It started as a hobby for Vusani Ravele from his living room in 2015 when he received a cordless drill as a Valentine’s gift from a loved one. Because he did not have funding, he one day had the courage to participate in Shark Tank. “Gil Oved put a lot of structure into the business. He helped me see it as a business and no longer as a hobby,” says Ravele. minimalist pieces that breathe life into your living space. Native Décor was inspired by our beautiful country. The creativity behind the design is crafted from timber. Ravele says when he pitched his business idea to the potential Shark Tank investors, they were sold on the idea. “Shark Tank changed my life. It enabled me to quit my job within a month. It gave me exposure. And with the exposure I was able to grow my business.”
Passion meets creativity
“You cannot become an entrepreneur because you hate your job”, explains Vusane. “In order to enjoy what you do, firstly you need to love what you do. For me it’s really not work but something that I do because I love it. I don’t feel like I need motivation because I just enjoy creativity. “I’ve got one motto that was made quite popular on the show and that is ‘anything you can imagine you can create’. And that’s what I do here; I imagine things and create them.”
‘Shark Tank enabled me to quit my job within a month’
Footprint across Africa
Although Native Décor started its operation from a living room, this is about to change. Ravele’s long-term growth vision includes wider distribution by getting his products into furniture and collectable stores. “I am talking to one of the big banks in terms of getting involved in one of the reward programmes to help the business moving forward.” Ravele also plans to get his product into the African and international market.
Failure will challenge you
“Failure is definitely something that will challenge you more than anything else. I speak from experience because I have done this before and failed at it.” Ravele says he has gone through other challenges, physically and mentally and now nothing has ever matched up to entrepreneurship. He says nothing has ever been as rewarding as that.
Business growing online
Native products are available in small stores across the country but sell mostly online, on platforms like Yuppiechef and Hello Pretty. A variety of products are available on the Native Décor website. Items for sale include button coasters, Africa coasters, Cullinan desk lamps and wine holders.
All of these designs are proudly South African and handmade.