#WIB – Q&A With Bontle Tshole Founder Of Baaa Enterprise
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. We are a healthy food and beverage production company that produces healthy and delicious smoothies, juices, and energy balls, which are a healthy alternative to chocolate. Having grown up in a home where my parents used to use every opportunity to feed us the healthiest, most delicious food, I grew an affinity to healthy, delicious food. I went on to work long hours in the retail industry during my tertiary years. With very few healthy options available at the mall I worked at, I began carrying my own lunch. As such, Baaa was born.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
A. The idea first came to mind during my days spent working in the retail corridors where I found very few delicious and healthy alternatives. Carrying lunch to work every day was tedious and sometimes I’d forget to take it. A combination of these frustrations marked the birth of Baaa. In July 2017 Baaa went to its first pop up market and sold out twice.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. I laugh when I have to answer this question because we all know that the first few years of a business are marked by dabbling in every role. We wear every hat that needs to be worn.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I studied at the University of Johannesburg obtaining my BA Psychology and BA Politics concurrently. Understanding human psychology is extremely important. It will help you navigate many of life’s challenges and opportunities.
More important than psychology is politics, we live in a very political world and most of the rules we live by are governed by politics or some variation of it, even business principles are governed by politics so having an understanding of how the world works is key.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. I started with savings, got some assistance from family, and recently received assistance from other institutions that offer grant finance.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. The average workday doesn’t exist. It’s a combination of mundane tasks like admin, the hustle of sales and occasionally attending classes or pitch sessions such as those hosted by Raizcorp, for the Engen Pitch and Polish competition which I am currently taking part in.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. This is something I’m still working on diligently.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. The thought of being able to change the narrative with what I’m doing.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. When I’m well rested and doing things that I enjoy.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. I use Social media and Billboards.
11. What is next for your business?
A. I have learnt some really important lessons through the Engen Pitch and Polish competition, which I will be implementing over the next months and years with a view of entering the larger retail industry to allow us to reach more people in greater markets. If I win the Engen Pitch & Polish competition, the prize valued at R1million will definitely play a huge role in what comes next as well!
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
A. Believe in your dreams. Your dreams are valid, you are worthy, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Short Bio
Bontle Tshole obtained her BA Psychology degree from the University of Johannesburg in 2014 with distinctions in Social Psychology and Religion Studies. She went on to attain her BA Politics in 2016.
During her time at the University of Johannesburg she was a member of the Black Management Forum student division and the Imbokodo Society. She founded Baaa Enterprises in 2014 which is a holdings company for various companies including Baaa Health, Baaa Bakes, Bite Foods, The Hub Ko Diboxing, Bloompad, and Luminary Leadership.
Her entrepreneurial journey began early on through the time invested in assisting her mother in the family business. Over time she grew to love business and the endless opportunities it offered her.
She started Baaa Health in 2017 and has grown its reach and capacity significantly since then, creating a disruptive model of serving healthy food by building a fast-food restaurant system that is known for consistently providing healthy, delicious, quick food.
Through the work of Baaa and Bloompad, Bontle speaks to audiences all over Gauteng about health-conscious consumerism and the importance of changing consumer habits with regard to healthy eating. She has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and solutions around health-conscious consumerism and the plight against the rise of non-communicable diseases.
Some of the other courses that she has completed include the Lean Methodology for start-ups, Colour Accounting, business grooming, start-up boot camp as well as the African Entrepreneurship programme.
Contact information
Website: https://baaahealth.com
Social media links @baaa_health on all socials