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Langalakhe Mabena
WHEN one talks of local business start-ups, Divine Pro Skin Care is one brand that quickly comes to mind as it is community-driven in the sense that it empowers women to realise their dreams of fending for themselves and their families.
Founded in 2015 by Ms Providence Moyo, the company’s vision was driven by Moyo’s up bringing in a community abundant with diverse nature, which then became a catalyst that ignited a passion to start up the company.
As it was a dream for her to start a company that produces beauty and skin care products, Moyo hit the ground running and registered Divine Pro Skin Care, which is a certified member of the Southern African Essential Oil Producers Association (SAEOPA), an organisation dedicated to advancing agricultural projects, particularly in SMEs and rural areas, with a focus on promoting essential oil and vegetable oil production.
The company strives to become the preferred provider of hypo-allergenic skin and hair care products, in Zimbabwe, Africa and beyond. Divine Pro Skin Care is community oriented. They work with communities in rural areas of Hwange, Plumtree, Lupane, Dete and Binga women who collect the indigenous plants namely Baobab, Tamarind, Mangongo and Marula and they are taught how to manufacture skin products, organic foods and juices from them.
The company offers a wide range of products, including Lemon Acne Soap, African Black Soap, Baobab Rooibos Soap, Restoring Daily Cream, Powdered Baobab, Tissue Oil and Mangongo Tissue Oil. It was not a walk in the park for Moyo to start her business. On her entrepreneurship journey, she faced difficulties and made sacrifices as well as endured tribulations in the early stages.
But with her thrust to hustle and the massive support from the rural communities who help her with raw materials, Moyo has soldiered on and her company is amongst successful local owned skin care companies.
“Divine Pro Skin Care has expanded its product line and opened beauty spas in Bulawayo and Harare. We recently introduced a new brand, organic Baobab fruit juice, in response to the need for product diversity. Despite global lockdowns due to Covid-19, the company continued to innovate and adapt to the situation to meet customer demands.
“In the process of coming up with our final products, we are proud to say we have created massive employment, especially in rural areas as we are working with many women who provide us with raw materials that we buy from them. They are now able to pay school fees for their children and fend for their families.
“We also teach them some skills ,on how to create skin products through these fruits and raw materials meaning they are also empowered with knowledge and various skills. It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” said Moyo.
As a way of sharing her knowledge with the community, Moyo established a skin care school in Bulawayo. The school focuses on providing practical training to individuals in the beauty industry. She said the decision to open the skin care school arose from her realisation that many beauty course graduates lack practical skills.
“The skincare practical course was launched in March. The aim is to equip individuals in the beauty industry with the necessary skills to enhance their income. The course covers the use of machines in skin care treatments,” said Moyo
She also said they offer assistance to those interested in acquiring skin care equipment such as infrared lights, hydra facial tools, massage equipment and stomach flattening devices.
“This initiative is part of our efforts towards youth and women empowerment, enabling them to diversify their income sources.
The course offers various packages, allowing students to utilise the machines provided during their training,” she said.
If you are a leader who is into entrepreneurship, it is important to share your knowledge and skills with other people who aspire to start their businesses. With her Divine Pro Skin Care company, Moyo was chosen to be among presenters at this year’s International Business Conference ,which was held at the just ended Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
Her works were a testimony that it’s possible for one to run a business that sustains the community through various means. In her presentation, she gave a few tips for young entrepreneurs who want to launch innovative products for resale in Zimbabwe and internationally.
“We have a lot of young innovators but their ideas fail to see the light of the day because they are scared to start or they don’t have access to capital. My advice to them is that they do market research to understand the needs and wants of their target customers. They also have to create a unique selling proposition. This is the key differentiator that sets you apart from the competition.
“Every company must build a solid business plan with a strong foundation, which will allow one to secure funding, attract investors and get their business off the ground. It’s hard for one to win this game alone, so at some point there is a need to find the right partners. Partnering with other businesses or individuals can help them expand their reach, reduce costs and increase efficiency,” she said.
Online Reporter