Rello Studio
| Business Location: | Rural |
| Province | Free State |
| Branch: | Fezile Dabi |
| Business Start Date: | |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
The Director and owner of the business is Refiloe Angelina Mahlasela, who has put in a lot of effort to get the business to where it is today. She started working in 2015 at Bob-cut Salon near Carlton Centre in Johannesburg, specializing in tweezing eyelashes. She received many positive remarks from customers, who often wished she could also apply makeup for them. Due to high demand, she researched the costs required to upskill herself in makeup services. At that time, service providers were asking around R6000 to R7000 for a full course. Since she didn’t have that kind of money and couldn’t source it quickly, she joined a security company to work as a guard for a reasonable period until she went back home to Frankfort.
Fortunately, it didn’t take her long to get a job in Frankfort. Knowing what she wanted, she saved money to upgrade her security grades to earn a slightly higher salary than what she started with. She worked for a company subcontracting under Transnet for four months and finally managed to save enough money to begin her makeup training course with Havilla Academy in Vereeniging. She acquired the necessary training and began applying her knowledge and skills. However, demand was higher during the festive season, and her business slowed down, prompting her to look for another security job. Luckily, she got employed again and saved money to acquire training in sewing and tailoring, which took her 18 months to complete. She graduated and began working, but again, demand was higher during the festive season.
She saved money and decided to equip herself with nail technician skills, graduating from that course as well. After working for a few months, she realized that business usually peaked during or towards month-ends. This led her to diversify her business by adding clothing retail and further upskilling herself in hair installations. Things progressed quickly, and she decided to register her business in 2021. Last year, in 2023, she met with SEDA to apply for access to finance. SEDA came on board and provided equipment in December 2023. Unfortunately, most of that equipment isn’t in working condition now, as their conditions deteriorated from April 2024. She is still using her old equipment.
Whenever a client comes to RELLO STUDIO for nails or hair services, she takes pictures and promotes the business via social media accounts. She also sells clothing and welcomes clients who bring their own cloth for her to design dresses. This has been bringing in business.
Challenges/Needs:
Signage materials
Promotional materials
Business Plan and Business Profile
Access to funding
Lack of bigger business premises
Proper Bookkeeping
Asset Assistance Program
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
The business owner approached Seda to request assistance with signage board and promotional materials to address issue of market access and funding grant support. Seda had referred the client to DSBD equipment support and the SMME was successful.
Outcome Details:
Through the implementation of Seda intervention, the business has been able to attract more customers and increase business income. The income has risen from R84 000 to R120 000 per annum and created 1 job.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
‘I am thankful to SEDA on the previous assistance.’
