“An average chick from Orlando East, Soweto”. These are the first words Nobesuthu Ndlovu uses to describe herself. Now the co-founder and managing director of Burgundy Fly, she began her career as a BCom IT student at UCT. After working in the banking industry for years after graduating, Burgundy Fly, a proudly South African boutique, came to fruition in 2008.
On leaving her banking job to start the self-funded venture, Ndlovu says “I really couldn’t see my life going the IT route within the banking world.”
She also wanted to be her own boss, but now realises that entrepreneurship means your customers are ultimately your boss.
Reflecting on the early stages of her business, Ndlovu notes the particular challenge of not knowing exactly what you’re doing. “You don’t know what you don’t know, and there isn’t a handbook,” she says. Even with theoretical knowledge, the difference between theory and practical reality is huge. “The key thing has just been to learn on the ground and through experience.”
With the specific aim of being a proudly South African boutique, Burgundy Fly ensures that the designers who supply their merchandise produce in South Africa and employ South Africans. The suppliers themselves are also South African. “What made us choose to be a proudly South African boutique was the lack of exposure amongst South African designers. The second reason is that South African designers understand and know this market. “
But Burgundy Fly was not always so surefooted. Ndlovu admits that when she started out, she didn’t know whether it was a great idea or not. “You never know, and you don’t have to know, just get started,” she says.
With 10 years of retail experience, Nobesuthu Ndlovu can’t help but have entrepreneurial wisdom. Her advice is simple yet invaluable:
- You have to have solid work ethic - “if you don’t do the work, nobody will”.
- Be open to different ways of working, be ready to change and adapt, because the business landscape is always changing
- Be as open as possible, open to help and open to advice – “that’s what will take you to the next level“
And although she agrees that mentorship is a valuable part of the entrepreneurial journey, Ndlovu advises that it should be approached carefully. “Start off by doing it on your own to solidify your idea, then engage others as mentors. The danger of involving other people too early is that your idea might get diluted,”
When asked what her most expensive mistake as a businesswoman has been, she casually laughs and quickly responds, “everything”. And that’s as simple as it gets because Ndlovu understands that entrepreneurship, in general, is expensive and mistakes are an unavoidable part of the journey. It is this genuine and down-to-earth approach that seems to have kept her adrift all these years, and waking up each day for the continued pursuit of a better Burgundy. One thing’s for sure: This proudly South African store is set to win…
Company: Burgundy Fly
Key players: Nobesuthu Ndlovu, Nhlanhla Ndlovu