Startup Story
Bophelo Leah Mohapi is the founder of ChamomileSpaAndBeauty in South Africa, a growing mobile beauty treatment spa. She is solely responsible for running her mobile spa but has a team of 17 therapists that she hooks up with for gigs. Bophelo also has 7 promoters helping her reach more clients as part of her growth journey. ChamomileSpaAndBeauty has been operating since 2015, originally as a side hustle. The business started operating under the name of ChamomileSpaAndBeauty in 2022 and was formally registered in 2024.
LoA spoke to Bophelo Leah Mohapi about her business, her entrepreneurial journey, and her growth aspirations for the future.
What does your company do?
ChamomileSpaAndBeauty offers a range of beauty therapies and body maintenance programmes for its clients, specializing in Lash Installation, Facials, Foot Care, and Nail Treatments. Our business has a mission to grow and create employment for others, including having an academy that teaches children how to monetize their skills. We also want to have a call center department so that our promoters can have working space.
“I always knew that I was a businesswoman at heart, but I was surrounded by government working women, with no inspiration to pierce through the business sector.”
“Our business has a mission to grow and create employment for others, including having an academy that teaches children how to monetize their skills.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I always knew that I was a businesswoman at heart, but I was surrounded by government working women, with no inspiration to pierce through the business sector. That was until I met a lady who was living my dream. She had started her business in her bedroom, turning it into her salon. She’s now a millionaire selling makeup. That was enough inspiration to make me tap into my own purpose.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
At ChamomileSpaAndBeauty, we are not a traditional spa. We use a machine and our trained hands. We offer our customers a relaxing spa experience, including a glass of wine as we undertake the various treatments. I want to partner with a South African winemaker for this.
Tell us a little about your team:
I have 17 therapists working with the business who are depending on me for gigs. My favourites are Koketso and Rebecca because they are teachable. Out of my 7 promoters, I love Liza, as she's passionate about marketing.
“Through my business I get to change people's lives. I also give hope to the hopeless.”
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My great-grandmother made wedding dresses. My grandmother used to sell secondhand clothes and soaps. My mother was a maintenance officer who sold secondhand clothes and perfumes. My sister is a Banker and she sells hair and accessories. My brother is a police officer who is very good at cooking. So yes, you can say that I do indeed come from an entrepreneurial background.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to launch an academy to teach children how to monetize their skills. I want to create a call center department for my team of promoters so they can have a professional workspace. I want to see my spa and branding at private beach areas.
I want to be a wellness program for corporate businesses in my area.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Through my business I get to change people's lives. I also give hope to the hopeless.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Just start.... Exactly where you are and with what you have.
Find out more:
Why LoA loves it…
A good starting point for becoming an entrepreneur is to follow your passion or harness your skills and then leverage those to create sources revenue and build a sustainable business model. For Bophelo Mohapi, her passion for beauty and spa treatments, combined with her ability to see a gap in the market, helped her to create an opportunity for herself in business. Today, she is creating a job for herself, and also for other beauty therapists in her network, through her growing mobile business model. She is taking her brand, products and services directly to her clients, and building a happy client base as a result. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa