By: Keletso Mkhwanazi
Nomhle Buta, who is the founder, supplier, and manufacturer of Bhaskara Apparel fragrance perfumes, is now the proud owner of her first shop in Johannesburg. After months of saving enough cash to also purchase the tools and supplies her business needs, Buta’s dream of owning a perfume store has materialised in Maboneng. “Today, we proudly run and manage a perfume store. We want to sell the best products while also ensuring that our clients receive their favourite smells,” she told Vutivi News.
“People who adore smelling wonderful, but have a tighter budget, make up our target market. We make sure to deliver, and our service is excellent.” Buta said she was motivated to work in the perfume industry because “if you feel good, you look good, and then you get confident in your own skin by smelling amazing”. And to keep her costs down so that her perfume is accessible to more people, she brought fragrances at a lower price.
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She and her partner started their company a while back. “Last year, in 2022, we began strategising, brainstorming, and developing the brand. Finally, we came up with a brand that we both thought was extremely lovely,” she remarked. It took them months to get everything together after facing numerous financial difficulties. According to Buta, blending scents could be very difficult because one needed all the essential supplies and equipment, many of which were expensive.
But now, the company’s biggest concern was marketing and promoting its brand. However, customer numbers were picking up, with Buta saying they ensured that they ordered stock and blended perfumes in advance so that they did not run out of inventory. Currently, Buta is the only one running the story, and she has pleaded with small business development organisations to assist her in expanding her retail space.
