MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Tawananyasha Bandason never wanted to be told what to do. From a young age, she knew she did not want to work for someone else one day.
That bold and outspoken nature is what led her to becoming an entrepreneur at 16, the proud owner of a successful skincare and body product business.
A Grade 10 learner of Point High, Tawananyasha is charismatic, funny and intelligent.
She wowed guests at the Mossel Bay Business Chamber Awards on Friday 21 November as one of five junior entrepreneurs, taking home first prize for her business, XLNT, which uses organic honey as its key ingredient.
The honey is not shop-bought, either - Tawananyasha added 'beekeeper' to her extensive CV this year, maintaining three beehives and harvesting her honey straight from the source.
Tawananyasha Bandason with her skincare and body products, made from organic honey. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
How it all began
Tawananyasha's business first began when she was in Grade Five, simply selling jars of honey to one of her teachers whom she says was her only customer at the time.
Since then, her business has grown to include honey lip balms, bath bombs, bath salts, body butters, milk and honey soaps, cuticle oils, milk, honey and oatmeal massage bars as well as a chocolate and honeycomb bar - all of which she manufactures by herself from her mum's kitchen.
When asked how she learnt to make all her products, Tawananyasha simply replied: "YouTube."
Through internet tutorials and later completing workshops to better her skills, Tawananyasha has managed to set herself apart from other teen-run businesses in Mossel Bay where food and clothing products are common.
Not wanting to abandon the honey, Tawananyasha decided to incorporate it into her products. "I asked myself how I can use my honey to make something different," she says.
Customer care
A key selling point of her business is the affordability - all of her products are under R200.
"Caring for customers should be the priority, not the money," she says. She acknowledges that this might sound naïve, but she feels the world is an unfair place, and she would rather place her customers above raking in as much money as possible.
However, this is not to say that Tawananyasha makes little money. In October alone she has earned a total of R22 565.
While most teenagers would be quick to spend some of that money, Tawananyasha says she has not touched any of it. Aside from putting some profit back into her business, the rest has remained as is.
The money will go towards financing her future, including the opportunity to one day pursue a qualification in IT.
The R5 000 she was awarded at the Business Chamber Awards will go towards making perfumes, expanding her product range.
Tawananyasha after she was just announced the winner of the junior entrepreneur competition at the Mossel Bay Business Chamber Awards. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
Presenting her business at the awards was not the first time Tawananyasha had her pitch prepared.
She competed in Via TV's Maak my 'n miljoenêr earlier this year, and although she had good sales, it was not as good as other contestants'.
However, she still managed to break through to the top 10 despite her business only being eight months old at the time.
Busy bee
Tawananyasha might be the busiest high school learner in Mossel Bay.
Between dedicating time to running her business, she is also a cheerleader and RCL member, and she participates in debate. She is a member of the Junior Town Council (JTC) and engages in community work through volunteering at an orphanage and hospital in Mossel Bay.
"I've learnt to plan and prioritise what is important," she says. "I've also learnt to say no at times."
Tawananyasha spends her free time doing what she loves: dancing in her room and going to church.
You can find Tawananyasha on Facebook (XLNT Honey Products) or Instagram (@beebeyondxlnt), or send an email to beebeyondxlnt@gmail.com.
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