A Gauteng varsity student has taken advantage of the popular social media application Instagram to launch a trendy jewellery business which she runs from her township home of Vosloorus.
Amber Sambo, a public relations student at the University of Johannesburg has decided to capitalize on the growing trend of insta-boutiques by turning her passion for fashion into a business.
Sambo witnessed many of her female neighbours building and starting their own businesses to support themselves and she decided to follow suit.
“I started this business because I wanted to be self-sufficient, I think we need to find more avenues of self-sufficiency and sustainability among young women,” she said.
Instagram small businesses, or more affectionately known as insta-boutiques are on the rise. This business model is proving to be a perfect way to meet the growing trend of online shopping and the newly inspired need to support local business.
As much as Sambo has always had a passion for fashion, she’s always recognised the importance of wearing the right accessories.
“Accessories are an important part of an outfit, they can make or break an outfit,” she said. “And sometimes when you’re short on money for a new outfit, the way you accessorise an outfit makes all the difference, with the right accessories you could wear the same dress twice but look completely different,”she added.
Sambo has always had an eye for business and making deals.
“In high school my favourite subject was business studies and when I came to varsity I did a lot of promotional work for other people’s companies and I kept on learning how to run a business and how to market it,” she adds.
Sambo has managed to find a cheap, yet exclusive seller from whom she buys her trendy jewellery from, even with the price mark up she has managed to keep her prices affordable.
Sambo has jumped on the Instagram trend because over the last decade there has been a sharp spark in social media presence and popularity and there has also been a huge migration towards online shopping for people.
She has also managed to perfect the desired aesthetic of luxury on her Instagram page, mirroring the experience of shopping in a jewellery store and peering into the glass display to take a look at the jewellery displayed.
Online shopping has become popular thanks to globalization and the instantaneous rewards system that is the internet with options such as one-day shipping, online shopping and the internet has become an increasingly popular option.
Aside from a business perspective this accessories business has been a sight of positivity for black women, as a way to spread positive vibes and sentiments of self-love and self-appreciation to black women. – Mukurukuru Media
