What does it really take to build a sustainable fashion brand in Kenya, without overnight success, investor hype, or a perfect plan? In this episode of For Mannerless Women, Adelle Onyango sits down with Zia Nyamari, fashion entrepreneur and founder & creative director of Zia Africa, for an honest conversation about building a business from the ground up, fear, faith, intuition and all.
Zia takes us back to her very first business idea at 10 years old (selling popcorn on the street), through years of importing clothes in suitcases, quitting employment, navigating family pressure, and eventually opening a flagship store at Village Market. She shares the behind-the-scenes realities of growth, the fear of dead stock, imposter syndrome, and why consistency matters more than speed. This episode is especially for women who are:
“Believe in your idea so much it has no choice but to materialize.”
🔗 Connect with Zia Africa@nandigirl_ on instagram
@zianyamari on TikTok
@ziafrica on both IG & TikTok
website: www.ziaafrica.com.
Physical location: Village Market, New Wing, 1st floor.
🔗 More from Legally Clueless Africa
Zia takes us back to her very first business idea at 10 years old (selling popcorn on the street), through years of importing clothes in suitcases, quitting employment, navigating family pressure, and eventually opening a flagship store at Village Market. She shares the behind-the-scenes realities of growth, the fear of dead stock, imposter syndrome, and why consistency matters more than speed. This episode is especially for women who are:
- Thinking about starting a business
- Growing slowly and wondering if they’re “behind”
- Learning to trust their intuition alongside logic
- Navigating fear, faith, and self-belief
- Starting a business with what you have
- Why growth is rarely overnight
- The fear of dead stock and financial risk
- Quitting employment to bet on yourself
- Consistency as a business strategy
- Trusting intuition and feminine leadership
- Sustainability and slow fashion
- Affirmations, faith, and doing things afraid
“Believe in your idea so much it has no choice but to materialize.”
🔗 Connect with Zia Africa@nandigirl_ on instagram
@zianyamari on TikTok
@ziafrica on both IG & TikTok
website: www.ziaafrica.com.
Physical location: Village Market, New Wing, 1st floor.
🔗 More from Legally Clueless Africa
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- Instagram: www.instagram.com/legallycluelessafrica/
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@legallycluelessafrica
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/LegallyCluelessYoutube
- Share your story with us: forms.gle/kMn7Wae5N563JFGQ8
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to for Manalist Women.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm your host, A dell Onyngo, and this is a
space committed to naturing a new generation of shame free
women who are ready to meet their best selves.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And in this episode, we're hanging out with Zia and Yamari.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
She is the founder and creative director of Zia Africa
and this episode is a massed watch for you who's
in business or who is thinking or starting one. So
(00:33):
thank you so much Zia for making it to the show.
And I'm so excited because I've seen all your work,
your shop. I've been to your shop at Village Market,
so it's quite interesting to finally meet you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How are you doing forst and foremost You're doing very well. Yeah,
thank you. I'm so honored to be here. I used
to listen to you in the radio when I was young,
So whoa iout saying things that. Man, When people say that,
I'm just like they say, you've been Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
So let's jump into business and right now you're thriving.
We're seeing you moving from only making clothes for adults
and women and now there's a kid's line as well,
and you're expanding. But let's go to the beginning. When
did your interest in business get sparked.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
M Well, I'll go back to when I was ten. Okay,
that's the first time I think I thought of starting
a business. And the idea was to make popcorn at home,
you know, and so on the street. Yeah, nobody WoT Yeah,
(01:46):
walk away from a kid, you win. That kid is
sending that the whole day with cousin. Nobody bought. We
just came back with a bunt popcorn. Granted was burnt,
but anyway, we tried. That's my first recollection business interest.
And then later when I was in Uni, I realized
that there was not much variety in the market. So
even is shop in my avenue on Why Avenue even
(02:09):
had the same clothes. This is back in twenty thirteen.
So it was like, why don't I go to the
combat and get clothes that are unique and I can
tell to my friends. Yeah, so that was my second business,
which is I guess now it's Zia because later now,
when I saw that there's a market and there's an opportunity,
I sat on my desktop computer, did a Facebook page
(02:30):
wow with my sister, and we began Zia Collection. We
called it that at that time and we began important
clothes from Australia to Kenya, just very few limited pieces. Yeah,
and I remember the first time we brought in a suitcase.
It was so out. Oh yeah, it was just like
maybe twenty thirty pieces, but sort firming like okay, you're
(02:52):
doing something right.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, and you probably when you were shipping that amount
and you're like, this is so much.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
There's such a risk. It was so much to us
at that time. And then I remember, we're so crazy.
We left the tag zone. They were on sale, but
we left the original tag zone because they're like guys
who think, you know, they're like yaible items, Yeah, hey
carry They're like, oh, it's all exactly. So you bought
(03:18):
this for forty dollars and you've bought them for so
you're trying to say, like I promise, they're literally not
having it. It was crazy. Yeah, we learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So how do you go from this one suitcase right
and everything gets sold out to how many stores do
you have? Because I know the Village market, is there
another one? No, So we have one.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Physical store, ship store and then we do a couple
of pop ups here and there. Yeah, So how do
we go from the suitcase to that because this is
a big, beautiful store that you have. Now, what's the
next the next step you get affirmed, everything sells out,
you square it out with Carrie. Then what And then
I got scared, So I kept bringing suitcases for another
(04:04):
ten years. So I would never you know, when like
something sells out, then you bring in more. I would
never bring in more. So I'd always bring the same
amount of clothes every time because I was scared. I
was scared that if I bring more, they wouldn't sell. Yeah.
So that happened for maybe seven years, let's say between
twenty thirteen and twenty twenty. So in twenty twenty, I
(04:25):
was like, okay, I'm going to take this bold step
and open a store. Yeah, so what are the fears there?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Let's pause the fair because I know we're going to
come back to it a little later. But like when
you say you were scared, what if we name the fear?
