By Nomzamo Msimango
North-West University student Nomathamsanqa Mandisa Nxumalo, who comes from a rural community, has transformed a small beauty and wellness venture into a registered business while continuing her studies.
Nxumalo sells a range of beauty and wellness products, including weight gain powders, tissue oils marketed for stretch marks and dark inner thighs, flat tummy shake powder and body-shaping pills.
Hers is a sign of what students can achieve through side hustles while balancing and managing their time between studies and doing business.
She says she started the business after recognising a demand for these products among young people and saw it as an opportunity to generate an income while pursuing her degree.
Rather than relying solely on financial aid or support from home, she decided to use her NSFAS book allowance to start a business to help cover some of her expenses while also gaining practical business experience.
“In January this year, I was forced to find a way to earn extra income because, as a full-time student relying solely on NSFAS while also raising a child, it became very difficult to meet my daily needs. That’s what motivated me to start my business,” Nxumalo told Vutivi Business News.
Balancing lectures, assignments and running a business has not always been easy. Managing customer enquiries, processing orders and marketing products requires discipline and effective time management.
She manages her studies well since she has an assistant who helps her with customer orders and with deliveries.
“There’s not much pressure because most of my clients are students, so I deliver their orders on campus, and my cousin helps me with orders and on-campus deliveries,” she said.
Despite the growth of her business, she says one of her biggest challenges is convincing potential customers that the products she sells are safe to use. Questions about possible health risks are common, particularly regarding weight gain powders and body-shaping pills.
Nxumalo says her supplier has assured her that the products have been tested and approved by the Department of Health. She also said that since she started the business, none of her customers has reported experiencing side effects or illnesses linked to the products.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her product range, attract more customers and establish a recognised brand in the beauty and wellness industry.
“Now that my business is registered, I don’t want to stop here. My goal is to expand the business and one day supply products to major brands,” said Nomathamsanqa.
She also hopes her journey will encourage other students, particularly those from rural communities, to explore entrepreneurship as a way of creating opportunities for themselves while studying.
Side hustles that require little or no money to start
Banking giant Nedbank advises that several side hustles need little or no start-up capital. These include dog walking or pet care for clients during your spare time. Delivery services have also become a popular way of making extra cash, as many delivery services now employ part-time or full-time drivers. All you need is your own vehicle and a cellphone to start making extra cash by picking up and delivering items.
“If you have a large social media following, you could consider monetising your account by advertising for different brands. Micro-influencers are on the rise, and many have even quit their full-time jobs to pursue full-time influencing. The trick here is to figure out who your market is and to advertise only for brands that you truly believe in – followers will quickly lose trust in your recommendations if you endorse any product that comes your way just because you’re getting paid to,” Nedbank advises.
Tutoring, whether it’s face-to-face or online, can also be a rewarding side hustle.
“There’s a huge range of topics that people want to learn about. Depending on your skills, you can tutor subjects like English or maths, or teach anything from playing a musical instrument, DIY and home decor, sewing and clothes-making, to specialised health and fitness disciplines.”
Starting your own thrift store can also be a rewarding exercise.
“You do need a bit of money to start this side hustle – but only to buy stock, which you should be able to get at rock-bottom prices. You can then sell it for a decent profit through your online store, on social media, or from a stall at local markets. If you have a good eye for finding quality used items, explore your local charity shops to find vintage or classic goods that you think others would love. If you’re lucky, you may find designer pieces that can bring in good money. With a little DIY, you can restore old clothes, furniture, accessories, and home decor so that they fetch a better price. It’s a sustainable way to reuse and recycle, while earning extra income.” – source: www.nedbank.co.za
