Celebrating Somerset West’s young business owners
June is Youth Month in South Africa and the perfect time to celebrate all the young people making a difference in our country.
We are particularly proud of all the young business owners and entrepreneurs who have settled in Somerset West and continue adding value to our community.
Meet three who are helping breathe new life into the CBD:
CafÉ 1865
Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Café 1865 (named after the year Lewis Carroll became a world-famous author) is a delightfully eclectic restaurant in the heart of Somerset West owned by Russian expats Irina and Serge Datsenko. After some extensive globe-trotting, the couple had one wish for themselves and their young daughter, Maria: to settle down somewhere they could be happy and free; live in nature and see the sun every day. Needless to say, the stars aligned and the Helderberg became their safe harbour.
When asked the most valuable lesson she has learned as a young business owner, Irina said: “Be absolutely passionate about what you do,” says Irina. “Sometimes, you will work on your dream 24/7 without a minute's break. It is extremely hard, but you will get an equal return from your business.”
Visit the Café 1865 website to find out more.
Schoon
Eating with purpose and creating community through food. This is what Schoon is all about. Since launching their first cafe in Stellenbosch back in 2015, owners Fritz and Chanelle Schoon have expanded their passion for creating cosy eateries to six locations throughout the Western Cape, including Bright Street in Somerset West.
“We saw a very consistent flow of daily visitors coming through from Somerset West,” says Fritz. “It made the decision easy when we were looking at branching out. Somerset West was our first choice.”
As a young business owner, Fritz offers the following advice to those looking to embark on endeavours of their own: “Ninety-nine percent of your success lies in your planning. Delay execution until such a time that all the components required for your concept to work are all aligned.”
He adds: “But, in balance, be ready to act when minor pivots are required, quick decision making is crucial. Finally, to be able to face the consistent daily challenges you need to be driven by an authentic concept with a higher purpose.”
Visit the Schoon website to find out more.
The Poké Co
Establishing The Poké Co in 2017, Andrew Flanagan had one mission: to 'Do good' for your tastebuds, your body, the community, and the planet. Since the beginning, Andrew has focused on sourcing local produce from small-scale farmers and sustainably caught fish. Along with this, all The Poké Co’s takeaway packaging is environmentally friendly, and there is a strong ethos of reinvesting in staff trough a management training programme.
From humble beginnings as a takeaway outlet and occasional pop-up restaurant, The Poké Co has grown remarkably over the past few years and currently boasts six outlets throughout the Western Cape, with the Drama Street restaurant being the newest.
“Somerset West was an exiting opportunity to further broaden our reach in the Western Cape and reach more customers,” says Andrew. “We believe there is a demand for a healthy alternative offering and we are looking forward to engaging with the community to become apart of the revitalisation of the CBD.”
When asked about the most important lesson he’s learned as a young business owner, Andrew shares: “Everything starts and finishes with presenting a good product. Without that, there is no business, so don’t forget to continually bring it back to your core offering and service.”
Visit The Poké Co website to find out more.
While it’s easy to feel bleak about the future, Youth Month is the perfect opportunity to take a look around and be inspired by the wealth of dynamic young business owners who are working hard to create exciting offerings and building community while at it. We urge you to go out and show your support!
❤️ Be sure to tag Village Collective in your Somerset West moments on Instagram. 📸