What were you scared would happen? I was scared of
having dead stock. I was scared that I would not
be able to sell the clothes. I was scared that
people won't buy. Yeah, that's what I was scared, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Interesting, like the spears are in our head because people
are the suitcases are set. I'm like, no, that's where
we're staying.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Okay, So what do you do to push yourself to
say we're moving from suitcase to store?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I quit my job, So there's a job and it's
because we're and we do that. Okay. So I think
I'd always thought of a bit other side hustle. I
just thought, I have this fashion business, and I do,
but I'm gonna be employed. But every time i'd be employed,
I used to dread going to work. I would spend
(05:31):
all my time, you know, looking for more clothes to
bring and chatting to customers and Instagram Now move from
Facebook to Instagram. Yeah, and then I realized I'm really
good at marketing. So I was like, hmmm, what if
I use all this energy that I'm exerting in my
job and put it towards there and see what happens? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
What's the the feeling when you are handing in your resignation?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
What is I Because if you were.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Scared with the suitcase, like, how how was that moment
for your emotionally?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And I was very anxious. The feeling was a mix
of anxiety, excitement and also fear.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah, so you jump you hand in your resignation. What
do you do to start getting your store because maybe
there's there's someone listening or watching who's at that point.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Of like, I know my business needs fan. I can
feel the growth you actually got. Oh my god, committing
to rent. It was so scary because I had saved. Yeah,
but I was still living with my parents and my
siblings are all employed, you know, doing well on the
last bone. Yeah, and we had this corbo. I said,
(06:48):
I am the first one to venture into business. So
I didn't tell my dad for one month, so I
was sent in my resignation. I know, November thirty, yeth,
I'm not going back to work, But how am I
going to tell him that I'm quitting my good job
to now start focusing on my business seriously? And I
remember it was so scary, But eventually one morning I
just told him something to tell you, and I've made
(07:10):
a decision. I'm quitting my job and I'm going to open.
And he was like, why don't you do that as
you continue with your career? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, how do you block out that noise? Because I
think sometimes we get when we're trying to start something new,
something that maybe in our families were the.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
First to do it. It comes from love.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Even your dad's advice is coming from love, but it's
coming from a generation where there weren't too many people
going into business, let alone women going into business. How
do you block out and hear your own voice.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
I think it was at that point where I really
started trusting my instincts, because that was not the first
time I quit, by the way, I went back to employee. Yeah,
two other times. Yeah, but every single time I don
always feel this, why don't you just do it? Just
do it? And I'd go back out of fear, and
(08:11):
I wanted that security of being okay. So I have
discussed with Case. Yeah, I'm still looking at with Case.
But I need an income that's very steady and at
least you know, the hope for right future. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Now you open the store, and what we're seeing today
is incredible success. But another thing that we're seeing in
this generation or and I don't mean in terms of age,
I just mean in the times that we're living in,
is that growth seems to come overnight. I think a
(08:45):
friend of mine said, like, you open Instagram and people
are launching things every day, So if you're in business,
you keep looking at your own business and you're just like,
so it's it news. So could you speak to the
growth because you say it's a combination of how many
years now?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, it's like twelve, twelve, thirty years.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, And so what's the reality of cruise? If I'm
watching this and I want to get into the business,
what's the reality check you can give me around growth?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah? I think the reality check is consistency pace. The
more consistent you are, eventually you hard work will pay
and then you just have to keep trying. Small building
blocks are better than none. So I have friends who
have even studied on Instagram page. Then they open it,
(09:35):
they get ten followers. After a month, they're just like, Okay,
that was fun. But before I started growing, it took
me a while, even before many poll knew about me
or even in the Africa. And I think the most
important thing I'd say is you have to believing yourself
because even through all those things that are happening, when
I'm trying to quit my job a couple of times
(09:56):
and trying to move from a suitcase to made in Kenya,
which I guess we'll get into it took me believing
in myself, maybe living in my capabilities and what I offer,
and also having a solution. You know that's very cliche,
but just believing that whatever you're offering is unique and
is needed. So I used to feel like there's clothes, yes,
(10:17):
but it's not looks like Zia and I just I
just believed this.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, that's really important. There's another Kenya I think she
called no Ordinary. She says you could walk into a
supermarket and I have that sells waters so many different brands.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So why are you saying, oh, I'm not going to
do it. Someone else is doing clothes or somebody.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Else is nobody's doing it the way you're doing it,
the way Zia is doing it.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So we quit, We get the store and we're still
bringing in suitcases.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, okay, So when do you then say, I'm really
good at this thing. I can make clotheslocally, like I
don't have to ship them in.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah. I was forced to by the pandemic. Oh wow. Yeah,
so I opened my shop, yes, not the village market. Yes,
so this is that Adams are used of all my savings.
I'm really excited. Yeah, March twenty twenty, COVID has been announced.
No Oking's the whole month, No okings the whole of April.
(11:23):
No Oking's the whole of May.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
And the things and your bills are still there.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
That is due. Rent is due. So obviously we're built
our online yeah presence, but we still need the workings
to the rent. So I close that shop. Yeah months, okay,
my dream life has just Yeah. So I decided to
take a course a business what does it called an incubator?
(11:50):
So I met a lady showed me, hey, okay, what
are your challenges? So I told her, okay, I think
we're okay in marketing, but I need to figure out
the finance bit of it because I need to grow.
So she's the one, first of all, who told me,
why don't you bring in a hundred dresses all the same,
like if you have this fans a hundred of them,
or this dress a hundred of them. And I couldn't
(12:10):
even fathom bringing in a hundred dresses like the same. Yeah,
I just like, you're trying to tell me there's no
you can't find a hundred ladies in Kenya to sell to.
