A public relations management BTech graduate from the university’s Buffalo City Campus has made exceptional gains in the business of manufacturing of furniture thanks to her keen eye for aesthetics in design, layout and arrangement.
Through her company, Epitomely Interior Doctors, budding entrepreneur Sandiswa Mgolozeli, who graduated from WSU in 2019, has continued to build her ever-growing business portfolio following her ventures into manufacturing of furniture at her headquarters in East London.
“The manufacturing industry plays a big economic building and job creation role in the country. The key motivation for pursuing this field is centred on my passion for building things from scratch. I have always had a creative eye for design, and that is why I decided to align my passion to a business idea. Years later, I still enjoy the concepts of space planning, interior design and bespoke furniture manufacturing,” said Mgolozeli.
One of the most important aspects of the company is its potential to alleviate poverty and unemployment, with the firm currently employing 10 workers who possess a myriad of skillsets in disciplines such as carpentry, upholstery, marketing, finance and accounting.
Above and beyond the creation of employment, the company also provides skills development and training opportunities through an apprenticeship service level agreement with a local training centre to house 15 carpentry students, whilst also providing a further six students with in-service training in the fields of finance, accounting and marketing.
Mgolozeli said central to the viability and sustenance of the company is a sharp business acumen, knowledge of prevailing trends, passion and most of all, creativity.
“I’m very lucky and honoured to be living my dream - generally living every day in a creative box that consists of various exciting ingredients at my disposal. I’m inspired by the exciting and endless possibilities of design and these possibilities challenge me to do better and stay competitive,” she said,
A significant ingredient to Mgolozeli’s success has been her close ties to her alma mater, WSU, which has provided her and her counterparts with invaluable business skills and knowledge through the WSU Incubation Centre.
She said the centre’s incubation process was integral in allow entrepreneurs to preserve capital and gain external support to accelerate their businesses.
“Through business incubation, the Incubation Centre captures each entrepreneur's uniqueness and offers support and customized services to maximize business potential. This greatly assists and aligns with key business growth strategies and expansion efforts together with remaining industry competitive,” said Mgolozeli.
By Thando Cezula
