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ACHIEVER • ENTREPRENEURS

Tebello Motsoane keeps his eye on the ball

Born and raised in Johannesburg, entrepreneur Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane is the director and shareholder of the events company Showlove, and clothing brand Head Honcho Clothing.

Showlove runs events and indirectly does lifestyle marketing for various brands such as, Vuzu, Brutal Fruit, Flud watches, Jameson and Bonang Matheba, among others.

The company has also developed a music division called Showlove Music, which caters to the business of AKA, DJ Fanatic, Oz and many others.

Head Honcho Clothing was established in Cape Town, and is the first South African label to be stocked at Sportscene clothing stores.

Working in the ever changing entertainment industry, and starting your business is quite a challenging task. Motsoane advises, “Don’t do it because it’s cool; do it because you love it.

“Become better skilled at whatever it is and you will eventually become the best at it. You have to have a sense of hunger and you have to be a natural leader.”

On the event side of his business, Motsoane found that getting people to take him seriously and then remaining consistent and sustainable has been the most challenging task, particularly because the success of an event is based upon public interest. As the events organiser, Motsoane’s job is to keep everyone excited.

Head Honcho has found it challenging to get the name brand out of the “T-shirt hip-hop” brand box. At SA Fashion Week, the brand was able to prove that it appeals to a broader audience with the showcase of its entire range.

Motsoane keeps his businesses fresh and innovative by striving to set trends by thinking out of the box and establishing a following that will build a loyal client base. “I study trends, but I do not focus on them,” he says.

“Trends come and go, but I prefer to focus on concepts that can run for years, i.e. our Showlove Dimes concept with Brutal Fruit and Bonang, or our Stay Fresh Get Money’concept for Head Honcho. People love these and have remained loyal to them,” he shares.

Personal ethos is another factor that fuels the sustainability of a busi-ness. Motsoane’s ethos is: “Stay hungry, stay humble.” He adds, “I’m

addicted to winning. Every day I tweet about winning. It’s my drug and the addiction that keeps me hungry.”

Motsoane ensures his survival in the industry by paying attention, which keeps him informed of the ins and outs of the business. He rarely is surprised due to this trait. He also respects competition, but is not afraid of it.

We ask Motsoane to share how he plans to make the most of Youth Month and enrich the lives of the younger generation: “I’m going to continue to provide opportunities to the amazing DJs, artists, designers and other talent around me. Their brands have become platforms for other youth who have a talent to share.” This is one factor of the business that makes him proud.

The future looks very bright for this talented entrepreneur and his businesses. Showlove is to host the the launch of AKA’s album, and Head Honcho is available nationally, so we can expect fashion shows throughout the country.

Motsoane says that to make it in business, one needs to have guts, honesty, vision, patience and loyalty. Trust your instincts, take baby steps and do not tell people your ideas unless you have put yourself in a position to actually own them.

He adds: read, invest in yourself, know every aspect of your business and ensure you are careful when hiring staff. “Above all, never stop marketing – never,” he concludes.

Tamara Toti

Only the strong survive

Tebello Motsoane

SA's Top Young Entrepreneurs

Siyabonga Ngwekazi with Motsoane at an event