And when she said that, I'm like, yeah, we're like
fifty two. They were like reasoning like logically, and I
was like I can't. So I did that. Yeah, and
then I started thinking of okay, maybe I can get
(12:32):
a tailor. So I decided I'm going to open a workshop.
But all the steps are I'm doing them, like how
do I see like a day at a time? Because
I got a designer because I remember I don't have
a background in fashion. Yeah, so I get a designer
and I hire her, but she has nowhere to design
(12:52):
and no tailor to work with. So okay, you're coming
on November first, So like October the whole month we're
tecking looking for a workshop we can set up. I
got a small caroom in Ghara, we got machines, so
I now had a tailor and a designer, a pattern maker. Yeah,
and I'm like, okay, now I'm doing made in Kenya. Yeah.
(13:13):
And that actually opened up my mind to the possibility
and the possibilities that we can grow beyond a hundred
dresses or even just the kind of styles that we
were doing. Because the challenge I used to have with
important was that I didn't have control of a quality
and the design. Sometimes it'd be like, hey, that design
is too complicated. Or we also had done a bit
(13:37):
of local what do I say, like outsourcing production, and
they would also tell us like, okay, it will take
two weeks and it takes five weeks. Yeah, or we
can't do that design is too complicated. That used to
really bother me because I'm like, what even is to
complicate it? Just put that thing about, just try try. Yeah.
So when I got that control, I feel like that's
(13:58):
when really we started taking off. And that was maybe
twenty twenty one. Yeah, yeah, this is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
And when you're doing all of these steps, are you
where is fear playing in this?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Is it there? Yeah? There there? You know you walk
with fear? Yeah? You do everything afraid. I do everything afraid. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So you go from you have your workshopping Gary one
one designer, you have one tailor. What comes next? What's
the next biggest step that you take?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Another tailor?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
No imagine And I think all of us can understand
when you say Taylor, we understand the hustle.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
That might come with that. So yeah, so another tailor's
that thing? I came with her friend now, But the
next big step, at say, was getting another room. So
now we're outgrown that small There were so many like
now during December busy period, trench pack things, blah blah blah.
So we've got another room. Yeah, And that was also
(15:01):
a big step because I'm like, okay, now increasing my rent.
Then fast forward, I think the next big step was
going sustainable. Yeah wow, okay, so what does that? What
does that entail? What does it look like? Tangibly, it
looks like a slower production process. So we wanted to
(15:23):
change from ready to wear to made to order to
reduce our dead stock. Again remember dead stock, I remember
from the popcorncorn Trauma. Let it out, Let it out. Yeah,
So we wanted to reduce our death stock and also
(15:44):
reduce our impact on the environment. So it became after
ten years now it started reflecting and I was like, okay, Sour,
I've been doing this business for ten years. What impact
can I have aside from hiring women, because that's something
I'm very passionate about. I I saw that the other day,
just walked to I walked into their workshop and just
(16:04):
saw this huge pile of waste. And I don't know
why for that that for that day or that day
is the day I decided to just think about what
impact we're having on the environment and also do some
research with sustainability because I had had about sustainability, but
I felt like it was for other people. Yeah it's bory, yeah,
(16:26):
you know. But I did a deep dive and I
was like, this is the future. This is what we
need to do, and we need to do it now.
So we started looking for local manufacturers of cotton because
I also wanted to introduce more sustainable fabrics. So we're like, okay,
why don't we just transition poly and get our customers
(16:47):
to learn about sustainability. Yes, and even if they're not
they don't catch up now, they will in the future.
And I remember that launch. I was March twenty twenty three. Hey,
that was our lowest man like revenue is change on
Instagram is commenting like, oh my god, this is amazing.
(17:07):
You have like a hundred comments, and we're like, this
is exciting. Guys are not buying, it's not translating, Guys
are naming us, what about this style? They're still there
like no, we're not doing it anymore, Like okay, what
is going to happen? Because at this point I hadn't
told my community, but we had already signed the leads
(17:29):
for Village Market. Oh no, yeah, and so you're just like, guys,
I was just not a plan. We're supposed to go
like this, geither.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, humbling did that because in your head, in the
back end, you know this makes sense. Yeah, but it
takes the client or a longer time to adapt. How
do you handle that transition with friends petition?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
If I'm honest, because when I have that revelation about sustainability,
I felt like God was really guiding me. Yeah, so
I told God me, I'm like following you. I'm done. Yeah,
I'm literally being obedient. So whatever however it goes, it's
a new Yeah, we are done. Yeah, I've done this.
I've done it. So when does it start picking up?
(18:19):
I'd like to say when you open the shop? Maybe
around me? So much to me it was dry, I'm treving.
My team was looking at me like, are you sure
this was the best decision? Yeah, let's go back. But
I think now yeah, fully caught on. And our customers
also have adjusted to us making on order because that's
another thing they wanted ready to wear. But now we
(18:42):
have told them, okay, where's now fashion We're not going
to be the shop that you go to if you
have an event today. Yeah, you have to kind of plan.
And because of that as well, we make timeless styles,
So we want you to buy something that you can
wear over and over and over again, as opposed to
trendy things that you were once and then you it's torn. Yes,
it's looking crazy. The style has yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And this is so important because I was having a
conversation recently about how I used to shop wrong. I
used to buy those one of places that you can't
rewar restyle and that's why you look at your full
closet and you're like, I have nothing to wear, And
it's true you don't because you were shopping wrong. So
I completely agree with you. That's actually and you actually
(19:27):
save money when you shop intentionally that you do. So
you open up Village Market, does it start picking up?
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah, okay picking up. It was actually really good and
I really enjoyed that season as well. Like our customers
also so happy for us. I felt like they have
grown with us. Yeah, people who've been shopping with us
for like ten yeahs, Like, oh my goodness, like you
actually yeah, Like.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I'm just hearing the whole story now and I'm excited
like it's the first day we're opening the Village mark store.
