#WIB – Q&A With Pumza Mthethwa Director Of BrandTies
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
A. Brandties is a modern-day boutique marketing agency that offers marketing and digital strategy development and implementation across different media with a key focus on digital platforms and activations.
The agency was started as a side business, I started it because I identified a gap in the market of a truly South African insights-led agency that incorporates technology as part of solving different business challenges.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
A. Brandties Marketing solution started off as a print shop that I ran after hours while working for a big corporate. I started bringing in more of the marketing expertise in the business as I saw a gap in the market when it comes to marketing agencies providing a truly South African marketing solution while leveraging the latest tools and technologies.
Part of the reason I started the business was to close the gap but also as a way of creating jobs for the youth in the marketing and creative industry. While running the printing shop we were inundated with a number of qualified young job seekers who were looking for experience and income to sustain themselves, this motivated me in starting Brandties to fill the gap in the market while assisting in eradicating unemployment and providing much-needed experience for the youth who are passionate about Marketing and Communication.
3. What is your role in the business?
A. My role in the business is business development, strategy development and overseeing the team, and guiding them where needed.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
A. I did my undergraduate and postgraduate at the University of Cape Town, I did a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Economics and a Postgraduate in Marketing. I am currently studying for my Masters’ Degree in Digital Business at the Wits Business School.
5. How did you finance your business?
A. The business was financed from our family funds.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
A. Ha ha ha …Average day in the marketing space does not really exist, but I will try. Team status meeting updates, client meetings to present concepts, get briefs, get approvals, brainstorming ideas with the team, spending a lot of time on digital platforms to understand campaign performance, looking at reports and marketing analytics, evaluating designs, giving feedback to graphic designers, website and systems designer meetings and feedback. Business development introducing Brandties to potential clients, attending relevant industry meetings plus a whole lot of excitement and coffee in between.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
A. I honestly do not think there is such a thing as a balance…it is an elusive idea. However, I work with a must achieve list on a month to month, week to week, and day by day basis. I am very clear on what I have to achieve at any given time e.g. if on that day I must make a cold call to that one ideal client, I will not end my day until it’s done, or if I must make sure I go for a 4-hour massage that needs to happen no matter what. So working out my priorities like that seem to be working for me… I have days where I need to watch my son’s new soccer technique or my daughters racing each other down the hill then it becomes a priority no matter what.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
A. My mother and my late dad drive me. They were the very first entrepreneurs I witnessed first-hand, they farmed cattle, and sold a whole lot of other things to take us through school, and every year throughout my schooling and university they did this. This was my late Dad’s side hustle, and my mom was of course the driver and the implementor.
My mom still inspires me to this day, her selflessness and ability to just make things happen is beyond me. When I feel like giving up I always remember how these two have taken us, children and cousins, through school. Most of all from them I learned the importance of giving the next person a breakthrough through either giving them a chance to get a job, a gig, or even a skill.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
A. My best ideas come from talking mainly with my husband who I call my Chief Encourager Officer. He has an innate ability to help me piece things together and before I know it an idea has formed. I talk things through a lot as I discuss with my family, my siblings, nephews, and nieces an idea comes up, right now the younger generation in the family helps in finessing some of my thoughts.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
A. As an experienced marketer, I have gotten business through industry networks and word of mouth. As the old adage says never burn your bridges and that is exactly what I live by. I cultivate my networks and sometimes I do not necessarily get business directly from them but through referrals, I have gotten sales leads.
11. What is next for your business?
A. I am always looking for solutions in the marketing space and in the next 12 months, I am hoping to bring a new service offer that will drive Brandties further.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
- Identify your customer pain points, listen to what they say, customer led insights are important to help you in providing solutions for your customers.
- Do not be quick in signing on a dotted line, if you are pressurised to sign a deal that you do not fully understand rather stay away
- Never let anyone think you need their favour to be in business
- Know your price limits and when to walk away
- State your timelines for outputs and how far you can squeeze them if someone wants an overnight delivery, unless you can absolutely deliver stay away
- Hire someone based on their attitude and interest in learning and growing not skill only. Always have contracts and agreements laid out upfront.
- Never lose sight of your numbers keep them close to understand them
- Listen to your instincts very closely you will not get burnt – if something feels fishy sometimes it is, if it smells rosy sometimes it is.
Short Bio
Pumza is a University of Cape Town Marketing & Economics graduate who is passionate about marketing and creating sustainable brands. With over 20 years’ experience in brand marketing, Pumza has deftly merged her traditional marketing expertise with digital marketing skills as the world continuously undergoes digital revolution and consumers moving to online and digital platforms from traditional media. She has worked as a marketing and communications expert for a number of multinationals and leading South African companies, developing, designing, and activating marketing campaigns for radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, and outdoor billboards.
The years spent in various multi-nationals and local organizations exposed her to innovation, strategy development, and growing brands. Throughout her career, she has led and managed product introductions, brand revamps, market expansion/business growth initiatives that extend into Southern African markets.
Pumza believes in empowering women and youth. She provides marketing skills training for youth and women-owned small and medium enterprises with a focus on Marketing Strategy Development & Digital Marketing. She is a member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa and a Non-Executive Board Member of Empowervate Trust and Bienvenu Shelter.
Contact Details:
Instagram & Twitter: @pumspeaksmarketing