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By Yolanda Chirundu
THE Co-Founder of Royal Secrets Cosmetics, Talent Madziwo has become one of the most influential people in the network marketing business in Zimbabwe and the southern region.
What we now know as Royal Secrets cosmetics was first launched as a fragrance only company in 2016, but due to the market demand it landed into cosmetics too. This was the time that Talent discovered her passion to understand more about cosmetics and how people can use them to enhance their beauty and boost their confidence.
“What inspired the idea was my desire to empower ordinary citizens like me. Where I came from it wasn’t easy having one source of income. l realised that we can change lives if we turn this cosmetics business into benefiting a larger part of society through engaging ordinary people to sell and earn commissions. Anyone with a desire for success and to sustain themselves can start this side hustle selling Perfumes and Cosmetics,” Talent told the Entrepreneurial Magazine.
Royal Secrets Cosmetics manufacture perfumes and cosmetics, then sell them through a network of Sales Agent working full or part time. It has up to 80 fragrances, roll o-ns, Skin care range which consists of Scrubs, Clay Masks, Anti blemish, Anti -ageing creams, Moisture risers and tissue oils.
The 34 year old co-owns the company with her husband Tatenda Madziwo. The business has now flourished not only in Zimbabwe but also in countries like Botswana, Namibia and Malawi.
This comes as research shows that Sub-Saharan Africa currently accounts for 3 percent of global beauty products sales but the share is expected to grow at double the rate of the market. The outlook for the African cosmetics, beauty and personal care products market is very positive for the coming years as there is so much room for it to grow and become at par with the Asian markets. According to market research, the beauty industry in the Middle East and Africa was estimated at about $27.1 billion in 2018.
“My biggest fear used to be operating outside Zimbabwe. We first tried our luck in Botswana in 2019 and the market there was very favorable. The products were welcomed and the Agents in Botswana where more than willing to work with us and that’s how l conquered my fear. We then went on to launch the business in Namibia and Malawi in 2020 and it wasn’t so scary as the first time we tried to launch outside Zimbabwe,” highlighted Talent.
“Royal Secrets Cosmetics is a Network marketing company which has tangible world class products. We sell our products through a network of sales agents who are paid on commission.
“Anyone can become a Sales agent working part time or full time and what makes us a network marketing company is that if you bring more members to become sales agents. Ones gets to score some points which are paid as hard cash, meaning every hard work you do in Royal Secrets we reward you.”
With the high unemployment rate shooting up in Zimbabwe, Royal Secrets have managed to create employment for 30 people and 12 thousand sales Agents across the country, and an approximate of 30 thousand sales agents in the SADC region.
Royal secrets has not only impacted Zimbabwe but Southern Africa as a whole. It also holds annual awards where various prizes are given to best performing Agents. These prizes comprise of cars, household goods and hard cash.
In fulfilling community social responsibility, Royal Secrets also has the Royal Family Albinism Trust which assists People with Albinism with special needs like sunscreen lotions and spectacles because Albinism usually affects eye sight.
“We have over 300 people with Albinism in Zimbabwe alone who are being catered for under the trust,” Talent said.
From a young age, Talent always dreamt of being a successful business woman. She grew up with an entrepreneurial mind as she would get sweets from wholesale supermarkets and sell for little profit at high school. She enjoyed the idea of making profits.
In her adult life she started her business as a side hustle to sustain her family while she was still a civil servant in the ministry of labor. Her ambition to grow is the one that led to her trying out network marketing. Her journey to success was not a fairytale as it was met with challenges.
“The launching of Royal Secrets Cosmetics coincided with inflation. The economy wasn’t stable. To invoice products to be paid at the end of the month was difficult since the money would have lost value by the time we got it but we sailed through and did not give up,” she said.
Talent added that despite challenges, Royal secrets managed to scale up so fats due to network marketing.
