APPROXIMATELY 105 businesses from across the province gathered at the Ocean Terrace Park in Quigney, East London for the Africa Eastern Cape Hair and Beauty Business Seminar on the 22nd May 2025.
In collaboration with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (SEDFA), the seminar sought to empower and support local hair and beauty professionals by providing a platform for networking, skills development, and access to valuable resources and information.
Under the theme “From Passion to Profit: Essential Steps to Launching and Scaling Your Hair and Beauty Venture” which gave the attendees a comprehensive guide to turn their passion into a profitable and sustainable business, hair and beauty industry experts shared their pearls of wisdom from goal setting and building strategic collaborations to etiquette, compliance and safety standards to unlock the full potential of the industry.
Lwandy Ngebe, founder of Estudio Glam and organiser of the event told the Express that participants got a platform to share their business struggles and challenges they would like to be assisted with.
“The informative seminar sessions provided a chance to connect with industry peers and experts for a networking opportunity, potential partnerships and access to financial and non-financial support. We really hope they have gained valuable resources to help them grow their businesses.”
Ngebe said due to the growing demand they will host these sessions quarterly in different regions.
“We also have business training sessions lined up to upskill the entrepreneurs in this industry” she said.
Attendee Siyabonga Cembi of Dr SiyaDreads Hair Salon in Mthatha said one of the biggest challenges he has encountered in his entrepreneurial journey is keeping staff and clients commited and loyal.
“Once the staff learn skills and the tricks of the trade they sometimes leave and take our clients with, which hurts our businesses” he said.
