Founder of Masodi Organics on how she started a successful local beauty brand ‘We have enjoyed incredible growth since the launch of Masodi Organics. What started off as a one-woman show has now evolved into a team of seven full-time employees, and we are in the process of recruiting more!’ – conceptualised with the aim of putting black women at the forefront of the beauty landscape, Masodi Organics was launched in 2018. Liz Letsoalo aimed to provide effective beauty solutions, such as body scrubs, body moisturisers, hairline serum and so much more, that break walls across different groups or segments of people, and how they all experience the process of nurturing their bodies. What sets Masodi apart from the other beauty brands? - My idea for this business came from personal experiences and pain points that I’ve had within the beauty space. We wanted to produce thoughtfully made products by leveraging the power of natural ingredients. At Masodi, we are tapping into the power of key ingredients from nature with scientifically backed formulations. You mention the importance of transparency within your brand – what do you mean by that? What I wanted to do was to create a brand that communicates the value of its products in a more thoughtful and realistic way, while also communicating more empowering beauty standards. When someone looks at the Masodi Organics Instagram account, we don’t want them to leave the page feeling as though they’re ugly or lesser than; we want them to be inspired to nurture themselves and to embrace their natural beauty. What were some of the challenges in the beginning? - Getting funding was hugely difficult in the beginning. It’s a challenge, especially when you are called into a room to pitch your business to investors and as soon as they hear ‘beauty products’ you are met with an eye roll. I’ve also had some personal challenges. I’ve since come to realise that entrepreneurship is more of a personal journey than a business one. You are accepted in some spaces and rejected in others, and you get to see the best and the worst of yourself. It made me realise how important it is to have a strong support system. Which milestones on this journey stand out to you? - One of my goals was to one day walk into a retail store and see good representation across the aisles: to see high-quality locally made products that consumers can feel proud to call their ‘own’. This year, we’ve launched across multiple retail stores, such as Clicks and Pick n Pay, in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. I am so proud of this achievement. Where do you see Masodi Organics in five years? - I want us to be at the forefront of brilliantly innovative products. I also want us to become a global brand that is brave in taking our space. I want us to be more than just a money-making organisation, but also a part of society that is actively participating in sociopolitical issues that concern South Africa and the rest of our continent. What is Supply Chain Risk Management? Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks of an organisation’s supply chain. Implementing global supply chain risk management strategies can help an enterprise operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and enhance customer service. Supply Chain Risk Management Explained Supply chain management refers to how organisations manage the flow of their goods, including all the processes involved in transforming raw materials the organisation consumes into finished products or services the organisation offers. It includes planning and managing, sourcing, procurement, conversion, and logistics. One primary reason that companies implement a global supply chain management strategy is to boost their competitive advantage. That said, the globalisation of supply chains can also increase the potential risks to quality, safety, business continuity, and reputation. Q 1. Masodi Organics has a warehouse located in Joburg CBD, and given the latest challenge of illegal occupation and health and safety issues being experienced in that area, analyse below four (5) internal warehousing and inventory risks that could potentially impact the operations of Masodi Organics. 1. Theft 2. Produc degration 3.Human erro 4. Warehousing employee vulnerability risk 5. Warehousing equipment risks
Read the scenario below and answer the questions that follow:
Founder of Masodi Organics on how she started a successful local beauty brand
‘We have enjoyed incredible growth since the launch of Masodi Organics.
What started off as a one-woman show has now evolved into a team of seven full-time employees, and we are in the process of recruiting more!’ – conceptualised with the aim of putting black women at the forefront of the beauty landscape, Masodi Organics was launched in 2018. Liz Letsoalo aimed to provide effective beauty solutions, such as body scrubs, body moisturisers, hairline serum and so much more, that break walls across different groups or segments of people, and how they all experience the process of nurturing their bodies.
What sets Masodi apart from the other beauty brands? - My idea for this business came from personal experiences and pain points that I’ve had within the beauty space.
We wanted to produce thoughtfully made products by leveraging the power of natural ingredients. At Masodi, we are tapping into the power of key ingredients from nature with scientifically backed formulations.
You mention the importance of transparency within your brand – what do you mean by that? What I wanted to do was to create a brand that communicates the value of its products in a more thoughtful and realistic way, while also communicating more empowering beauty standards. When someone looks at the Masodi Organics Instagram account, we don’t want them to leave the page feeling as though they’re ugly or lesser than; we want them to be inspired to nurture themselves and to embrace their natural beauty.
What were some of the challenges in the beginning? - Getting funding was hugely difficult in the beginning. It’s a challenge, especially when you are called into a room to pitch your business to investors and as soon as they hear ‘beauty products’ you are met with an eye roll. I’ve also had some personal challenges. I’ve since come to realise that entrepreneurship is more of a personal journey than a business one. You are accepted in some spaces and rejected in others, and you get to see the best and the worst of yourself. It made me realise how important it is to have a strong support system.
Which milestones on this journey stand out to you? - One of my goals was to one day walk into a retail store and see good representation across the aisles: to see high-quality locally made products that consumers can feel proud to call their ‘own’. This year, we’ve launched across multiple retail stores, such as Clicks and Pick n Pay, in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. I am so proud of this achievement.
Where do you see Masodi Organics in five years? - I want us to be at the forefront of brilliantly innovative products. I also want us to become a global brand that is brave in taking our space. I want us to be more than just a money-making organisation, but also a part of society that is actively participating in sociopolitical issues that concern South Africa and the rest of our continent.
What is Supply Chain Risk Management?
Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) is the process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks of an organisation’s supply chain. Implementing global supply chain risk management strategies can help an enterprise operate more efficiently, reduce costs, and enhance customer service.
Supply Chain Risk Management Explained
Q 1. Masodi Organics has a warehouse located in Joburg CBD, and given the latest challenge of illegal occupation and health and safety issues being experienced in that area, analyse below four (5) internal warehousing and inventory risks that could potentially impact the operations of Masodi Organics.
1. Theft
2. Produc degration
3.Human erro
4. Warehousing employee vulnerability risk
5. Warehousing equipment risks
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