by Justice
Zhou
The beauty industry should brace itself for a new kid on the block. Frosister, a dynamic start-up which makes everything from hair oils to shampoos to butters, is ready to take competition to the world’s top cosmetics brands as it prepares to launch in Africa in the coming months.
A food chemist by profession, the London-based founder of Frosister, Hanani Dube, is vying to become the only second Zimbabwean entrepreneur to have launched a line of beauty products with a real impact in the market, following in the footsteps of a long-established giant like Kubi Cosmetics.
Kubi Indi, the Zimbabwean actress who featured in the 1973 James Bond movie “Live and Let Die” alongside actor Roger Moore, started a company in 1981 making the Kubi range of beauty products specifically for black skin and African hair, which later became a hit in southern Africa.
Some thirty-six years on, Frosister is not only looking to emulate Kubi’s feat in a big way, but also beat global household names such as Olay, Avon, Dove and L’Oreal in their own game.
@FroSisterHanani
The global beauty and personal care market is pumping, driven by the spending power of millennials whose active lifestyles and desires to look hip and trendy are motivating them to empty their purses for the latest top-of-the-range cosmetics. The sector expanded by 5 percent in 2016, the same growth rate as the previous year, according to analysts at Euromonitor International (EMI).
We caught up with award-winning CEO Hananai Dube, in an exclusive interview, seeking to unpack what Frosister is all about and what his new company has in store for the booming cosmetics industry. Below is a transcript of the interview:
JZ: Who founded Frosister and when and where was the company founded?
HD: The
founder is me (Hanani Dube, UK based Zimbabwean food chemist). The products
were actually inspired by a lack of natural hair or afro hair products in the
UK retail chains. When I couldn’t find hair products for my daughter, I decided
to create my own. Taking from my knowledge of food chemistry, Business Studies
and passion for natural hair, I decided to create my own range of products for my
daughter and other people wanting quality, pain-free, healthy products which
work well.
JZ: Is Frosister setting up operations in Africa?
HD: We are
launching in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia this year, however we are not
setting up branches but rather collaborating with businesses. So we are talking
retail chains, pharmacies as well as salons.
JZ: When would
be the launch?
HD: Our
official launch in Zimbabwe will be on the 9th of September, then South Africa
the 16th of September and December in Zambia.
JZ: Where
exactly will your business be located?
HD: As we will
be collaborating with other businesses, we plan to have products selling in all
major cities.
JZ: What
services or products are going to be offered?
HD: We will
start with our natural hair product line which includes hair oils for longer
and thicker hair as well as hair line repair, our popular hair butters /
moisturisers designed to easily soften and manage natural hair as well as our
shampoos and conditioners. We have a kids range coming soon as well
JZ: Where do you see
your company in 10 years?
HD: My vision
for FroSister is that of a global
brand .We are already in some parts of Europe and are currently expanding to
Africa.
JZ: Do you
have any plans of trading as a public entity or pitching an IPO (Initial Public
Offering) in future?
HD: Definitely,
that is on the cards.
JZ: Thank you and good luck in your endeavours.
Hanani Dube : Honours/Awards:
*Female Entrepreneur of the year 2017 Zim Achievers Awards 2017
JZ: Thank you and good luck in your endeavours.
Hanani Dube : Honours/Awards:
*Female Entrepreneur of the year 2017 Zim Achievers Awards 2017
*Royal Bank of Scotland Global Focused Woman Nominee 2016
*ESpark Award winner 2015, 2016
*Zimbabwe International Woman Award Winner 2015
For more information about Frosister,
visit www.frosister.com