So you open it up right now? Where do you
feel like you are in terms of the founder of
Zia from ten thirteen years ago? What do you feel
this business has expanded in you?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
You know what I mean? That's such a good question.
Well who.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I was?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, a lot. I think first and foremost is discipline
because whereas ninety five you need to be at tuck
at nine, now no one is waking me up. There
there's no return. What's gonna call me or ask me
where my deliverables? So I've had to instill discipline and
(20:49):
cultivate it, and I do that by Jimmy. So I
feel like when I started going to the gym, my
business grew. Oh wow, Yeah, there was a direct correlation.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That is, I never had anyone say that the discipline,
I think so, I think so.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
I think it also helped me learn so many things
about myself, patience, self control because now I have to eat, Well,
what else would I see that I learned in consistency
because it's not always up. Even if we say that
time market was good, that it's been Yeah, make it. Yeah. Yeah,
(21:29):
so I think just that consistency, self discipline, passion. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I love what I'm hearing because I learned that this year.
I feel like this year had like allow between maybe
like April May June was a very slow business and
I remember telling myself, you have to show up every day,
like it's like it's every other day, right, it's like
continue come edits exactly though it was a busy month,
(22:01):
right and so and so I love that. But I've
never had the correlation between gym and that business. That's
quite interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Yeah, because I also started at the same time I
started jimming. I started doing that foroundations. So I feel
like it's all just yeah, I don't know, like it's
ne need because you're.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
The driver, like you have your staff, but like the
energy is coming from you, right, so if you're a hundreds,
then it spills over to them. It's very interesting what
I wanted to touch. And it's like in your experience.
I started off with employment, and we share the same
(22:42):
experience in terms of family, Like it's what's normal is
you go to school, you get a job with a nice.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Heavy title, and then you work it and rise and
then you retire and get your pension. Yes, I do.
Now if you're firm, now you're you can relax, right.
So business is different.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
But what I found getting into the space is that
it's not only that we don't have enough representation as
African women, is that the representation that is there needs
to look a certain way, needs to talk a certain way.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
And if you don't exude those features, then you're not
a serious business woman. You're just seems like it's a hobby.
You know how you experienced this, yeah, so often? Actually,
and I think it's my weakness. How maybe shy. I
(23:45):
don't really have a loud voice like that. And I'm
building my confidence. I know you're confident. So actually, when
I used to interact with men like business wise, I
talked to a supplier and then I feel like they're
not taking me seriously because I don't sound like a
(24:07):
man or I'm not like aggressive or whatever. But I
had a conbo with her friend recently and she said,
you need to play into your femininity. And I always
thought of it as a weakness, but it's a strength.
And I think for sure there's a way the world
women leaders look and these are really dress or whatever
(24:30):
but I love that as we grow and as generations come,
we're getting more and more authentic. I have a couple
of gen Z employees. They are so real, like you
don't even they can Like these are an employee recently
who told me she didn't come to work because her
partner was sick, and she took her partner at hospital.
And I thought that is so interesting because I would
(24:52):
never tell my boy what your partner? Okay, yeah, I
would say exactly. I would come up with a castro.
But I love authentic people and like not trying to show,
not trying to be anyone but yourself, and that that's
the beauty of being a woman, of being a human. Yeah,
just be yourself and the prior people will follow. The
(25:15):
right people will buy from you and see that and
love that in you, and you'll be comfortable because then
it's not like you have to put on a mask
every morning and every day, right this armor you're not.
What about fear? Normally we can group.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
It with just like it's not that much I fear
can be grouped with imposters, syndrome with self doubt?
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Are these monsters that you have encountered? Girl, come here
again for another session of here because I deal with
it every single day. And there's a book carriage I
guess a couple of years ago called Field the Fear
and do anyway? Oh okay, yeah, I can't try my
(26:02):
woods by I'll check then I'll let you know. But
it really showed me that everyone has fear. I think
that changed my perspective and mindset to the said in
the sense that sometimes you can see someone doing something
you're like, wow, they're so confident in you, so whatever,
Like someone like will Smith, but he's always chasing that
thing that gives him that fear because it helps him conquered.
(26:26):
And then it makes you realize that you you it's
not something that you confort once and then now you're
done with it. Yeah. So I have felt a lot
of self doubt to date. I feel self out imposter
syndrome is always like could you think you are? And
you know you're failing and you're doing that wrong, and
you're doing this wrong, and you look do you help?
(26:48):
But I think affirmations have really helped me. I'll say
that I pray a lot and just believing in yourself
and the more you practice it, it's like a muscle
that you build, the more you do things that you're
scared to do, the more you're willing to do more
things you're scared to do, and the more you realize
it's not that that's serious, Like you like, what's the
(27:09):
worst that could happen?
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Yeah? Yeah, this is so interesting, and I want you
to start thinking of your favorite affirmation that you can
share with us. But the funny thing with fear is that,
like you give your your mind or your brain data. Right,
so once you conquer this thing that you feared, it's
almost giving your brain data like, huh that you know, son,
(27:32):
you now we can go for bigger because that that
we were so scared about is actually not a big deal.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
So now let's go for bigger. And so it's so
interesting to hear you like what you've said about it
being a muscle, which it really is.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
As you're thinking about your affirmation, like is the imposter
syndrome more like I'm not good qualified or good enough?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
And so people are going to find out is it that, yes,
I think a bit of everything. Because there's also comparison
a place to it, and comparison is the thief of joy. Yeah,
so when you maybe go on social medium. You see
everyone is striving. Hey that who has opened a business,
who's done this, has done that. There's that in addition
(28:18):
to you seeing yourself grow from back in twenty thirteen
when you're in a suitcase. Now you you know, you
have a shop, you have employees. Yeah, they're looking at
you as their leader. I'm like, they're gonna they're gonna
see that I'm not even a leader. I think I'm
not even said what are you doing? I really don't,
I really don't care. But I think what you said
(28:40):
is sutra about the subconscious, because the more you do affirmations,
the more it affirms that this is who I am,
not the cowboys. It's like there's a devil and there's
an angel, and ninety percent of the time there's that
cable telling you, yes, this this, this is about yourself.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, one hundred percent, and you give it the information.
