With her bright, beautiful smile and sunny personality, Sanelisiwe Kanqu wants nothing more than to make her clients feel confident and happy. A qualified somatologist, her goal is to offer inclusive, affordable beauty and spa services to a diverse clientele through Elate Beauty, her Stellenbosch-based business in the Western Cape.
Before taking the leap and devoting all her attention to her own business, Sanelisiwe was working in the corporate world. She began her beauty journey as a side hustle and even built an extra room at her home to pursue this dream. Spa treatments were mostly unheard of in her community, but Sanelisiwe was adamant to bring joy and healing to the people around her. Sadly, her day job was too demanding and she was forced to close her business temporarily.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and Sanelisiwe found herself retrenched, her dream to be her own boss resurfaced. While weighing up her options, she learned that the CoCreate Hub in Stellenbosch was looking for someone to offer beauty treatments at their premises in a popular part of town. She submitted her application and was successful.
Since opening its doors, Elate Beauty has provided a variety of services ranging from manicures, pedicures and massages to waxing, lash tinting and brow shaping. For Sanelisiwe, it is more than pampering; it is about instilling happiness and confidence. As she puts it, “You might think you are sick at times when, in fact, you are just tired.”
Participating in the Nedbank-funded Ranyaka Building Business programme has provided her with a better understanding of how to run her business. Completing a Business Management course at Stellenbosch University in 2022, which earned Elate Beauty the Best Business Plan award, further equipped her with the know-how and practical skills required to take her business to greater heights.
While she is extremely grateful for the support she receives, Sanelisiwe had to accept that challenges such as irregular client bookings and working solo come with the territory. Yet, her vision for the future remains unwavering. She dreams of expanding her business and collaborating with hotels, golf clubs, and even retirement homes.
Sanelisiwe happily shares some advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Set your goals and work tirelessly to achieve them. Growing a business is similar to nurturing a family – it requires a lot of love, patience and time.”
Elate Beauty is more than a business. Sanelisiwe is dedicated to spreading joy, focusing less on beauty and more on feeling confident about yourself. She might not be able to change the world, but she can definitely change the way people feel about themselves – one beauty treatment at a time!
Stellenbosch is one of 31 communities in 8 provinces across South Africa where Ranyaka is implementing the Nedbank Proud of my Town programme. Building Business is one of 10 programmes that forms part of the Ranyaka and PoMT framework.
Images by Lizelle Lötter Photography