Sometimes, building a successful business means having the courage to walk away from something you have already built. For Tengetile Keketso Mncina, that meant leaving behind a nail-tech business she had spent four years growing and taking a completely different path into the world of flowers.
Mncina is the founder and owner of She_adds_glam, a floral business specialising in handmade eternal ribbon roses. She started the business in November 2024 after feeling led by God to pursue something new.
The transition was not easy. Having already established herself as a nail technician, Mncina had to start again by learning how to make ribbon roses, sourcing materials and introducing her new creations to potential customers through social media.
Her first order was for just 10 roses with money surrounding them. About a month later, she was making 20-rose bouquets. While orders were initially slow, the business gained momentum as Valentine’s season approached in 2025.
Today, She_adds_glam has grown to a point where Mncina sometimes has to turn down orders because she runs out of stock. It is now uncommon for a week to pass without a bouquet order, while her TikTok and Instagram platforms continue to grow.
The business provides eternal ribbon roses for birthdays, engagements, weddings, proms, matric dances, photoshoots and baby showers. Mncina also creates hampers on request and hopes to eventually expand into event and décor services, including surprise proposals and birthday setups.
For Mncina, however, running a business is about more than making sales. She believes every bouquet represents someone’s special moment and approaches each order with patience, creativity and enthusiasm.
She describes herself as a hardworking, patient and disciplined leader who is not easily discouraged by challenges. At the same time, she believes kindness should not come at the expense of business standards and policies.
Customer trust is another priority. She keeps clients updated throughout the ordering process, sends pictures of completed work and places strong emphasis on neatness, quality and punctual deliveries.
Looking back, Mncina admits she never imagined being where she is today. She questioned whether people would buy artificial flowers but chose to take the leap anyway.
Her biggest driving force remains her faith, while her mother, who is also a businesswoman, continues to inspire her.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: Start with what you have, be patient with growth and remain consistent even when the results are not immediate.
Outside the business world, Mncina is currently reading ‘Confessions: The Private School Murders’ by James Patterson.
For her, the journey is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: Sometimes the biggest opportunities begin when you are brave enough to start again.
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