I think Lingo Gi is the one who taught me that.
Just like you tell your brain what to think, because
if you leave it, it's gonna tell you you're worthless.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
You know, let's not do this, let's not do that.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
So we're going to close with your favorite affirmation before
we get to your favor. I'm giving you time to
think about it so that you can give us a
good one. To the woman who's watching this and wants
to get into business, and maybe around her there's no
one in business. Maybe she's going on social media. You
(29:33):
see everybody starting. Maybe you want to to open a
beauty store. You're like, everybody has a business, so I
shouldn't do it. I'm not good enough to do it,
or I'm too scared to start. From your journey, what are.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Some things you can tell her that she needs to
listen to or here now I would like to think
of when I started. But top of mind is believe
in your idea. Believe the idea so much it has
no choice but to materialize. Be passionate about what you're doing,
(30:13):
start up a missions today, and pray, pray, pray until
something happens. And the last one, I think it's trust
your instinct. Yeah, trust your instinct. I love the first one.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
The last one because the first one I've never heard
it said like that before, and so it's just like, yeah,
you have.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
To believe until it has no choice. It just has
to materialize.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Right. And the last one is also quite powerful, I
think because a lot of the times you're kind of
like made to think that business is clinical, but there's
a room for emotion.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
There's a room for intuition to.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Be like yeah, askating saying yeah, literally that supplier you.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Lean into it. It's the power that we have.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And so what is your favorite affirmation or the affirmation
that you would want to share with us, the one.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
That's coming to my spirit? Yeah, yes, is everything is
working out for me?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Oh wow?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Yeah, that is powerful, especially in challenging times. It can
how you look at it right, And I can give
a backstory, it's a short one. I remember when I
was opening Village Market. It's felt like a big leap
for everyone around me, like are you sure? Blah blah blah.
And I remember thinking that this is what I feel
(31:46):
is the right thing to do. Obviously. I reached out
to my mentor from the incubut can you do the financials?
Makes sense? And she said yes. I said, I'm going
to Village Market and I really hope it works out,
but even ifing it doesn't, it's still working out for me. Yeah,
And that really helped me take that big leap of
step of faith in my head.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
That is really power because most of the times we
don't do it because we're saying when first we decide
that it's not going to work out, so we say,
when it doesn't work out.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I will be a failure and instead of like, in the.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Event it doesn't work out, it's still it's working out
for me, right, this is part of this journey is something.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Yeah, So I'm looking at success as an end goal,
like a place you reach and then you're like, now
that's the yeah, because life is so like unpredictable and
I'm very open to the journey God has chosen for
me and the path I'm meant to take. So I
think hopking closely with him as well has helped me
realize that we don't know how the day is going
(32:50):
to go, We don't know how tomorrow is going to go,
but we stay faithful and stay hopeful and just exactly
trust our instinct and just take the next step, take
the next step until yeah, you're done.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
This is so incredible. I'm so thankful you came on.
Is there anything you wanted to share about Zia specifically
that we need to be looking out for. Black Friday
is coming up?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah? Yeah, okay, okay, sales yeah, last sales. It's gonna
be our best Black Friday. Really, Okay, I'm I'm ready ready.
I hope you.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Because I still I'm coming into a store, so I
know exactly where your store is. I've been there, I
think two to three times, so we're we're definitely going
to be following up on that. But thank you so
much for coming on the show and sharing about your journey.
They so much too, that we've gotten from it in
a very humane way, and it's affirmed even me, like
(33:53):
I'm like, okay, I'm taking that afflication, taking the advice
you told us.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
To carry with us, and so we wish you all
of this.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah, thank you for having me anytime, anytime, and thank
you for watching this episode. Of course, if you check
out the show notes or the description, there's links for
you to check out Zia Africa, to connect with Zia
as well on social media and shop and get ready
for those sales that are coming your way.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
And if you're about to start something, I hope that
this episode.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Spoke to you and gave you that push for you
to just start it, do it afraid, And if you've
enjoyed this episode, share it with all the mannalists or
almost manneralist women in your life. Make sure you subscribe
so that you do not miss the next episode.
Welcome to for Manalist Women.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm your host, A dell Onyngo, and this is a
space committed to naturing a new generation of shame free
women who are ready to meet their best selves.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
And in this episode, we're hanging out with Zia and Yamari.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
She is the founder and creative director of Zia Africa
and this episode is a massed watch for you who's
in business or who is thinking or starting one. So
(00:33):
thank you so much Zia for making it to the show.
And I'm so excited because I've seen all your work,
your shop. I've been to your shop at Village Market,
so it's quite interesting to finally meet you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
How are you doing forst and foremost You're doing very well. Yeah,
thank you. I'm so honored to be here. I used
to listen to you in the radio when I was young,
So whoa iout saying things that. Man, When people say that,
I'm just like they say, you've been Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
So let's jump into business and right now you're thriving.
We're seeing you moving from only making clothes for adults
and women and now there's a kid's line as well,
and you're expanding. But let's go to the beginning. When
did your interest in business get sparked.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
M Well, I'll go back to when I was ten. Okay,
that's the first time I think I thought of starting
a business. And the idea was to make popcorn at home,
you know, and so on the street. Yeah, nobody WoT Yeah,
(01:46):
walk away from a kid, you win. That kid is
sending that the whole day with cousin. Nobody bought. We
just came back with a bunt popcorn. Granted was burnt,
but anyway, we tried. That's my first recollection business interest.
And then later when I was in Uni, I realized
that there was not much variety in the market. So
even is shop in my avenue on Why Avenue even
(02:09):
had the same clothes. This is back in twenty thirteen.
