Grabbing opportunities to make dreams come true

TONDERAI KATSWARA AS a little girl growing up in Opuwo, Tulimeyo Kaapanda, was always fascinated by the powder that women around her smeared on their faces and bodies to enhance their natural beauty.

Seeing this daily, Kaapanda vowed that some day she would be involved in the beauty industry. Today Kaapanda – at the age of 29 – the former television personality has made her mark on the Namibian cosmetics’ industry, with her own line officially called Tulimeyo Facial Products, but popularly known as Tuli Line.Tuli Line which was launched in 2001, is currently producing facial products that include loose powder, compact powder and foundation powder.These products come in different ranges of textures and colours; made to suit each individual skin type.The products are mostly made out of the well-known Oshithe stone also called Ekwanka, mostly famous for refining the skins of the Ovahimba.Speaking to the The Namibian this week, Kaapanda said coming to reside in the capital city at a tender age exposed her to the commercial world where she realised that traditionally made powder could actually be made and be sold commercially; and would indeed be commercially viable.In her business Kaapanda works with mostly part-time staff who are part of the processing, production, packaging and marketing teams.She said distributors buy the cosmetics from Tulimeyo Facial Products and in turn sell them to beauty salons across the country.On how she managed to stay afloat while competing with internationally recognised and established brand names like Revlon, Yardley, Estee Lauder, Avroy Shlain, to name but a few, Kaapanda confidently said it all had to do with knowing one’s niche market and taking advantage of that.”In this business it is about finding your niche market, and winning the hearts of those loyal to other brands to switch to yours and try out the new product,” said Kaapanda of Tuli Line products, which she also calls ‘instant beauty’ products.She added people usually liked trying out new products and, with others using many different types which, in a way, is good for business.On the personal front, Kaapanda has been with her boyfriend for the past four years and are planning on getting married soon.She also has the apple of her nine-months old daughter, Magano.Kaapanda describes herself as a person who was very independent from an early age, who sometimes had to look after her seven siblings as her father was a political activist and her mother had to be cared for due to ill-health.She said she has grabbed all opportunities that have been bestowed her way which in turn have made her the woman she is today.Kaapanda is attached to the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry through a USAid-funded trade project running in the country.For the future, Kaapanda believes in a bigger market and has set her eyes not only in Namibia and is currently working on expanding her business horizons having recently explored the opportunities for Tuli Line products in neighbouring and restructuring Angola.Today Kaapanda – at the age of 29 – the former television personality has made her mark on the Namibian cosmetics’ industry, with her own line officially called Tulimeyo Facial Products, but popularly known as Tuli Line.Tuli Line which was launched in 2001, is currently producing facial products that include loose powder, compact powder and foundation powder.These products come in different ranges of textures and colours; made to suit each individual skin type.The products are mostly made out of the well-known Oshithe stone also called Ekwanka, mostly famous for refining the skins of the Ovahimba.Speaking to the The Namibian this week, Kaapanda said coming to reside in the capital city at a tender age exposed her to the commercial world where she realised that traditionally made powder could actually be made and be sold commercially; and would indeed be commercially viable.In her business Kaapanda works with mostly part-time staff who are part of the processing, production, packaging and marketing teams.She said distributors buy the cosmetics from Tulimeyo Facial Products and in turn sell them to beauty salons across the country.On how she managed to stay afloat while competing with internationally recognised and established brand names like Revlon, Yardley, Estee Lauder, Avroy Shlain, to name but a few, Kaapanda confidently said it all had to do with knowing one’s niche market and taking advantage of that.”In this business it is about finding your niche market, and winning the hearts of those loyal to other brands to switch to yours and try out the new product,” said Kaapanda of Tuli Line products, which she also calls ‘instant beauty’ products.She added people usually liked trying out new products and, with others using many different types which, in a way, is good for business.On the personal front, Kaapanda has been with her boyfriend for the past four years and are planning on getting married soon.She also has the apple of her nine-months old daughter, Magano.Kaapanda describes herself as a person who was very independent from an early age, who sometimes had to look after her seven siblings as her father was a political activist and her mother had to be cared for due to ill-health.She said she has grabbed all opportunities that have been bestowed her way which in turn have made her the woman she is today.Kaapanda is attached to the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry through a USAid-funded trade project running in the country.For the future, Kaapanda believes in a bigger market and has set her eyes not only in Namibia and is currently working on expanding her business horizons having recently explored the opportunities for Tuli Line products in neighbouring and restructuring Angola.