Page 42 - KZN Top Business Women 2022 Powed by DRG & BusinessFit SA

to make her own cleaning products using all Apart from her online store, Anele has a number
REGIONAL DIRECTOR KZN, natural ingredients. of instore stockists around the country.
ANELE MSWELI, FOUNDER MARE
& ITIS SHOPPE The first product was the prototype for the JUST DO YOUR BEST
EVEREST STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS.
popular Zesty Kitchen cleaner, which she made
from vinegar and lemon. The small business In speaking of who inspires her Anele says that
NELE MSWELI is the brains behind the grew from there with requests from friends to she loves listening to podcasts including those
business, Mare & Itis Shoppe, which is make additional products. Countless hours of by Oprah and interior decorator Karin Bohn.
an eco-lux home and skincare brand. research led her to a love for essential oils and She added that she is inspired by her partner
AIn 2017 Anele started the brand as natural products. who is also an entrepreneur. Anele commented,
passion project while she was living in China. “However it’s the day-to-day people that are
The niche brand has developed into a full-time Anele then moved to Wuqing, a small district trying to just make things work, the people who
business with growing demand for its products. in Tianjin, where she worked long hours as just do their best who inspire me the most.”
a Montessori English teacher and training
Anele and her three sisters were raised coordinator. A major challenge in her entrepreneurial journey
by their mother in Montclair, where she is that she has not had any funding and has had
attended Mowat Park High. She then attended However, the demand for her products grew to rely on her own resources. Other challenges
Rhodes University, where she completed a and she started selling them in a local market as included, “Surviving through Covid which was
Bachelor of Earth Sciences degree. well as online. a major challenge especially as being a non-
essential business I experienced shortages in
The name ‘Mare & Itis’ has its origins in Anele’s ALL OR NOTHING packaging. The rand price and the economy are
student days at Rhodes. She explains, ‘Mare’ is a constant challenge!”
word students at Rhodes use to meaning a fun In 2020 Anele’s visit to South Africa for a
time. ‘Itis’ is used to describe that sleepy feeling wedding – with one suitcase – coincided with However, she believes that her success has been
one gets after eating a large meal; “magie vol, outbreak of Covid which meant that she was based on her perseverance as well as being
ogies toe”. I decided to put these two concepts unable to return to China. This also mean that consistent. “It’s important to keep up the same
together to create something that is quint- she needed to focus on her fledgling business pace not matter what ’waves’ you face,” said Anele.
essentially me. I love a good time and I love food.” in order to earn an income.
FOLLOW THE DREAM
After completing her degree, Anele volun- “The year 2020 will always remain a significant
teered for Greenpeace Africa. She says, ‘The year for me and for the brand. It was all or nothing, Looking to the future, Anele has set huge
most memorable part of this journey was and I have learnt so much about entrepreneurship goals for herself. As she is really proud of her
on board the Rainbow Warrior: I learnt so and resilience,” explained Anele. products and would like to showcase them in
much from sailing with an eclectic and multi- the UAE, Anele has obtained an export/ import
national crew.” The online business has now grown into a licence. However, in order to follow her dream,
range of 45 products including essential oils, she would have to increase the production of
ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS linen and room sprays without alcohol as well her products substantially.
as candles and diffusers.
In 2016 Anele moved to Harbin, one of the most Her advice to young people considering an
northerly cities in China, which as it is situated Mare & Itis Shoppe is inspired by everything entrepreneurial journey would be to ‘just start’.
near Siberia has long and freezing winters. The natural. “The products are non-toxic, eco- “You can learn as you go and figure things out.
temperature can reach a very low -40 degrees conscious as well as cruelty-free. I use plant- But you need to set goals for yourself. I am

centigrade. based ingredients which are biodegradable.” constantly pushing myself to achieve and set
In order to be sustainable all products are new goals at the beginning of each year and
During this time, Anele was using Chinese supplied in glass bottles, which are reused again every three months.”
products for her skin and hair care until she when returned to her.
developed allergic reactions to these including In her free time, Anele makes sure to keep
her hair starting to fall out. In addition, Anele As a ‘garage’ business Anele is responsible both her brain and her hands busy. She enjoys
found it difficult to find suitable cleaning for all aspects of the day to day running. She listening to podcasts and reading and loves
products especially as she was unable to read formulates and tests all products, does the to sew, knit as well as spends time at the gym
the labels on the products she was using. packaging, runs accounts as well as handles and enjoys a regular 5km walk on the Durban
This is when, Anele explained, she decided all logistics and social media marketing. promenade every Sunday.

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