So it was like, why don't I go to the
combat and get clothes that are unique and I can
tell to my friends. Yeah, so that was my second business,
which is I guess now it's Zia because later now,
when I saw that there's a market and there's an opportunity,
I sat on my desktop computer, did a Facebook page
(02:30):
wow with my sister, and we began Zia Collection. We
called it that at that time and we began important
clothes from Australia to Kenya, just very few limited pieces. Yeah,
and I remember the first time we brought in a suitcase.
It was so out. Oh yeah, it was just like
maybe twenty thirty pieces, but sort firming like okay, you're
(02:52):
doing something right.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, and you probably when you were shipping that amount
and you're like, this is so much.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
There's such a risk. It was so much to us
at that time. And then I remember, we're so crazy.
We left the tag zone. They were on sale, but
we left the original tag zone because they're like guys
who think, you know, they're like yaible items, Yeah, hey
carry They're like, oh, it's all exactly. So you bought
(03:18):
this for forty dollars and you've bought them for so
you're trying to say, like I promise, they're literally not
having it. It was crazy. Yeah, we learned a lot.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So how do you go from this one suitcase right
and everything gets sold out to how many stores do
you have? Because I know the Village market, is there
another one? No, So we have one.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Physical store, ship store and then we do a couple
of pop ups here and there. Yeah, So how do
we go from the suitcase to that because this is
a big, beautiful store that you have. Now, what's the
next the next step you get affirmed, everything sells out,
you square it out with Carrie. Then what And then
I got scared, So I kept bringing suitcases for another
(04:04):
ten years. So I would never you know, when like
something sells out, then you bring in more. I would
never bring in more. So I'd always bring the same
amount of clothes every time because I was scared. I
was scared that if I bring more, they wouldn't sell. Yeah.
So that happened for maybe seven years, let's say between
twenty thirteen and twenty twenty. So in twenty twenty, I
(04:25):
was like, okay, I'm going to take this bold step
and open a store. Yeah, so what are the fears there?
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Let's pause the fair because I know we're going to
come back to it a little later. But like when
you say you were scared, what if we name the fear?
What were you scared would happen? I was scared of
having dead stock. I was scared that I would not
be able to sell the clothes. I was scared that
people won't buy. Yeah, that's what I was scared, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Interesting, like the spears are in our head because people
are the suitcases are set. I'm like, no, that's where
we're staying.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Okay, So what do you do to push yourself to
say we're moving from suitcase to store?
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I quit my job, So there's a job and it's
because we're and we do that. Okay. So I think
I'd always thought of a bit other side hustle. I
just thought, I have this fashion business, and I do,
but I'm gonna be employed. But every time i'd be employed,
I used to dread going to work. I would spend
(05:31):
all my time, you know, looking for more clothes to
bring and chatting to customers and Instagram Now move from
Facebook to Instagram. Yeah, and then I realized I'm really
good at marketing. So I was like, hmmm, what if
I use all this energy that I'm exerting in my
job and put it towards there and see what happens? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:53):
What's the the feeling when you are handing in your resignation?
Speaker 1 (05:58):
What is I Because if you were.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Scared with the suitcase, like, how how was that moment
for your emotionally?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
And I was very anxious. The feeling was a mix
of anxiety, excitement and also fear.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah, so you jump you hand in your resignation. What
do you do to start getting your store because maybe
there's there's someone listening or watching who's at that point.
Speaker 1 (06:27):
Of like, I know my business needs fan. I can
feel the growth you actually got. Oh my god, committing
to rent. It was so scary because I had saved. Yeah,
but I was still living with my parents and my
siblings are all employed, you know, doing well on the
last bone. Yeah, and we had this corbo. I said,
(06:48):
I am the first one to venture into business. So
I didn't tell my dad for one month, so I
was sent in my resignation. I know, November thirty, yeth,
I'm not going back to work, But how am I
going to tell him that I'm quitting my good job
to now start focusing on my business seriously? And I
remember it was so scary, But eventually one morning I
just told him something to tell you, and I've made
(07:10):
a decision. I'm quitting my job and I'm going to open.
And he was like, why don't you do that as
you continue with your career? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, how do you block out that noise? Because I
think sometimes we get when we're trying to start something new,
something that maybe in our families were the.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
First to do it. It comes from love.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Even your dad's advice is coming from love, but it's
coming from a generation where there weren't too many people
going into business, let alone women going into business. How
do you block out and hear your own voice.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
I think it was at that point where I really
started trusting my instincts, because that was not the first
time I quit, by the way, I went back to employee. Yeah,
two other times. Yeah, but every single time I don
always feel this, why don't you just do it? Just
do it? And I'd go back out of fear, and
(08:11):
I wanted that security of being okay. So I have
discussed with Case. Yeah, I'm still looking at with Case.
But I need an income that's very steady and at
least you know, the hope for right future. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Now you open the store, and what we're seeing today
is incredible success. But another thing that we're seeing in
this generation or and I don't mean in terms of age,
I just mean in the times that we're living in,
is that growth seems to come overnight. I think a
(08:45):
friend of mine said, like, you open Instagram and people
are launching things every day, So if you're in business,
you keep looking at your own business and you're just like,
so it's it news. So could you speak to the
growth because you say it's a combination of how many
years now?
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah, it's like twelve, twelve, thirty years.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, And so what's the reality of cruise? If I'm
watching this and I want to get into the business,
what's the reality check you can give me around growth?
