Businesswoman, mother, founder of a beauty empire - just some of the reasons Portia Mngomezulu is someone little girls can look up to and why she features on The Watchlist
Portia Mngomezulu, the founder of Portia M Skin Solutions, started her successful business in 2010 after she had her first child. Advised by her mother-in-law about the healing benefits marula oil would have on her stretch marks, she sourced it from her hometown of Phalaborwa, Limpopo, and saw the results within a few weeks. And so, as the idea to produce cosmetic products from the indigenous oil was sparked, Portia M was born.
The former IT medical engineer started by selling the oil from the back of her boot to close friends and members of her church, using a two-plate stove and cake-mixing tools to mix ingredients. She caught the eye of the Innovation Hub, an innovation agency focused on promoting the economic development and competitiveness of Gauteng, who provided her with financial assistance to grow her business, and then studied a supplier development programme at GIBS business school to increase her knowledge in the industry.
Portia M Skin Solutions has proven capable of conquering the highly competitive beauty industry with an ambitious vision and great determination. It is committed to reaching the world at large and competing in the international market and has gone from being sold out of a car boot to now being stocked in leading retailers and pharmacies including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Game, Edgars, Spar, Clicks, Dis-Chem, Ackermans, and recently also Legit and PEP stores. With over 20 beauty stores in Mzansi and neighbouring African countries, the brand is well on its way to being international.
Mngomezulu's vision is to make Portia M an anchor brand in Africa and the world. People can expect exceptional innovation and socially responsible programmes that will contribute to the society at large, as Mngomezulu believes that "we are the change we want to see". As an employer of over 300 people, she is committed to improving the lives of those around her, something that is already visible in that employees at Portia M Skin Solutions are given the opportunity to take part in skills development and training for personal growth as well as the development of the company.
The brand prides itself in appreciating and interacting with its customers, who are its cornerstone. Mngomezulu believes in constantly showing them gratitude for their unwavering support, and says "we are because of them".
The brand features three ranges: Portia M, Portia M for Men and Portia M for Baby. They've also done a collaboration with Clicks and offer Portia M make-up as well as The Glamour Collection, which means there is something for everyone.
"I have always had a love for cosmetics. Among my friends, I was that girl who'd find out what would work for you," she says.
The products are suitable for all skin types and have many benefits. The daily moisturiser from the marula range is rich in omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids that help with rebuilding skin cells, hydrating and softening the skin.
With all the hard work Mngomezulu puts in, it is no surprise that the brand has won many awards and prizes, including Pick n Pay Top Supplier of the Year and DAFF FEA Overall Winner, both in 2018, as well as the Best in Beauty Clicks Award in 2020. It has also won an All-Business Leader Award (AABLA) from CNBC Africa, showing its dedication and commitment to giving the best to customers and being innovative in the business world. Others include Top Entrepreneur at the Agro-processing Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Entrepreneur Awards and Pick n Pay winner of the Small Supplier of the Year.
Mngomezulu also received a national Presidential Award, the Gazelle, and the business has been widely written about as an inspiration to others. "I didn't know that my story was one which would give so many people hope, and especially an African story that we can find our own solutions in Africa. It would have been a tremendous disappointment if someone from Paris had discovered marula oil, and then sold it back to us," she says.
Portia M sources its ingredients locally and specialises in quality skincare products. It is a trailblazer in South Africa and continues to break boundaries - a force to be reckoned with in the beauty industry, with many collaborations and new products expected in the future.
For more, get this month's TRUELOVE and read all about her in The Watchlist. You can also follow the brand on https://www.facebook.com/PortiaMSkinSolutions/Facebook and https://www.instagram.com/portiam_skin/?hl=enInstagram.
