Becoming an entrepreneur is no easy task. The ups and downs are extreme, and you have to remain strong in your journey. An example of resilience in business is Tebatso Manyama, CEO and founder of the online shop and fashion line King Vleis.
Manyama studied international business and international marketing in the USA. After that, he began his working career as a sales executive at VW and soon became the sales manager. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Manyama was inspired to start his clothing business King Vleis.
“When the pandemic hit, I thought to myself I can’t just give up and this can’t be it. I decided to then start my clothing brand King Vleis,” Manyama explains.
He shares that his King Vleis brand is named after himself. His surname (Manyama) indirectly translates to meat and vleis is the Afrikaans word for meat. First, he started with hoodies, t-shirts, and golf shirts to launch the brand name to the public and generate brand awareness.
The King Vleis brand comprises clothing lines for men and women, sneakers and accessories. The most popular item is the KV sneakers. The KV sneakers are unisex and are available in black, white, grey and tan.
“People kept saying that they won’t wear my name on their clothing. But I told people that if they can wear a brand name like Calvin Klein on their clothing, why not mine? I knew that the name had a positive connotation to it, so I was persistent,” Manyama says.
A Cut Above the Rest
Manayama’s journey has not all been roses. When it comes to challenges, he has faced his fair share. He outlines that in every industry there are challenges and in the clothing business, one of the challenges he faced was that people called him a copycat.
To ensure that his brand and products are of high quality, Manyama did market research. This research led him to realise that when it comes to sneakers, a lot of brands go for looks but do not take comfort into consideration.
“If you’re going to do something that’s been done already, you need to find the gap in the market and do it better. This is why my sneakers are designed for comfort first and for style second,” he notes.
Another challenge Manyama has faced is financing. He has been funding his King Vleis brand from his own pocket. He explains that getting the funding is a big problem for small businesses. Not having access to funding can be tough on small businesses and most of them fail because of the lack of funding.
Perseverance is Vital to Brand Success
Manyama has persevere. Today, the business is growing into a formidable South African brand. He has travelled to China to meet with his suppliers for the first time in 3 years. This showcases not only his achievements but those of the business and its growth.
“If I had funding to help me with my business, I would probably be much further than I am now. But I have worked hard and now I am able to go see my suppliers in China,” says Manyama.
Looking forward, Manyama wants to keep growing his business. He wants to expand the brand from only an online shop to physical stores. This is a dream most small businesses typically never achieve but Manyama knows that is the next step for his brand.
Additionally, he wants to create a parent company for his brand and call it The King’s Korner. This will allow him to open other companies under the brand and continue to expand his business into property and clothing. Manyama is already on the way as he owns AirBnBs in Pretoria and Cape Town.
“I want to grow my business, improve the economy, and create employment opportunities for others. In the next 5 years, that is where I want my business to go. I really want to grow and just help people,” Manyama smiles.
Speaking about future entrepreneurs, Manyama says that starting your own business is not for everyone and you must be sure that you want to be self-employed. Manyama says that new entrepreneurs need to be ready to be tested throughout their business journey.
“You have to believe in yourself and believe in what you do. As people tell you that you can’t do anything, you have to stand strong. People will be scared for you because they were scared. You are allowed to be scared. Be the soul of your business, and you will succeed,” Manyama concludes.