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah? I think the reality check is consistency pace. The
more consistent you are, eventually you hard work will pay
and then you just have to keep trying. Small building
blocks are better than none. So I have friends who
have even studied on Instagram page. Then they open it,
(09:35):
they get ten followers. After a month, they're just like, Okay,
that was fun. But before I started growing, it took
me a while, even before many poll knew about me
or even in the Africa. And I think the most
important thing I'd say is you have to believing yourself
because even through all those things that are happening, when
I'm trying to quit my job a couple of times
(09:56):
and trying to move from a suitcase to made in Kenya,
which I guess we'll get into it took me believing
in myself, maybe living in my capabilities and what I offer,
and also having a solution. You know that's very cliche,
but just believing that whatever you're offering is unique and
is needed. So I used to feel like there's clothes, yes,
(10:17):
but it's not looks like Zia and I just I
just believed this.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, that's really important. There's another Kenya I think she
called no Ordinary. She says you could walk into a
supermarket and I have that sells waters so many different brands.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
So why are you saying, oh, I'm not going to
do it. Someone else is doing clothes or somebody.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Else is nobody's doing it the way you're doing it,
the way Zia is doing it.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
So we quit, We get the store and we're still
bringing in suitcases.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Yeah, okay, So when do you then say, I'm really
good at this thing. I can make clotheslocally, like I
don't have to ship them in.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah. I was forced to by the pandemic. Oh wow. Yeah,
so I opened my shop, yes, not the village market. Yes,
so this is that Adams are used of all my savings.
I'm really excited. Yeah, March twenty twenty, COVID has been announced.
No Oking's the whole month, No okings the whole of April.
(11:23):
No Oking's the whole of May.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
And the things and your bills are still there.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
That is due. Rent is due. So obviously we're built
our online yeah presence, but we still need the workings
to the rent. So I close that shop. Yeah months, okay,
my dream life has just Yeah. So I decided to
take a course a business what does it called an incubator?
(11:50):
So I met a lady showed me, hey, okay, what
are your challenges? So I told her, okay, I think
we're okay in marketing, but I need to figure out
the finance bit of it because I need to grow.
So she's the one, first of all, who told me,
why don't you bring in a hundred dresses all the same,
like if you have this fans a hundred of them,
or this dress a hundred of them. And I couldn't
(12:10):
even fathom bringing in a hundred dresses like the same. Yeah,
I just like, you're trying to tell me there's no
you can't find a hundred ladies in Kenya to sell to.
And when she said that, I'm like, yeah, we're like
fifty two. They were like reasoning like logically, and I
was like I can't. So I did that. Yeah, and
then I started thinking of okay, maybe I can get
(12:32):
a tailor. So I decided I'm going to open a workshop.
But all the steps are I'm doing them, like how
do I see like a day at a time? Because
I got a designer because I remember I don't have
a background in fashion. Yeah, so I get a designer
and I hire her, but she has nowhere to design
(12:52):
and no tailor to work with. So okay, you're coming
on November first, So like October the whole month we're
tecking looking for a workshop we can set up. I
got a small caroom in Ghara, we got machines, so
I now had a tailor and a designer, a pattern maker. Yeah,
and I'm like, okay, now I'm doing made in Kenya. Yeah.
(13:13):
And that actually opened up my mind to the possibility
and the possibilities that we can grow beyond a hundred
dresses or even just the kind of styles that we
were doing. Because the challenge I used to have with
important was that I didn't have control of a quality
and the design. Sometimes it'd be like, hey, that design
is too complicated. Or we also had done a bit
(13:37):
of local what do I say, like outsourcing production, and
they would also tell us like, okay, it will take
two weeks and it takes five weeks. Yeah, or we
can't do that design is too complicated. That used to
really bother me because I'm like, what even is to
complicate it? Just put that thing about, just try try. Yeah.
So when I got that control, I feel like that's
(13:58):
when really we started taking off. And that was maybe
twenty twenty one. Yeah, yeah, this is so incredible.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
And when you're doing all of these steps, are you
where is fear playing in this?
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Is it there? Yeah? There there? You know you walk
with fear? Yeah? You do everything afraid. I do everything afraid. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So you go from you have your workshopping Gary one
one designer, you have one tailor. What comes next? What's
the next biggest step that you take?
Speaker 1 (14:31):
Another tailor?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
No imagine And I think all of us can understand
when you say Taylor, we understand the hustle.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
That might come with that. So yeah, so another tailor's
that thing? I came with her friend now, But the
next big step, at say, was getting another room. So
now we're outgrown that small There were so many like
now during December busy period, trench pack things, blah blah blah.
So we've got another room. Yeah, And that was also
(15:01):
a big step because I'm like, okay, now increasing my rent.
Then fast forward, I think the next big step was
going sustainable. Yeah wow, okay, so what does that? What
does that entail? What does it look like? Tangibly, it
looks like a slower production process. So we wanted to
(15:23):
change from ready to wear to made to order to
reduce our dead stock. Again remember dead stock, I remember
from the popcorncorn Trauma. Let it out, Let it out. Yeah,
So we wanted to reduce our death stock and also
(15:44):
reduce our impact on the environment. So it became after
ten years now it started reflecting and I was like, okay, Sour,
I've been doing this business for ten years. What impact
can I have aside from hiring women, because that's something
I'm very passionate about. I I saw that the other day,
just walked to I walked into their workshop and just
(16:04):
saw this huge pile of waste. And I don't know
why for that that for that day or that day
is the day I decided to just think about what
impact we're having on the environment and also do some
research with sustainability because I had had about sustainability, but
I felt like it was for other people. Yeah it's bory, yeah,
(16:26):
you know. But I did a deep dive and I
was like, this is the future. This is what we
need to do, and we need to do it now.
So we started looking for local manufacturers of cotton because
I also wanted to introduce more sustainable fabrics. So we're like, okay,
why don't we just transition poly and get our customers
(16:47):
to learn about sustainability. Yes, and even if they're not
they don't catch up now, they will in the future.
And I remember that launch. I was March twenty twenty three. Hey,
that was our lowest man like revenue is change on
Instagram is commenting like, oh my god, this is amazing.
