1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. We infuse cannabis into a range of products – like teas, spices, chili, flour, and a range of other goods – to fill your pantry for a healthier lifestyle. Cannabis has an incredible ability to ease a range of conditions, including epileptic seizures, anxiety, inflammation, and arthritis. We use local ingredients and suppliers to ensure that our products are Proudly South African.
2. When, how, and why did you start your business?
A. I was first diagnosed with epilepsy at age 27, but still managed my corporate job and built a successful career. At 40, everything changed. I was having 20-25 seizures a day, and was in and out of hospital for almost three years. I lost the ability to read, walk and talk.
After trying what felt like every medical option under the sun, I finally found a solution: medical cannabis, taken as micro-doses as part of my diet. I started having fewer seizures, my coordination improved and my speech started to return. I then realised there are numerous other people who can benefit from what cannabis has to offer, and started packaging tea and experimenting with flavours and foods at home. It gave me a new sense of beginning and a sense of purpose.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. I’m the CEO and founder of Tubby’s Kitchen, which means I do everything from strategy and sales to creating new recipes, packing tea and cleaning the floors.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I’m a certified Life and Executive Coach and certified in various SAP IT courses. I also worked as a trainer and facilitator for various companies. My strength lies in EQ training and IT.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. A lot of faith and bootstrapping! My son Dillan and I started the business in my mother’s home using my monthly SASSA grant, which financed everything from internet to samples, marketing, travel, R&D and salaries. We started selling cannabis tea to friends and family, and every sale went straight back into the business.
Our biggest breakthrough was meeting Aions Creative Technology – not only from an investment perspective, but their commitment to make a difference in the world, and their business mentorship which has helped us position the business for rapid growth.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. I’m seriously aiming toward working in moderation, but I’m yet to meet another start-up CEO who doesn’t stop working 24/7 for the first few years. The team checks in every morning, and then we hit the ground running.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. It’s not always easy, especially when there are deadlines or difficulties. My early morning routine sets my tone for the day: coffee on the stoep, some gospel music, gratitude, and waiting for guidance on the next right step. I simply love Sundays: 702’s R&B Jams set my soul on fire every week. Time with family and friends, any day of the week, nourishes me, and I never pass by the opportunity for a laugh.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. Change, progress, and evolution. I love seeing people succeed. I simply love ‘aha’ moments, when their eyes light up, and I see their fearlessness rise. Above all, my son is my greatest inspiration to be my best self.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. Dawn and dusk are when I’m at my most creative, and the trick I’ve learned over the years is to write ideas down immediately. Other times, great ideas spring out of conversations with people focused on the same goal. It’s pure gold.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. We’ve launched in cannabis retail stores across the country, and e-commerce plays a huge part in our success. We also use social media and are talking to larger retailers who create opportunities for SMMEs.
11. What is next for your business?
A. Tubby’s Kitchen is part of a new legal cannabis industry in South Africa that’s ready to explode. By 2023, the value of Africa’s legal cannabis market could be $7.1bn across nine key African countries. There’s a big demand for our products in countries like the UK and Thailand, and we’re excited about the possibility of off-take agreements with international firms who recognise our value proposition.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their businesses?
A. Start. Just start. Try to have some financial security but be fearless and don’t be afraid to fail. Research is vital: you must know your business, market and legislation better than anyone else. Network, make the calls, and don’t be afraid to knock on doors. Many of us are intimidated about writing a business plan, but it’s where the money you need for your business will come from. It sets goals, assesses finances and projections, ensures registrations, and gets your mind focused. And then, above all else, find purpose in and for your business, reflect on it as a service for others, then you will have a fulfilling life.
For more visit: www.tubbyskitchen.co.za
