When Cape Town 
entrepreneur Veliswa Tiya was retrenched during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was left unemployed and battling depression. Two years later, a R500 investment and an online candle-making course helped her build Rich Aunties Aesthetics, a growing homeware brand.
Tiya started the business in 2022 after completing online courses while unemployed.
“I had always loved homeware…I learnt candle-making and decided to test the market close to where I lived.”
The positive response encouraged her to expand her product range from candles to diffusers and decorative ornaments. Tiya had always expected to become an entrepreneur but struggled to identify the right business idea.
Her retail background helped. Tiya holds a diploma in Retail Business Management from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and worked as a merchandise planner for major retailers for eight years.
“I had R500 when I started, and that was money I was using to survive. I had been unemployed for about two years. There was never a moment when I had money saved to start a business.”
She first thought online sales would grow the business quickly, but customers responded more positively at Cape Town markets.
Rich Aunties now trades at markets across Cape Town and has a permanent presence at the Franschhoek Village Market. Tiya later reintroduced the company’s website as a second sales channel. Its products are also available at the Watershed Craft and Design Institute store at the V&A Waterfront.
Government support has helped the business acquire equipment and reach more customers. The Department of Small Business Development also supported its participation at Decorex by covering costs that would otherwise have been beyond the company’s reach.
Rich Aunties was placed first in the Hollywood Foundation’s 2025 Western Cape Bambelela Business Awards, receiving R130 000 in business support. Tiya used the funding for materials and equipment.
The business also received asset support from the Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency’s (SEDFA) Asset Assist Programme, which provides grants of up to R250 000 to South African micro, small and medium enterprises for machinery, equipment, working capital and raw materials. Rich Aunties also benefited from a Standard Bank accelerator programme.
The business employs three part-time workers. However, Tiya still performs about 90% of the work and needs more employees, marketing support, equipment and retail exposure.
“Many small businesses are not failing because people are incapable. It is difficult without access to markets. The more market access we receive, the more we can grow, increase production and create jobs,” she said.
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