Herminah Mentoro’s entrepreneurial journey speaks of passion and perseverance. Hailing from Boitekong township in Rustenburg, Herminah’s love for beauty began in her youth. “As a child, I was captivated by fashion magazines and lifestyle shows, experimenting with makeup looks on myself,” she shares with a smile. This early fascination evolved into a serious pursuit as she matured, fuelling her creativity and skills.
Her day starts early, at 5am, with Herminah devoted to preparing her daughter for school before she dives into her morning routine. By the time the sun rises, Herminah is in the back room of her home, where her nail business, HB Legacy Project, comes to life. “I launched my business in 2018, driven by a lifelong passion for beauty,” she explains. Her unique approach to nail art and makeup has earned her a reputation for excellence and a dedicated client base.
“I aim to build a lasting legacy for my child and future generations through this business. I hope they will carry forward this passion with the same dedication I have,” Herminah says. Her services cater to both men and women, reflecting a growing trend where men increasingly focus on grooming and style.
Despite the success, Herminah faces challenges, especially in maintaining a professional appearance and meeting industry standards. “Resource constraints sometimes hinder my vision, but I’m working hard to overcome these obstacles,” she admits. Her journey has also included financial ups and downs, a common experience for many new businesses.
In addition to her beauty business, Herminah has ventured into the catering industry with ‘Chubby Stacks Fast Food.’ Launched before the COVID-19 pandemic, this venture has taught her resilience. She recalls a tough day at a crowded market event where she struggled to meet sales targets. “Instead of giving up, I used the experience to refine my packaging and marketing strategies,” she notes.
Her culinary passion is deeply rooted in her childhood, cooking alongside her mother after her father’s passing. “Cooking has always been a part of me. When I started my catering business, I wanted to innovate in my community, transforming traditional kota ingredients into exciting new dishes,” she says. Herminah’s catering is based on custom orders from her growing clientele.
Tackling the challenges of the entrepreneurial journey
Navigating entrepreneurial challenges, Herminah stays motivated by her clients and competitors. “The recommendations from satisfied clients drive me, and my competitors push me to improve continually.” She has also benefited from business mentorship and support programmes, such as the Nedbank-funded Ranyaka Building Business programme and the Boitekong Mall’s mentorship initiative, both of which have enhanced her skills in business management, finance, and leadership.
Herminah’s advice to fellow entrepreneurs is clear: “Stay persistent and focus on your own path. Avoid comparisons and concentrate on building your unique legacy.” Her story is an inspiring example of how passion can be transformed into a purposeful career, one nail treatment and one catering order at a time.
“I aspire to leave a lasting mark, with my business becoming a household name recognised for passion and dedication,” she concludes.
For more information, contact Herminah at mentorotshegofatso@gmail.com.
Boitekong is one of 31 communities across 8 provinces in South Africa where Ranyaka is implementing the Nedbank Proud of my Town (PoMT) programme. Building Business is one of ten programmes that forms part of the PoMT initiative.
Images by: Nathalie Boucry Photography