Startup Story
Nokuphila Dlamini is the founder of Visibility Graphics in Eswatini, an e-commerce business that offers graphic design services to Small and Medium Enterprises in the country. She currently lives in Mankayane, Eswatini and holds a Bachelor's degree in Arts of Journalism and Mass Communication, majoring in Advertising and Public Relations. She also has a Certificate in Digital Marketing.
LoA spoke to the creative entrepreneur, Nokuphila Dlamini, to learn more about her business and its work to help other SMEs to position themselves positively in the market through great graphic design.
What does your company do?
We provide small-to-medium-sized businesses with graphic design services so that they can easily market their brands and attract clients at a reasonable cost. Visibility Graphics believes that every company should use advertising to attract targeted clients. Therefore, creating high-quality visuals for these companies can aid in their ability to be quickly identified on social media platforms.
Visibility Graphics works to ensure that the success of small and medium-sized enterprises is not constrained by the social media/digital gap. Our mission is to provide affordable assistance to small business owners who lack computer skills or marketing skills for their businesses.
“Visibility Graphics believes that every company should use advertising to attract targeted clients. Therefore, creating high-quality visuals for these companies can aid in their ability to be quickly identified on social media platforms.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I was inspired by the changes in the communication sphere and the growing demand for using social media as a marketing platform. I saw that a number of people especially those who own small businesses such as saloons, taverns etc. are not able to advertise their businesses in the print media since it is expensive. As a result, I saw that there is an opportunity for them to advertise their businesses on social media at an affordable price, or for free because through the designs they can also post them on their social media platforms and get the opportunity to be viewed by their friends or followers. So, my aim was to design beautiful and informative social media business flyers that would be able to attract their target audiences into buying their products or services.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Visibility Graphics is unique because we offer free advertisements to each and every client on our social media pages. Moreover, we have one on one sessions with our clients where we give them tips to market their products or services on social media. Also, we also give them advice on how to use social media to generate sales for their businesses. We do these sessions free of charge.
“Visibility Graphics is unique because we offer free advertisements to each and every client on our social media pages. Moreover, we have one on one sessions with our clients where we give them tips to market their products or services on social media.”
I learned that an entrepreneur does not give up on their business, whether there are customers or not. I learnt that an entrepreneur should keep on selling because one day someone is going to invest in their business.
Tell us a little about your team
I am currently working alone.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I was raised by my grandmother who sold handmade crafts such as grass brooms, grass mats and washing baskets. So, my granny still even today sells these products at Manzini Satellite Market. I used to go with her to sell them and I loved how she interacted with her customers and also the passion she had for her work. Through her, I learned that an entrepreneur does not give up on their business, whether there are customers or not. I learnt that an entrepreneur should keep on selling because one day someone is going to invest in their business. I could say having my granny as an entrepreneur who was able to make ends meet even if she was not educated inspired me a lot to start my own business because I have all the skills and education that she did not have but she still managed to send us to school, pay our school fees and brought food on the table through those things she was selling.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I plan to have an office somewhere in Manzini, where my clients will do walk-ins. I also plan to be able to merge the business to be a well-known marketing or public relations agency, that has a print studio where I can assist my clients to print out the work I have designed for them for free.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
I love the fact that I am able to help other entrepreneurs to develop their businesses in an advanced manner. It makes me happy to see small and medium enterprises surviving and not being affected by the concept of digital marketing.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
You can start! You will not fail, if you haven't started. If you start and fail, it means you are learning something new and you have the power to learn from your mistakes and rise again with new knowledge that you did not know before you stumbled. Hence, realizing and acknowledging your mistakes will keep you improving every day.
Contact or follow Visibility Graphics
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL visibilitygraphics@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
Every small business needs to know how to advertise itself, its products and services effectively to customers, but it can be daunting without the experience and specialist knowledge. That’s the gap in the market that Nokuphila Dlamini and her business are looking to fill, with great advertising and graphic design expertise geared towards helping small businesses to make themselves visible to customers. We love Nokuphila’s focus on making the art of advertising more accessible for startups. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa