Impact Partner Content - Absa
Inspired by her son who was diagnosed with eczema as a baby, South African entrepreneur Phumzile Mthembu created a natural baby skincare brand, PureB Baby Care, providing a solution to her own family and many others too. Today, her company Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd, trading as PureB Baby Care, is a wholly black-owned manufacturing company that specializes in producing coconut oil based baby ointments that are 100% natural and without harmful chemicals.
PureB Baby Care is one of the 117 businesses being showcased as part of the Absa Lionesses Xpo. Phumzile Mthembu shares her unique entrepreneurial story and her very personal inspiration to build her natural baby skincare brand.
What does your company do?
Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd, trading as PureB Baby Care, manufactures baby skin care ointments for skin irritations found in infants and toddlers. From newborns to infants to pre-schoolers, skin irritations are a norm. This fragile and immature skin has the most incredible cell potential that must be protected. As the skin is still in the development phase, it is very sensitive and tends to react quickly to environmental factors (such as temperature changes, wind, sweat etc.), chemical stresses (dyes, detergents, hot water etc.), and friction(from diapers or clothes). These eventually cause skin irritations such as ringworm, cracking, flaking, nappy-rash, dermatitis, sores, eczema, etc.
PureB Baby Care is a specially formulated hypoallergenic product that helps repair and protect the skin at cellular level is needed to solve these issues. Our fragrance-free, naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal formula, PureB is such a product. It is gentle enough for newborns and provides immediate relief to skin irritations. It softens, hydrates and soothes skin. PureB is not only about repairing damaged skin. We educate our clients - new parents, nurses and owners of childcare facilities - on skin conditions and how to better take care of a child's skin. Over the past year, we have procured branding materials and completed a stability test for our product. Our product reviews are positive. Our client base has increased and our brand is growing steadily.
What inspired you to start your company?
In 2018, I gave birth to my baby boy Luyanda who at 3 months old was diagnosed with a skin irritation caused by eczema. After testing different kinds of products with unfruitful results, we knew that something needed to replace them and that it should be a skin repairing power house, gentle enough for everyday use but natural. That was the birth of my company, Ingcweti (Pty) Ltd and the PureB Baby Care brand.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
PureB is gentle enough for newborns and provides immediate relief to skin irritations. It softens, hydrates and soothes skin. PureB is not only about repairing damaged skin. We also educate our clients - new parents, nurses and owners of childcare facilities - on skin conditions and how to better take care of a child's skin, We offer the assurance that you can address more skin irritations in one container.
Tell us a little about your team
We are a team of strong, dedicated individuals. We have an accountant, mentors, technicians, and self-driven individuals. We believe that our customers should receive the best service.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My entrepreneurial journey has been one of the most interesting journeys. I have learnt to network and I have learnt that collaboration is one of the most powerful keys to success. I have also learnt that it is very important for us as entrepreneurs to keep on going. As much as we want to sustain the businesses, we need to keep looking up and making things happen. I'm currently studying entrepreneurship at the University of Johannesburg and it has been one of the greatest chapters. In this wonderful journey I've met a lot of individuals that I am willing to grow with and it is one of the greatest chapters so far. I've been recognized as one of the most innovative entrepreneurs of 2019 and I have since managed to supply at least three of our local pharmacies with our ointments.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Our plan is to continue to grow our clientele and the brand itself, and to be involved in community empowerment. We want to offer the best service we can to be able to sustain our business.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Receiving feedback from a client with pictures of their child being helped by the product. It gives me satisfaction as a business owner, but also as a mum myself as well, that I have managed to help other women.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
What I can say is that they should start. It does not matter how small you are, just start. The biggest thing is to start.
To find out more about the PureB Baby Care range, contact founder Phumzile Mthembu via email phumzile@pureb-za.co.za or visit the company’s website or social media platforms:
