Nqobile Nkosi is no stranger to hard work, nor to making his own luck. His dreams of becoming an electrical engineer were shattered when he ran into financial difficulty during his BSc, but as that door shut, another opened. A chance encounter while in the queue to try to secure an engineering bursary led him to the Soweto Jewellery School, which was funded as part of the Mining Qualifications Authority’s Imfundiso skills development programme.
Nqobile embraced this new career path, and while still studying he began to ply his trade by polishing, resizing and repairing items after school. A passion was born and he resolved to one day open his own jewellery business right there in Dube, Soweto. By selling baked treats on the streets and doing odd jobs like washing cars, he managed to raise R25 000 – not enough for a workshop, but a great start. He continued to work hard and hunt for opportunity, exhibiting at Jewellex 2008 and the Soweto Festival in 2009, and pursuing funding and exposure through all available channels.
Over the years he would go on to feature in many competitions including being placed as a finalist in the Gauteng Business Leader of the Year Award, and winning the Regional SAB Kick Start Award, the Euronews Hope Fund Award and the Tsogo Sun Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2016 (Mr Nkosi was later commissioned to make a trophy for the CEO of Tsogo Sun, Marcel Von Aulock).
But Nkosi’s first big break came when the 2009 Jet Community Awards recognised him as the Vuka Uzenzele category winner for creating employment and motivating the community. With the prize money of R150 000 he had the capital to build a 4-room facility and purchase equipment and materials. It was hardly plain sailing from here however, as legislation at the time did not allow for the licencing of a factory within a township. Dogged determination overcame the red tape and NQ Jewellery was officially launched as the first-ever manufacturer and retailer in an area like Soweto.
Shortly thereafter, Mr Nkosi received an invitation to the United Kingdom where he was introduced to various companies who offered him internships and training on end-to-end jewellery production: from design to retail.
In addition to the assistance from these UK mentors, which he describes as “immense”, a significant contributor to Nqobile’s success has undeniably been innate talent and practical evaluation of the market and his position therein. Where others may see limitation, he sees opportunity. As gold is expensive, electing to start out working with silver may seem an obvious choice, however it was a calculated decision for the man determined to compete in the fine jewellery arena.
Observing that the affordable side of the high-end market was neglected, he noted the lucrative intersection between his circumstances and consumer demand. Rather than creating pieces with a 6-figure retail value, he built his core collections around designs that are striking in their simplicity and elegance and manufactured to the highest quality, yet are cost-effective to produce. Needless to say, it was a winning formula, and he quickly expanded his collections to include all precious metals and stones.
Nqobile’s story has touched the hearts of many and led to countless media appearances including Forbes Africa Magazine, Bona Magazine, City Press, Tsogo Sun TV and Equinox Magazine, Kaya FM, Metro FM, Cliff Central, eTV, Forerunners, Mentorfeed, and even a documentary on Euronews. He has also completed a professional jeweller diploma with the Gemological Institute of America, becoming president of its Alumni Africa chapter.
NQ Jewellery has exhibited in London and Hong Kong and Mr Nkosi has completed commissions for high-profile clients, including Dr Tshepo Motsepe, current first lady of South Africa, wife of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who wears a pair of his earrings on the August 2018 cover of Destiny Magazine. The company now retails from the Bryanston Natural and Organic Market, De Beers gift shops, the Tourvest retail space, the Westcliffe Hotel, the heritage retail outlet in Orlando West behind the Hector Pieterson Museum, and SAA duty free shops online and in-airports – one of the first brands from the townships to do so. Says Nqobile: “I am happy to have been the first jewellery band from Soweto in the industry. We have gone back to basics but with class and style, using high quality craftsmanship. Each product is carefully hand-finished and carefully packaged in our branded packaging with care card. This was not easy at all… creating our own packaging and displays and adhering to existing retail outlets’ requirements is very expensive.”
He primarily serves the tourist market and watches it closely. Anticipating the downturn from the Ebola outbreak and South Africa’s tougher visa and travel requirements, he utilised that time to develop new products and collections, as well as to identify new niche audiences. Looking to the corporate sector, NQ pitched the idea of cuff links and keyrings as event and conference gift bag items, which were well-received and opened up new revenue streams for the brand.
The company is today run by Nqobile and his partner Jerry Nkeli, who was the first black paraplegic to qualify as an attorney and who works tirelessly within the disabled community. Mr Nkeli’s business acumen and experience has secured him directorships and chairmanships across a multitude of companies and boards. That he chose to join forces with NQ further underscores Nqobile’s remarkable entrepreneurial flare.
Nqobile is passionate about his community and feels called to impart the skills necessary for people to be able to make their own living, as he has done. He gives free lessons on jewellery making using recycled materials to pupils at local schools and to occupational therapy patients at the Mofolo Community Health Centre, but even closer to his heart is the fate of the local artisan jeweller. He is pained by the scarcity of black businesspeople in the industry, especially from the townships, and is eager to create opportunity and growth in this sector. He employs locals wherever possible, and hires students part-time to assist with bulk orders.
Contrary to the practice of most businesses, Nqobile encourages his staff to move on when other job opportunities present themselves. On completion of his own internship, his mentors supported his desire to return home to be part of the transformation of the industry, despite lucrative job offers in Europe. He even managed to arrange for advanced training in Soweto for others, but sadly he sees many of them fail due to a lack of start-up capital.
NQ Jewellery, GIA Gemkids, Miss Earth South Africa and Tsogo Sun held a workshop on Mandela Day 2017 to teach learners at Nka Thuto Primary School about gemstones and how to make jewellery using findings and recycled material
Nqobile feels wholeheartedly that our country’s mineral wealth should be used to uplift its own people. With about 80% of the jewellery sold in South Africa being imported, by reversing this statistic the potential to create local jobs is high. “If I could see hundreds and hundreds of black and white brothers and sisters living in South Africa benefiting from the natural resources, this can help alleviate unemployment in South Africa. With that said, high skills, innovation and discipline is demanded to be in business.”
The company has now outgrown it’s home in Dube, and will be moving out of the township to a larger production facility. Nqobile has generously decided to leave all four of his workstations and almost all of the equipment for the empowerment and training of hopefully many more Sowetans as well as those living near the township. For now, the workshop will be open on the weekends as this is the only time he can spare to supervise the emerging jewellers who come to practice their trade under his guidance. With its close proximity to Vilakazi Street and its historic genesis story, there is also huge potential for this space to become a tourism destination. Jewellery schools, students and freelancers in the area are welcomed to contact him about using the space, and he extends a warm invitation to any established jewellers who feel called to support local jewellers through mentorship or the contribution of tools and skills development.
Nqobile’s advice to up-and-coming jewellers:
- Building a business is never easy. Start small and grow organically. Learn from your mistakes. NQ was founded in 2007 and we are still learning new things today.
- Try to find an experienced business mentor.
- Running a business requires high skills and discipline. You have to be working the all the time – 24/7 – especially in the early days. Sometimes you have to give up things like a social life etc to make it work.
- Stay innovative, stay focussed, and never give up.
NQ Jewellers may be contacted or followed on the below:
Mobile Number: 073 700 6225
Email: nq2jewel@gmail.com
http://www.nqjewelleryshop.co.za/
https://www.facebook.com/nqjewellery/
https://www.instagram.com/nqjewellery/
