Startup Story
Lovable Dladla is the founder of Luvast Bakery, located in Newcastle, South Africa. She is a self-taught baker and started her business in 2020 with no external funds, building it organically over time. Even though she originally studied engineering, she really found her passion in business, and one of her key motivations as an entrepreneur is to build a thriving business that can help other families in the future by creating jobs.
LoA spoke with the enterprising Lovable Dladla to learn more about her business, her motivations, and her plans for the future.
What does your company do?
At Luvast Bakery we offer over 10 different types of cakes to suit all occasions and tastes. We also create a variety of food platters for our clients, adding to our existing bakery services and skills. Recently, the business launched a new catering services for events
“At Luvast Bakery, our business changes lives in the sense of growing key skills and also saving our customers’ time.”
What inspired you to start your company?
Luvast Bakery was established in 2020. What originally motivated me to start the business was that I lost my job due to the Covid 19 pandemic. I have a daughter and therefore having no income was not an option for me, so I decided to learn baking professionally. I had always loved to bake but I didn't know much about baking as a business at the time. However, my biggest motivation at that time was provide for my daughter, and that is what inspired me to start my business.
What makes your business, service or product special?
At Luvast Bakery, our business changes lives in the sense of growing key skills and also saving our customers’ time.
“Our vision is to finally have our own working space and not to have to work as a home-based business anymore.”
Tell us a little about your team
We have a very small team of hardworking individuals - two of our team members work collaboratively with us, and the other two are doing apprenticeships with us.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I do not come from an entrepreneurial family at all, I was literally the first one to start a business in my immediate family. However, I do take every opportunity I get to learn more about business and enhance my entrepreneurial skills.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Honestly, we just want steady growth. Our vision is to finally have our own working space and not to have to work as a home-based business anymore. Also, the ultimate big goal is become one of the baking companies that dominate the baking industry in our city, possibly to also have a small baking institution, while at the same time growing our catering company. Our vision also includes using AI to generate income for the business, for example using social media channels such as YouTube.
“The ultimate big goal is become one of the baking companies that dominate the baking industry in our city, possibly to also have a small baking institution, while at the same time growing our catering company.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Just realizing the potential I have, and could have in the future, as a young black woman. Also, putting a smile on my clients face is amazing too.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Don't take taking care of your mental health for granted because that held me back a lot and I would not want it to hold someone else back. You need to be mentally healthy to run a healthy business.
Find out more
Email: dladlalovable5@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it…
The words resilience and determination come to mind when speaking about Lovable Dladla’s entrepreneurial journey, and she harnesses both of those to the full in her growing business. Lovable has successfully turned her passion into a business, and one that is giving her customers the quality of products and the personalised service they are looking for. A business to watch over the coming years as it grows to the next level. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa