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Founder and Owner of Marice Rooibos Skincare
About Your Business
Tell us about what you do (what product or service you provide and who your target audience is).
I am the founder and owner of Marice Mercuur Pty Ltd, also known as Marice Rooibos Skincare. My company manufactures skincare products made with only natural ingredients and of course rooibos tea, which is only found in this region. It is completely natural and contains no artificial ingredients and preservatives. My target market is everyone who wants to live a more natural life, and of course people who suffer from sensitive skin and skin ailments like like eczema. I also target the tourism industry, health and wellness stores, and boutique skincare outlets.
What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why?
My greatest influence in business is Lauren Gillis, the founder of Relate Bracelets. She taught me that business can also have a positive social impact through empowerment of disenfranchised people. In short, you can do good business by doing good in society.
What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
My single greatest accomplishment was achieved in 2019 when I was awarded the accolade of Female entrepreneur of the Year by the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture. This award opened up many doors for my business and also showed me how far I still have to go in business.
What have been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
The most effective marketing initiatives that I have used have been the social media campaigns on instagram and Facebook. Some of the biggest feedback has been achieved through various magazine articles in magazines like Kuier Magazine, Vrouekeur and Food for Mzansi (an online publication). I would love to be featured in more of these publications, as they have a very wide reach in terms of audience.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I get to spend a lot more quality time with my kids, and of course I can choose which hours I work. Unfurtunately though, being your own boss also means that you have to put in a lot more hours, but I don’t really see it as work, because I really enjoy what I do.
What’s changed in your industry over the last few years and what do you see in the future?
A lot more people have joined the natural revolution, so the competition gets more intense every day. In this industry there is so much emphasis placed on marketing and packaging, and a lot of the time the products that are in the bottles and tubes cost much less than the actual products. There is also an increase in the number of skincare ranges that are started by YouTube stars, TikTok celebs and social media influencers. So, in order to be really successful in skincare, your chances of success are much greater if you have celebrity status. I still believe that there should be a balance between a great product and great marketing campaign. I guess I’ll have to become really famous then!!
Has the impact of the online space and social media made an impact on your business and why?
Definitely! Like I said earlier, the more followers you have on social media, the greater the chance that your business will perform well in terms of sales and profile.
If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
I would have reduced the number of products in my range, invested a lot more in product testing and certification EARLY, and also invest much more time, effort and resources on marketing.
On Success
What three things/people/ROLES have contributed most to your success?
- Getting external funding: without funds a startup will always struggle to grow;
- Getting a mentor: it is always great to be able to test my ideas with someone who understands business, and from whom I can learn valuable lessons;
- Having all my paperwork in place: business plans, financial statements, company documents, etc:
What one thing have you learned that has served you well over the years?
Never be motivated by making money fast – even if the business grows at a seemingly slower rate than other businesses, make sure that your growth is sustainable. Success is not achieved overnight.
On Motivation
How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
Whilst I have long-terms goals, I always try to make the small steps right to get me to the big success. I also set realistic and measurable goals for myself, and work hard towards achieving them. Small successes and/or achievements are great motivators
On Leadership
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is participative, I allow for inputs and believe in the fact that I am continuously learning.
What leadership qualities do you most admire?
I admire the people who are willing to take great risks, who aren’t afraid of failing and getting up. It is something I also do often.
What women inspires you and why?
I take a lot of inspiration from women who don’t allow their circumstances to determine their success. Here I refer to the single mothers who have to juggle between their day jobs and side hustles, women who have achieved success against the odds, and women who have started business with virtually no assistance, who smashed through the glass ceilings and closed doors.
About Yourself
If you knew then what you know now, what would you tell your 18-year-old self?
I would tell my 18-year old self to stop being so shy, stop being so afraid to fail, and to start that hustle already.
How do you get balance in your life?
Sometimes balance is hard to achieve, but I do make time to switch off from the constant hustle by visiting my parents on the farm where there is no internet and no social media. I recently started to exercise to improve my physical and mental well-being, and I must say that it really helps me to achieve that balance that has been missing in my life for so many years.
What “rules” do you live by?
- Don’t be afraid to fail!
- If things get too much, take a break!
- Don’t take life too seriously – make time to have fun!
- Do not get consumed by social media, a lot of it is fake anyway!
- Don’t compare your journey to other people’s journey, because you don’t know what’s going on in their lives or how they got there!
What three things could you not live without?
- My family: I have 3 great kids and a very loving and supportive husband
- My phone – because I do most of my work from my phone
- My sleep!!
What’s Next?
What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
To have all my products dermatologically tested so that I can start exporting. I already have my exporter’s license, so the only outstanding thing is the product testing. I should have this done within the next 6 months.
Motivation for Others
What three things do you feel are most critical for entrepreneurs to be aware of?
- Understand your industry very well
- know your own company
- Have a plan for your business – know where you are headed towards and set goals
Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with small business owners that have helped you in business? If yes, please describe (and include links if available).
