Startup Story
Mandy Dube is the founder of Yinu Custom Creatives in Zambia, a business which she runs alongside her professional role in international development. Yinu Custom Creatives is a collection of five brands covering fashion (Bonisa Tailoring), beauty (Simple SkinCare), food (Wadya Chani) and entrepreneurship (Atuule Hyesu) all underpinned by mental health or as Mandy likes to put it, Mental Muscle. The focus of the business is to promote mental health, wellness and economic empowerment for women.
LoA spoke to the enterprising founder, Mandy Dube, about her impact driven passion for entrepreneurship and her vision for the business going forward.
What does your company do?
At Yinu Custom Creatives, my brands involve the sewing of custom-made clothing, the making of skin and hair care products, the running of a hair, nail, and massage salon, support for organic farming; and the showcasing of local businesses.
“At Yinu Custom Creatives, my brands involve the sewing of custom-made clothing, the making of skin and hair care products, the running of a hair, nail, and massage salon, support for organic farming; and the showcasing of local businesses.”
What inspired you to start your company?
My mom. She was enterprising and used to bake, knit, sew, and grow plants for sale, all while holding a full-time job. She also loved people and was passionate about making sure her family members got educated and were able to be economically independent. She died a traumatic death and for a long time I didn't want to do anything that reminded me of her. Eventually, I started healing and thinking about what she stood for, the joy and the pain she may have lived through, and I decided to honor her legacy by being committed to helping others rise and to rise above her legacy by healing and protecting my mental health. I started through baking and sponsoring a few ladies to learn how to bake. As life happened, I began to see how many women and young people struggle with mental health issues but are not able to talk about them freely. This is because of the culture of secrecy around issues that cause mental health, for example infidelity, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and body shaming. So, I thought about businesses that would provide a forum to share information, products and services that would help empower women and young people to address their mental health issues. As a result, my brands Bonisa and Simple SkinCare were born. At Bonisa, we strive to make clothing for all body types and that are true to their identity, making them feel beautiful. Simple Skincare carries a range of products that support mental health, along with providing services that enhance wellbeing and image. Our salon offers reading materials on mental health and wellness and has collaborated with a counselling center to link clients to professional counselling services should they need them.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
We understand that the people we are serving may be hurting in ways that no one knows, so we approach our work with them with love and compassion. We care about the mind, body and spirit, and our products and services help to bring healing to these parts.
“My entrepreneurial journey has been long, with lots of experiments and start-stops. Growing up I was surrounded by entrepreneurial women, but apart from knowing what kind of business they did, I never got the chance to learn the art of business from them.”
Tell us a little about your team
I currently have a team of 5 women, 1 tailor, 3 beauticians, and 1 manager. I am also supported by two domestic workers who help run my household, including baking and selecting fabric.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My entrepreneurial journey has been long, with lots of experiments and start-stops. Growing up I was surrounded by entrepreneurial women, but apart from knowing what kind of business they did, I never got the chance to learn the art of business from them. I suppose that's largely because there was a dichotomy between education and entrepreneurship, and people felt that if you had a university education then you didn't need to learn about entrepreneurship. Along my journey I also tried to focus on just one thing but it never felt enough. I opened a salon and then closed it just before COVID hit. I was not at peace with that decision and have now reopened the salon.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to grow Bonisa into a plus-size brand for young people and women with unique body shapes. My aspiration for Simple Skincare is to grow the service and product offerings to more locations and to share more information about how our services and products can help enhance mental health.
“We understand that the people we are serving may be hurting in ways that no one knows, so we approach our work with them with love and compassion. We care about the mind, body and spirit, and our products and services help to bring healing to these parts.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Seeing an idea come to life and changing lives through that idea.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The journey will take however long it takes. Don't let a setback or bad experience cause you to give up. You can pause, catch a breath, reprioritize, but don't give up!
Contact or follow
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL works@yinucustomcreatives.com
Why LoA loves it…
At Lionesses of Africa, we always love to hear about women entrepreneurs who are driven to positively change the lives of those in their communities. Mandy Dube is certainly one such inspirational serial entrepreneur, creating multiple businesses that create not just economic opportunities for local people, but also mental health support systems. She is positively touching lives through her businesses every day, giving hope and economic possibilities to those who need them most - inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa