By Matšeliso Phulane
Retšepile Mangau knows the language of flowers.
Each and every bouquet she crafts through her crocheting has a meaning. Some represent love while others give strength or simply brightens up your day.
Ts’epy’s Floral Creations was established in November last year and it started operating in January this year.
In an interview with theReporter this week, Mangau said her crocheting business is all about creating or crocheting different kinds of flowers like roses, lillies, forget-me-nots, sunflowers, tulips, and many more. For now, her focus is on crocheting flowers, particularly home decor.
“I started crocheting as a hobby. It is very therapeutic, so the more I crocheted the more my skills got better and better.
“I then decided to learn to create flowers, because they’re beautiful, special and bring hope and love to people,”Mangau explained.
She noted that what sets her crocheting venture apart is that most of the crocheting businesses focus mainly on clothes, whereas her business focuses on creating flower bouquets, which is something new in the country.
“I create one of a kind pieces for each of my customers; I take time to know their preferences and crochet exactly what they want.
“To create these flower bouquets, I use high quality yarn from (woolen products shop). I also use thin wires and wood glue that I get from hardware shops,” she highlighted.
Mangau said she learned about crocheting because she wanted something that could help her forget a little about her problems.
The crocheter was going through a lot hence she used crafting as a therapy, making use of the internet, particularly YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest.
Aged 20, Mangau was born and bred at Ha Maohohloane in Mohale’s Hoek. She is currently studying fashion design at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
“My target market is everyone. I create different flowers for different kinds of people and age groups, each flower I crochet defines each customer, who they are and what they love.
“Some of the challenges I encountered at first was lack of material, I didn’t know where to source them from. But l made a research and found out where I could get them, using my monthly allowance to purchase them.
“I also have a challenge with delivering to other countries. I recently had an order from a customer in South Africa but because I didn’t know how I could get there, I decided to cancel it,” she noted.
Mangau added that at first, she used to take orders without customers paying a deposit, and paying the full amount upon delivery. But some of them would cancel orders while she had already completed the flower.
As a result, that was a huge inconvenience on her business hence she later introduced a system whereby a customer pays a 50 percent deposit upfront and then pay the balance upon delivery.
“Ever since I ventured into business, I’ve learned to be patient. Not only that but to communicate with people because I’m very shy, so I had to come out and start socialising and networking with people.
“Besides that, I’ve also learned to be punctual at all times,” Mangau indicated.
She has a dream to collaborate with other businesses like hotels, restaurants and others in the next few years.
What would excite her even more is to see her work displayed in different stores. She also wants to open her own flower bouquet store.
“To people out there with talent like me but still afraid to make them known, I’d encourage them to start now and not fear anything.
“Remember you are the only one that can do what you do the way you do. So don’t be afraid of what people might say, just do it and you’ll never regret it,” she urged.
People can communicate with her on her Facebook page – Rets’epile Mangau; WhatsApp her on: +266 57498613 or text her on Instagram at Tshepy04rbpro.
