Muofhe took the bold step in to the world of entrepreneurship.
Muofhe told Business Report that her personal struggle with eczema and the lack of natural, effective products was what led her to her kitchen to seek out a solution of her own.
Her company began in 2016, after harsh prescribed medications only worsened her dry skin condition, Mulanga turned to natural ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, creating her own formulations in her family's kitchen.
"Seeing my 4-year-old cousin suffer from the same condition, I couldn’t understand why there weren’t better options for delicate skin. That’s when I decided to create them myself," Muofhe said.
She is the owner and founder of her business, Mulanga Naturals.
What began as personal recipes soon caught the attention of family members, who eagerly requested their own batches of these natural oil-based lotions.
This revealed an untapped market for quality, clean, and safe skincare products specifically formulated for melanin-rich skin tones.
"Our products combine traditional natural ingredients with modern skincare science to address specific skin concerns," she added.
In getting her business off the ground, she said, "I was set on using a natural and organic formulator, so I turned to Google for local manufacturers. The first company I reached out to kept saying they were at capacity, but I persisted. Eventually, they referred me to another manufacturer which better suited my needs. I booked an appointment and that was the beginning of everything."
She said one of the biggest challenges she faced and currently faces, is funding.
"Funding has been and still is the biggest challenge. The industry demands high cash flow and competition has skyrocketed. When I started, the natural and organic premium space was niche, now, consumers are savvier about ingredients and marketing. That means standing out requires even more investment while staying authentic to the brand," Muofhe said.
"It’s been a journey of persistence, passion, and faith. Every challenge has pushed me to innovate and refine my vision. I’m excited to keep growing and bringing more people into the world of holistic, natural skincare," she said.
"Based in Cape Town, we're passionate about creating effective, natural skincare solutions that cater to an underserved market. By focusing on quality ingredients and understanding the unique needs of melanin-rich skin, we're able to offer products that truly make a difference in people's lives. Our journey from a home kitchen to a trusted skincare brand drives us to continue innovating and serving our community's needs," the businesswoman said.
Her company found success prior to Amazon.co.za launching in South Africa, this was when the US online retailer approached her to list her products on their website to sell.
In January this year, Amazon South Africa launched its Amazon Seller Success Centre, a new initiative for Amazon.
The walk-in seller hub aims to empower local businesses from across the country to reach more customers and expand their businesses. Located at Amazon's head office in Cape Town, the Centre offers local sellers a range of services such as on-the-spot registration to sell on Amazon.co.za, training through interactive educational screens, in-person webinars, event facilities for networking, product imaging and cataloguing assistance, and shipping and logistics support.
“We're thrilled to introduce the Amazon Seller Success Centre to South African small businesses,” said Robert Koen, Managing Director of Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to fostering the growth of local businesses and contributing to South Africa's digital economy. By providing hands-on support and resources, we're working to bridge the technological divide for those who historically have not been able to access ecommerce opportunities. We also acknowledge the importance of in-person interactions to make it easier for South African small businesses to take advantage of all the opportunities available to Amazon’s selling partners,” Koen added.
BUSINESS REPORT