#WIB - Q&A With Christina da Silva Owner Of Silva 5 Pets -

Can you please tell us more about your business?

A. Silva 5 Pets, founded in 2019 and was created with the aim of supplying quality and stylish pet accessories for pets. Silva 5 Pets is situated in the South of Johannesburg but delivers country wide.

The inspiration to start Silva 5 Pets was my own pets. Playtime is essential for a pets physical, mental and emotional well-being and I have seen the benefits with my own fur babies. I wanted to create a store to sell toys and lifestyle products so other pet owners could be part of their pet’s playtime and well-being and besides playing with your pets is good for humans too. Whether your pet barks or meows, Silva 5 Pets will have something for them.

George Eliot once said, “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” and I couldn’t agree more.

When, how and why did you start your business?

A. Silva 5 Pets officially launched in 2019 but I had the idea to start the store in 2017. I always had pets growing up, so I have always had a passion for animals and their well-being. In 2017 I adopted one of my dogs and I realised that she didn’t actually know how to play with any of the toys I gave her , so I started to look for more interesting toys for her and realised there was a market for pet products.

I was able to finally take the plunge and start the business when I was fortunate enough to find a affordable and suitable storage facility, from this point on everything else such as website design just fell into place and things started happening quite quickly.

What is your role in the business?

A. As a one- women show, I have various roles in the business. I oversee the sourcing and ordering of products from my suppliers. I handle all the advertising and marketing activities which requires a lot of research as well as the processing of orders from my customers.

Where did you study and what did you study?

A. I studied Marketing Management via Boston City Campus and Unisa.

How did you finance your business?

A. I managed to save some money while at my previous employer, so I used some of my personal savings as well getting private loans from family members.

Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.

A. I start the day off by check the system to see if any orders have come through. Once the orders have been processed, I get them ready for shipping to be sent to the customers. The rest of my day is spent doing research on any new and interesting products that I might want to sell in my store I also spend a good amount of time planning my advertising strategies.

When I am not in front of my computer , I am most likely meeting with suppliers to discuss different product options.

How do you balance your home life and your work life?

A. I spend a lot of time working from home, so I do struggle to “switch -off “and leave work behind. To balance things out, I try and get to the gym as often as possible and socialise with friends and family.

What drives you and inspires you?

A. That tomorrow is another day to learn something new.

Where and when do you have your best ideas?

A. My own pets have become a point of inspiration, but I also find the best ideas seem strike when I am not actively thinking about new ideas.

Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?

A. As a new business with a small ad budget I have to get creative with advertising so Social Media is a integral part of advertising and getting sale leads. Google ad words has been helpful too.

What is next for your business?

A. I am looking to expand my product offering to include more customized products for pets and pet owners. As well as launching a Silva 5 Pets own clothing and accessories product line.

What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?

A. I think one of the most important pieces of advice I can give is, not to be afraid to ask for help. Running your own business is a case of trial and error and can be daunting so don’t be too proud to admit that you are overwhelmed and need some help because Google doesn’t tell you everything.