Zuzu serves rich taste of traditional fare
Zuzu, The Taste of My Heritage, aims to do just that, give its customers an authentic experience by offering the best of African traditional food.
Business owner Khanyisa Hambile, 39, has combined her love for hosting and catering to build a trusted name in the Eastern Cape, promising patrons a taste of home.
Please share some background on yourself and how the business was started?
I was born and bred in Gqeberha in New Brighton.
I grew up around entrepreneurs and I knew from a very early age that I wanted to venture into entrepreneurship.
My grandmother was a very well-known dressmaker and my mother was a very diverse business owner, mainly she sold fruit and vegetables.
I have always been in the food and catering industry, so seeing how my clients enjoyed my food and that there was a gap in the African food experience, especially amaXhosa culture cuisines, I decided to tap into it.
We only get to enjoy these foods when we are in the villages or there is a traditional function, so I decided to open a restaurant that caters to this need.
My love of hosting and cooking came together and that is how Zuzu, The Taste of My Heritage, was born.
What is your core service?
Our core service is to serve delicious African food that reminds us of our heritage.
What makes your business unique?
I made sure I was creative with the design and décor of the restaurant.
It had to have an African feel and make people remember life in the villages that we call home.
I also believe that to get the full Zuzu, The Taste of My Heritage, I have to constantly engage with my customers because we do not only serve food but we offer an experience.
If someone wanted to copy your business model, how would they start?
Have a vision of what you want to achieve so it will be easier to implement.
Do the necessary market research, location is very important when it comes to opening a restaurant and you want a place that is safe and accessible, whether you are in a taxi, walking or driving your own car.
What are some of the biggest inhibitors your business faced before getting off the ground?
I was already in the food and catering industry for years before I ventured into opening the restaurant.
I had made my savings so I never faced any inhibitors.
Do you have any tips for budding entrepreneurs or new business owners?
Open a business because you are passionate about the service you offer or the item you are selling.
Always remember respect goes a long way, show kindness even to the most difficult of customers.
What are some of your biggest challenges in day-to-day business operations and your particular industry?
Because my business is selffunded, I have to continuously reinvest money into the business until we have everything that we need to offer a great service.
What is the best advice anyone gave you on success? Stick to what you believe in.
How do you measure or define success in your business?
When my clients are happy and are pleased with my service, that to me is a big plus.
The growth of my clientele has also been one of the things I have used to measure success in my business.
What are some of the best practices that have made your business successful?
I am always present in my business, all my customers know that when they come to the restaurant I will be there ready to give them the best experience that we can offer.
What kind of advertising do you do?
I advertise on social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp.
What is your company’s vision?
My vision is to give my customers an experience and a home to celebrate life’s special moments by offering the best service.
What is your target market? Everyone who wants to try out African food.
What have some of your highlights been in running your business?
Officially opening the restaurant was a highlight for me.
I have hosted a state department for a function at my business and have also had the pleasure of hosting our mayor, Mr Nqaba Bhanga.
How important is social media and an online presence for your business?
It is of the utmost importance, my business thrives because of social media.
I wouldn’t have made it this far if it wasn’t for the uploads and people engaging in my posts and wanting to see what we do in person.
How many people do you employ? I have four employees.
Do you have any plans for expanding the business, and how would you go about this?
I have so many ideas, but time will tell how we will expand, but expansion is on the cards.
How did you acquire funding for the business?
I never received any funding to start the business, I saved and self-funded the business.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your business journey so far?
Perseverance will take you very far.
You don’t give up on what you believe in, you push and pray until it happens.
Things do not always go the way you want, but you keep at it.
What have been the greatest challenges and advantages of running your business in a city like Gqeberha?
I am a Gqeberha girl, and the support from my people has been so amazing.
What do you believe are the three key traits of a successful entrepreneur?
Persuasiveness.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Try to collaborate with other businesses/entrepreneurs.
What do you feel are the key traits of a successful employer?
Communication — you need to know what is going on in your business and your employees must also be in the loop, so that takes constant communication.
Time management is vital, so that you are not overwhelmed.
What do you wish people knew about your industry?
That no matter how talented you think you are, there is still so much more you can learn, it’s all about improving.