Startup Story
The craft gin market has exploded globally over the past few years with some interesting independent brands emerging, particularly in South Africa. One of those brands is Vuttomi Liquids, co-founded by Nonhlanhla Ditshego and her family, and they have big hopes and ambitions for the future.
LoA spoke to Nonhlanhla Ditshego to find out more….
Tell us about yourself
My name is Nonhlanhla (Noni) Ditshego and I am the CEO and co-founder of Vuttomi Liquids, which is a South African owned beverage company based in Gauteng. I was born into a family that ran businesses, both maternal and paternal, in the 70's and that introduced me to business at an early stage of my life. I’ve been running different business for the past 26 years and also our family business. I was taught that without a product and a customer you don't have a business. I see Vuttomi Liquids being one of the best preferred beverage companies globally.
“We are an all-black South African made craft gin company.”
“We have always thought that alcohol, specifically gin, was always the same and was always dominated by the same suppliers - maybe different brands, but always the same idea.”
What does your company do?
We are an all-black South African made craft gin company.
What inspired you to start your company?
We have always thought that alcohol, specifically gin, was always the same and was always dominated by the same suppliers - maybe different brands, but always the same idea. As consumers we decided that the only way to see the change was to be the change. So we set to it and made it our mission to be a motivation and an example to all consumers who are unhappy with a product, to go out and change the game the best way they know how. But we also wanted to show our peers that no matter what you set your mind to do, it is always attainable.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We use every opportunity we can to advertise our products as authentically as possible. Whether it be through consumers who actually sample our products at tastings and make purchases on the spot, or whether it be through word of mouth and hearing back from our interactive consumers as to how we can best serve them and what they seek in a brand. Mostly we think about what we, as consumers, would like to see and to consume. Whether it be labelling, the actual consumable product, or even the way we mix our drinks.
“We hope to see our like-minded peers and even the youth enjoying our brand and helping us accelerate it to the next level.”
Tell us a little about your team
Our team is an all family made team. It is composed of myself, the chief of operations, and I make sure that the company’s admin and finances are always accounted for and are always looking better than the last set of results reviewed. There is also my husband, Dudley, who is mainly our personal sales team. He's a people’s person, charming, with an amazing business mind. He is both the hands and brains involved in this operation and knows all the details involved in our gins.
My niece, Refentse, who is our marketing director, puts us in all the correct and appropriate places and makes sure that we are always on our best marketing game.
My daughter, Nono, is our brand strategist, customer service lead, and our social media strategist. She makes sure that our online presence is kept updated, and also makes sure that our advertising and interactions with our consumers are up to date.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
For the first part of my adult life I spent a large portion of it working for other companies or trying to insert myself and make a name for myself that I could one day leave for my children. The rationale being that if they so hoped, they could take over and maybe even grow. That was until I realized that the only jobs really meant for me were those where I could control the narrative of the company, because I just couldn't find a company that shared common goals with those I wanted to see. From 2017 to 2018, we had our own cafe at Tara Hospital and opened our company as soon as we closed that down. We redirected our focus and used all our profits to start us up as capital.
“We hope to see more international consumption while still keeping to our original goals and our own essence. Mostly, we hope to grow with our consumers.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We hope to see our like-minded peers and even the youth enjoying our brand and helping us accelerate it to the next level. We hope to see more international consumption while still keeping to our original goals and our own essence. Mostly, we hope to grow with our consumers, to keep the relationships we started with, while still picking more up down the road. We hope to collaborate with other black owned companies and to break into the most unexpected markets. We hope to take everyone by storm.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Knowing that the decisions I make are my own and cannot be easily influenced by others. But must importantly that I could be a role model to young black women and women in general, that if you want something you should definitely go get it, no matter what.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The world was made to serve those who want to be served, so seize every opportunity you get and make the world best serve you. You set the standard of living and of luxury for yourself - work hard so that you're worth it.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL vuttomigroup@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
They say that entrepreneurs are born, and if that is truly the case, then Nonhlanhla Ditshego is certainly a good example, coming as she does from a very entrepreneurial family. Today, she is inspiring her own children by building a family business that is creating proudly South African beverages that are on trend, and with great growth potential. Her passion for what she does, and her drive to make the business realize its full potential, is what makes Vuttomi Liquids a business and brand to watch over the coming months and years. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa