Lerato Sharon Matlin: A Taking Care of Business Success Story | Resell Programme (Johannesburg)
My name is Lerato Natlin. I live in Olievenhoutbosch Centurion.
Life before I joined TCB was very hard. I would get a job, but it was hard surviving with the salary I used to earn. Ever since I started working, I never received a salary that was more than R6000. With my salary alone, I had to take care of my mom, my sister, and my family (3 children and husband). You can imagine how difficult it was.
During Covid, when the companies stopped us, I decided to pursue my selling business. I sold masks. I attended pop-up markets to market my business and I saw an opportunity to add to my stock. I added perfumes and other items. As I was doing the pop-up market, I met a lady named Phumzile. She was from TCB. She introduced me to TCB. It was festive season when I applied. Joining TCB, my expectations were that I was going to buy and sell, but TCB gave me so much more than that.
The path to becoming a businesswoman
It wasn’t easy at first when starting to stock; finding customers was hard. But as I met other colleagues, they told me how to market myself going door-to-door. TCB has changed my life miraculously; I still pinch myself sometimes. TCB taught me humanity, independence, sisterhood values, self-love, and kindness. It has taught me to know that my today is not my tomorrow.
There are many skills I learned at TCB. I can manage my finances and am now financially independent. I know how to manage my stock, record all my finances, and am able to save. What stands out for me is that TCB can change stone into Gold. It gives you self-confidence.
My life has changed in ways I could have never imagined. I don’t think I would have managed by myself without TCB. I save, I am rebuilding my house in Limpopo, and I bought a car in my 2nd year in the program. I am now called a businesswoman, and it’s because of my hard work and determination that I have my business.
Personal growth and values learnt
Personally, I have learned forgiveness, love, and kindness. I understand that everyone has their own journey in life, but we all want the same thing.
My family life has also changed for the better. They are always happy. Every time I stock up, they make sure they help me with packing the stock. They play a role in the success of the business.
The best thing I learned at TCB is how to become independent. It teaches us not to rely on someone else for survival. It teaches about humanity, kindness, love, and living the values of sisterhood. TCB helps us to maintain a good life by giving us mentoring, coaching, and if you have challenges in life, they also give counseling.
I love having my own business; it means I am independent and not working under someone else. I have a stall where I sell on weekends, and during the week, I sell online. I market myself via social media, doing door-to-door, word of mouth, and also referrals from clients. Normally with the stock that has been kept for a long time without being sold, I sell that stock as a combo and mix it with new items, giving it life again.
My dream for my future is to see myself as a successful business owner. I want to see Lee Mach boutique being popular. I want to pursue my personal stylist business, and my wish is also to eradicate poverty.
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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.
