Mathapelo Pitse, Luxury shoe brand CEO

Aug 10, 2021

Tell us about how you got started.

It’s actually a very funny story. Growing up, I used to collect shoes, and I remember at some point, I owned over 300 pairs of shoes and my mother convinced me to give them away to family and friends.

What makes your company unique?

Without a doubt our metal heel from our ICONIC COLLECTION makes our brand unique. It appeals to the high-end modern woman who is fashion conscious and what also makes my brand unique is that we’re an all-girl team filled with individuals that support and understand my vision.

No business is without setbacks, can you tell us about a time when you faced a significant setback and how you recovered from it?

The unexpected pandemic was a setback on everyone especially businesses and how we bounced back from it was coming up with different strategies for having a stronger online presence and were slowly recovering from it by converting our social media followers to buyers.

How do you define success and to what do you attribute your success?

Defining success would be making sure that I produce and deliver quality products for my clients. Seeing positive reviews and comments about my brand also measures success for me. It shows that we’re heading in the right direction in terms of taking up space in the footwear and fashion industry.

What's next for your business, what will it look like in 5 years?

We have a lot planned in the pipeline. We’re looking to branch out into more shoe designs like kitten heels, sneakers and boots. We might have our own physical store and head office in the next 5 years, once we’re good to go, you will be the first to know.

In 5 years’ time, we are waiting on the inter Africa market, so we distribute our products throughout the continent. We are still working on getting investors from other African countries so that we partner up and expand our branches into other African countries.

What do you think the future holds for Africa-focused entrepreneurs and advice do you have for entrepreneurs who are just starting out?

The world is our oyster and if opportunities are not given to us, create your own opportunity. It starts with an idea and the rest will follow. We live in a digital era where recourses and expert advice are at our fingertips. Just start!

For startups, I just want to tell you that, the business industry already has almost anything you want to start now. Whatever you think of might be happening somewhere else, so choose to be unique, innovate to always stand out from the competition.

Owning a business while balancing a personal life can be challenging; how do you take care of yourself?

Running a business and taking care of a team is not for the faint hearted. I’ve managed to separate my business life from my personal life. I must admit, I’ve had anxiety in the past but I know how to manage it..

What is your favorite quote or mantra?  What keeps you going?

My family, friends and team keeps me going, they know my strengths and weaknesses and they’re always there to pick me up. My favorite quote that I live by is “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.".

What is your favorite app or a business tool that you can't live without

Definitely Instagram, it’s a visually appealing platform that showcases our designs. Also, some of our clients are our followers and we’ve learnt to remain consistent with the content we put out.