There are various government departments and private institutions that assist registered businesses with financial and non-financial support:
- CIPC: www.cipc.co.za
- SEDA (Small Enterprise Development Agency): www.seda.org.za
- Department of Economic Development and Tourism
- Wesgro: www.wesgro.co.za
- Various government departments related to the particular field of business
- The various commercial banks also have support programmes for small businesses
Resources that I use:
- CANVA: for social media posts and design work
- Shopify: website design
- Payfast: to receive online payments: www.payfast.co.za
- Paypal: to facilitate international payments: www.paypal.com
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you have all your ducks in a row, like your business registration, business plan, marketing plan, financial statements, management accounts, etc, the likelihood of being assisted by commercial banks or funding institutions are significantly increased. Spend the time, money and effort to get this done and keep it up to date.
What’s the best way for our readers to connect with you (feel free to include the links to your social networks and websites)?
Instagram: @mariceskin
Facebook: @mariceskincare
Website: www.marice.co.za
Contact email: info@marice.co.za
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Who is your inspiration when it comes to what you do?
My husband, Nigel. He understands how to put into words what I want to do next, and he is great at formulating my business plans. My other great inspiration is my daughter Gemma. She is the reason why I started manufacturing natural skincare in the first place when she suffered from severe eczema as a 6-month old baby.
What are your other passions, besides being fabulous?
I love painting furniture to give it new life, even though I don’t get to do it very often.
What is the worst thing you have had to overcome to be better at being you?
In 2018 I was a top 6 finalist in Standard Bank’s My Fearless Next Competition. I felt I had a very good chance to win the competition. Even though being I made the top 6 out of thousands of entrants, I found it very difficult to deal with the disappointment of not winning. This severely dented my confidence, and it literally took me months to start believing in myself again. Nowadays, I am much better at dealing with NO’s and I don’t take disappoints so personal anymore. Each disappointment is just one step closer to my big success.
How did you get your big break?
I think the big break is still around the corner. However, when the first national retailer started to stock my products, I knew I was onto something potentially great.
What gets you through the tough times?
My family is very supportive. When times are tough I know my family will never judge me, but will accept me as I am.
Favourite restaurant?
The Spur – I love their buffalo wings
Place in the world?
I would love to visit China, New York and Dubai. But right now, my favourite place is my own home, right here in Clanwilliam. This is where I can simply chill in my pajamas, watch Netflix and enjoy my husband’s cooking.
Thing to do in your free time?
Chill in my pajamas and watch Netflix
Best celebration “like evaaaa….”
My greatest celebration came in 2019 when I walked up to the stage to receive my award for the Female Entrepreneur of the Year in front of hundreds of high profile people. My dress was on point and the standing ovation from the crowd was simply awesome. I felt like a real celebrity that night. I could really get used to red carpet events.
ADVICE & STUFF
Words to live by?
Consistency is key. Never compromise on your dreams. Know your worth!!
What’s your superpower/ special agent / secret weapon / mojo?
I am a great judge of character. It doesn’t take me long to figure out which people are real and which are fake. I am seldom wrong about this.
Words of advice for people aspiring to be where you are?
Just start. You may make mistakes along the way, but if you don’t try, you will never know. Don’t compare yourself against others; it’ll just make you doubt yourself. Do not be put off by disappointment. Whatever your business is, always conduct your business in an honest and ethical manner. If your journey takes longer, allow it to take longer. Become a sponge: learn as much as you can. Surround yourself with people who can add value to your life.
Sharing is caring…insert expert advice here:
What is the “thing” that (could, should, we need) empowers community?
ON A PROFESSIONAL NOTE
When did you know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
It was never my plan to become an entrepreneur, but as a young person who worked in government for 10years, I just felt like I had more to offer than sitting in a job that I was not passionate about. It was roundabout 2015 when I thought about quitting my job and make my side hustle my main hustle.
What do you love most about your job?
I derive the most pleasure from my job when clients contact me to thank me for the products when it worked for them, or send me before and after pics. I also love the creative part of my job, i.e. the manufacturing of great skincare products, working with external design consultants on labels and packaging, etc.
What was your first job and how did it help you get to where you are now?
My first job was as a part-time worker at Wupperthal Rooibos. The company processed rooibos tea that was harvested in the area. Needless to say, I now make my own skincare with the very same rooibos that is harvested in the region. At this job I learned a lot about the qualities of rooibos tea, but I never imagined that, more than 12 years later, I would add value to this magical herbal drink that is rooibos
If you had 30 minutes to impress someone, what would you do?
If I had 30 minutes to impress someone, I would not try to impress someone at all. I would simply remain humble and tell my story in a truthful manner. The focus will be on the business, the knowledge of my industry a clear and concise summary of what I require. To be honest, if you cannot impress people in 5 minutes, you will definitely not be able to do it in 30 minutes.
Do you have a mentor?
Lauren Gillis, founder of Relate Bracelets.
In your opinion, what is going to be “the next big thing” ?
In my industry, the next big thing is the value adding of the product (rooibos) into other products like alcoholic and sport beverages, etc. In business in general, the next big thing will be my involvement in the entire value chain of rooibos tea, from the lands, to the processing to the multitude of ways in which rooibos can be used.
SHOUT OUT
Who? Where? What?
Laverne Turner-Manuel, Dubai
Laverne is a social media influencer who, in my early days, took the time and effort to promote my products free of charge. She always likes my posts and I learn so much from her.