Young entrepreneurs making big strides in world of beauty
Bonolo Matjila and Patience Kunene who share a determination to become successful entrepreneurs, detailed their venture into the world of beauty and skincare as a team.
The best friends founded their inclusive skincare brand after identifying a market gap. They cited their complementary natures as the basis of their successful partnership.
With skincare taking centre stage as more individuals seek to find visibility within this space, they launched Golden Hour Skincare, a brand creating environmentally sustainable, gender-inclusive skincare kits designed to holistically address targeted skincare concerns.
Matjila leads the strategic and operational development of the venture while Kunene oversees tax, finances, inventory management, strategic growth and development, as well as company compliance.
The duo discussed their motivation for starting the skincare brand and how their legal backgrounds influenced their venture into the industry.
According to Matjila, 25, she always had a zest for entrepreneurship, and founded the company to address the acne issue she was personally facing at the time.
She completed her LLB degree at the University of the Western Cape in 2020 and participated in the 2017 Allan Gray Fellowship, which sparked her entrepreneurial passion.
“I’ve been a skincare consumer for years and have battled finding products that effectively solved this problem for me in a simple, effective, and financially sustainable way. This might sound impossible, considering the size of the skincare market and the fact that new products are launching literally every day. But I think that was part of the problem for me. There are thousands of products across brands, hundreds within each brand, and sometimes tens of products under a single brand solving the same skin concern.
“Capitalism and consumerism have, to an extent, caused brands to lose focus and empathy for the person we’re solving the problem for. I wanted to quiet down the noise for myself and others, and create a simple system that doesn’t detract from the efficacy of longer routines. My background in law helped me tackle this issue systematically, relying on research rather than my own personal preferences and having due regard for compliance and safety.”
Kunene, 24, says the brand was inspired by her father's entrepreneurial journey, which sparked her interest in entrepreneurship.
Along with her LLB from the University of Pretoria, she finished her articles with a solid grounding in law. She graduated from a start-up school course to pursue a career in business and entrepreneurship.
“My father’s commitment and innovative business approach taught me the importance of diligence and resilience. This inspired my ambition to establish a brand that influences people's lives positively through a simple and holistic approach,” Kunene said.
“My law background, while seemingly unrelated to skincare, equipped me with valuable skills for entrepreneurship, such as research, analysis, and attention to detail. I chose the skincare industry for its growth potential, innovation, and the chance to create self-care products.
“The science behind skincare and its impact on people’s confidence and happiness truly fascinated me. Golden Hour Skincare combines my passion for entrepreneurship and self-care. This journey of research, product development, and building a brand reflects my values of integrity, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Though I had no specific skincare issues, I believe in a routine that promotes self-care and skin nurturing.”
The Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za