Entrepreneur Thembisile Magwaza, 44, has turned paint-making into a growing family business, involving her four children in producing, marketing and delivering wall paint to customers.
Magwaza started her paint business, TLASS Paints, in May 2025 in Benoni, Gauteng. She produces wall paint from scratch by mixing chemicals to create different colours for customers looking to paint, renovate or maintain their homes. She aimed to build a family business that would provide financial stability for her and her children and help secure their future.
“I started TLASS Paints to have my own business, support my family and provide customers with quality paint. With jobs being scarce, I wanted to create a business that would help secure my family’s present and future,” Magwaza said.
While Magwaza is responsible for producing the paint, her four children help advertise the products online, deliver orders and assist with daily activities at the shop. Their involvement allows the family to share responsibilities across different aspects of the business, from production to customer service.
“TLASS Paints is a family business. I focus on producing the paint, while my four children assist with different aspects of the business. Working together helps us reach more customers and improve the service we provide,” Magwaza said.
Wanting to create something unique, Magwaza took the initiative to learn how to manufacture paint herself. She researched the process through online searches and, believing she could learn without formal training, began purchasing the ingredients and materials needed to make the paint.
“No one taught me how to make paint. I learned through research and hands-on experience. I source all the materials myself and mix them carefully to produce interior, exterior and roof paints in different colours and sizes,” Magwaza said.
However, running a paint business comes with its own challenges. Magwaza said the rising cost of raw materials makes it difficult to keep prices affordable for customers. Deliveries to nearby areas also add to the business’s operating expenses because of fuel costs.
“A major challenge is managing the cost of materials and other expenses while keeping our paint affordable for customers. With competition from other suppliers, we focus on maintaining quality and providing good service,” Magwaza said.
Another challenge is customers cancelling orders at the last minute after Magwaza has already spent time and materials preparing the paint. This can leave her with products that may be difficult to sell, resulting in wasted resources and potential financial losses.
“Customers cancelling orders or failing to pay for previous orders is a challenge for me. For example, a customer might order yellow paint and then cancel after I have already made it. I am then left wondering who will buy that colour,” Magwaza said.
Magwaza offers different types of paint in various colours and sizes to meet the needs of customers looking to paint, renovate or maintain their homes.
With her four children helping with marketing, deliveries and daily operations, Magwaza hopes to expand the business, reach more customers and establish TLASS Paints as a recognised brand.
“Running a family business has taught us teamwork, responsibility and dedication. I am teaching my children the value of hard work and the importance of supporting one another. My goal is to grow TLASS Paints into a recognised brand that reaches more customers and creates more opportunities for our family,” Magwaza said.
