In the world of business, the art of storytelling is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a necessity. People connect with brands through stories and therefore companies are becoming more aware of the need to tell those stories in a way that will best connect with consumers. Entrepreneur and language guru, Mignionette Fair, the founder of Fair Translation and Editing Services, has a passion for helping companies to master the art of language to make that all important connection with customers.
LoA was fascinated to find out more about this unique company and its wordsmith founder this month.
What does your company do?
We fix spelling mistakes for a living. Your story is the one that matters and we help you make it the best it can be.
"We fix spelling mistakes for a living. Your story is the one that matters and we help you make it the best it can be."
What inspired you to start your company?
A passion for language and the desire to release my inner Grammar policewoman.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Companies can lose up to half of their online sales if clients find only one spelling mistake on their website or marketing material. Similarly, 60% of people will reconsider using a company if an error is found on their website or marketing material. We want to help people tell their stories in the best way possible. Your story + Our expertise = Language art.
"Companies can lose up to half of their online sales if clients find only one spelling mistake on their website or marketing material."
Tell us a little about your team
Mignionette Fair - Founder, editor & translator
Spelling mistake hater and eliminator. I am also the owner of Fair Translation and Editing Services. I have a passion for good language and to help people tell their stories in the best way possible. My dream is to be the leading language editor and I'm getting there... one spelling mistake at a time.
Zama Bekeweni - Editor & translator
Zama recently joined Fair Translation as a outsourced language artist. He is helping us to edit and translate into all the official languages of South Africa.
Joey Heinrich - German editor & translator
Another one of our outsourced language artists. Joey handles all things German.
"We want to help people tell their stories in the best way possible. Your story + Our expertise = Language art."
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur. Way too stressful! Rather, I saw myself going to work for someone else in pencil skirts and corporate suits. And that's what I did, for about one year. In 2013, I was sick and tired of being sick and tired and in 2013 I got an amazing opportunity to translate an autobiography. And wow! I loved every minute of it. I worked part-time until 2014 when I decided to make it official, resign from my day job and register my business. Fair Translation opened its doors on 1 September 2015 and it has been a roller-coaster journey, but one I wouldn't trade for anything. I have learnt and grown so much. And yes, it's been hard and challenging and scary and stressful, but man, I can't see how I will ever go back to pencil skirts and corporate suits.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
As mentioned above, my dream is to be the leading language editor and translator, nationally and internationally. A big dream, but I'm getting there one spelling mistake at a time. I am also working on launching a product under Fair Translation to make language art available to everyone and in the easiest way possible. Watch this space.
"My dream is to be the leading language editor and I'm getting there... one spelling mistake at a time."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being able to do what I love every day. I know you can do that in a conventional job as well, but there is something special about doing what you love and building something that reflects that passion at the same time. Building something that will last for generations is extraordinary.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Get a mentor who can support your dreams and who has similar values. My mentor has been the biggest blessing in my business. I don't know where I would be without her.
Contact or follow Fair Translation
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | EMAIL info@fairtranslation.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
There is nothing more powerful than storytelling and there is a definite art to connecting with people’s hearts and minds through words. Mignionette Fair is an entrepreneur with a real passion for words, and a flair for ensuring that every word used by a business to get a message across or connect with a reader is both correct and powerful. She is a woman on a mission to make language work for business and consumers alike. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and editor-in-chief of Lionesses of Africa