Pinky Khanie: A Taking Care of Business (TCB) Success Story.
My husband is a mechanic and I was working at a call centre selling insurance and earning very well. When COVID-19 hit everything went downhill and I lost my job. With 3 kids to support (now 4, I recently had a baby while at TCB) and schools to pay for, it was expensive. My husband wasn’t making enough to cover all the expenses.
I started selling sandwiches at my old company. I would make sandwiches in the morning and rush there to sell my sandwiches. It was the only income I was bringing in and it still wasn’t enough to provide what my family needed.
Then, I learnt about Taking Care of Business (TCB) and I applied online to attend the open day. They called me, I did the interview and I got in.
When I started in the TCB Resell Programme I saw the opportunity. They explained how I could make more money. I’m a people person and love talking and interacting with people so it was easy for me. From the first month they explain what you are supposed to do. We had classes which taught me so many things and I had to learn to sell. I worked hard and I did it! Every single month I made my target and I’ve never been late or absent. I show up for myself, my kids and the legacy I want to leave! Being here, it changed my life. My kids were in government schools and now they attend private schools. We moved into a bigger place and I am able to sustain my family without anybody’s assistance because of TCB. I am independent.
Small businesses lead to increased employment opportunities
I am still buying from TCB, they are my main source of stock.
People hear about me from word of mouth, they know I have good tastes and they know I will sell them good quality fashion. One of my strategies is that I use myself as an advertising space. I confidently wear the clothes I sell so people can see it. Many people approach me and ask me where I bought my clothes and then I tell them they can get it from me and I make a sale!
Now, I have assistants working for me. I mostly sell online. I’II post my stuff online and people put in their orders with me, which I deliver to them once payment is made. I am also looking out for a shop space because I have a lot I sell. But I know I have to be careful because it’s expensive and I don’t want to overextend myself or get into debt. That’s another thing I’ve learnt – how to manage my finances carefully. I think before I spend. I know where I am going and the steps I need to take to get there!
Taking Care of Business (TCB) is a nonprofit social enterprise. We are empowering unemployed South Africans and their families to escape the cycle of poverty through small business opportunities, mostly within the circular economy.