(17:07):
You have like a hundred comments, and we're like, this
is exciting. Guys are not buying, it's not translating, Guys
are naming us, what about this style? They're still there
like no, we're not doing it anymore, Like okay, what
is going to happen? Because at this point I hadn't
told my community, but we had already signed the leads
(17:29):
for Village Market. Oh no, yeah, and so you're just like, guys,
I was just not a plan. We're supposed to go
like this, geither.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
Yeah, humbling did that because in your head, in the
back end, you know this makes sense. Yeah, but it
takes the client or a longer time to adapt. How
do you handle that transition with friends petition?
Speaker 1 (17:58):
If I'm honest, because when I have that revelation about sustainability,
I felt like God was really guiding me. Yeah, so
I told God me, I'm like following you. I'm done. Yeah,
I'm literally being obedient. So whatever however it goes, it's
a new Yeah, we are done. Yeah, I've done this.
I've done it. So when does it start picking up?
(18:19):
I'd like to say when you open the shop? Maybe
around me? So much to me it was dry, I'm treving.
My team was looking at me like, are you sure
this was the best decision? Yeah, let's go back. But
I think now yeah, fully caught on. And our customers
also have adjusted to us making on order because that's
another thing they wanted ready to wear. But now we
(18:42):
have told them, okay, where's now fashion We're not going
to be the shop that you go to if you
have an event today. Yeah, you have to kind of plan.
And because of that as well, we make timeless styles,
So we want you to buy something that you can
wear over and over and over again, as opposed to
trendy things that you were once and then you it's torn. Yes,
it's looking crazy. The style has yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And this is so important because I was having a
conversation recently about how I used to shop wrong. I
used to buy those one of places that you can't
rewar restyle and that's why you look at your full
closet and you're like, I have nothing to wear, And
it's true you don't because you were shopping wrong. So
I completely agree with you. That's actually and you actually
(19:27):
save money when you shop intentionally that you do. So
you open up Village Market, does it start picking up?
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Yeah, okay picking up. It was actually really good and
I really enjoyed that season as well. Like our customers
also so happy for us. I felt like they have
grown with us. Yeah, people who've been shopping with us
for like ten yeahs, Like, oh my goodness, like you
actually yeah, Like.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I'm just hearing the whole story now and I'm excited
like it's the first day we're opening the Village mark store.
So you open it up right now? Where do you
feel like you are in terms of the founder of
Zia from ten thirteen years ago? What do you feel
this business has expanded in you?
Speaker 1 (20:17):
You know what I mean? That's such a good question.
Well who.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I was?
Speaker 1 (20:25):
Yeah, a lot. I think first and foremost is discipline
because whereas ninety five you need to be at tuck
at nine, now no one is waking me up. There
there's no return. What's gonna call me or ask me
where my deliverables? So I've had to instill discipline and
(20:49):
cultivate it, and I do that by Jimmy. So I
feel like when I started going to the gym, my
business grew. Oh wow, Yeah, there was a direct correlation.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
That is, I never had anyone say that the discipline,
I think so, I think so.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
I think it also helped me learn so many things
about myself, patience, self control because now I have to eat, Well,
what else would I see that I learned in consistency
because it's not always up. Even if we say that
time market was good, that it's been Yeah, make it. Yeah. Yeah,
(21:29):
so I think just that consistency, self discipline, passion. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
I love what I'm hearing because I learned that this year.
I feel like this year had like allow between maybe
like April May June was a very slow business and
I remember telling myself, you have to show up every day,
like it's like it's every other day, right, it's like
continue come edits exactly though it was a busy month,
(22:01):
right and so and so I love that. But I've
never had the correlation between gym and that business. That's
quite interesting.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Yeah, because I also started at the same time I
started jimming. I started doing that foroundations. So I feel
like it's all just yeah, I don't know, like it's
ne need because you're.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
The driver, like you have your staff, but like the
energy is coming from you, right, so if you're a hundreds,
then it spills over to them. It's very interesting what
I wanted to touch. And it's like in your experience.
I started off with employment, and we share the same
(22:42):
experience in terms of family, Like it's what's normal is
you go to school, you get a job with a nice.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Heavy title, and then you work it and rise and
then you retire and get your pension. Yes, I do.
Now if you're firm, now you're you can relax, right.
So business is different.
Speaker 2 (23:07):
But what I found getting into the space is that
it's not only that we don't have enough representation as
African women, is that the representation that is there needs
to look a certain way, needs to talk a certain way.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
And if you don't exude those features, then you're not
a serious business woman. You're just seems like it's a hobby.
You know how you experienced this, yeah, so often? Actually,
and I think it's my weakness. How maybe shy. I
(23:45):
don't really have a loud voice like that. And I'm
building my confidence. I know you're confident. So actually, when
I used to interact with men like business wise, I
talked to a supplier and then I feel like they're
not taking me seriously because I don't sound like a
(24:07):
man or I'm not like aggressive or whatever. But I
had a conbo with her friend recently and she said,
you need to play into your femininity. And I always
thought of it as a weakness, but it's a strength.
And I think for sure there's a way the world
women leaders look and these are really dress or whatever
(24:30):
but I love that as we grow and as generations come,
we're getting more and more authentic. I have a couple
of gen Z employees. They are so real, like you
don't even they can Like these are an employee recently
who told me she didn't come to work because her
partner was sick, and she took her partner at hospital.
And I thought that is so interesting because I would
(24:52):
never tell my boy what your partner? Okay, yeah, I
would say exactly. I would come up with a castro.
But I love authentic people and like not trying to show,
not trying to be anyone but yourself, and that that's
the beauty of being a woman, of being a human. Yeah,
just be yourself and the prior people will follow. The
(25:15):
right people will buy from you and see that and
love that in you, and you'll be comfortable because then
it's not like you have to put on a mask
every morning and every day, right this armor you're not.
What about fear? Normally we can group.
Speaker 2 (25:31):
It with just like it's not that much I fear
can be grouped with imposters, syndrome with self doubt?
Speaker 1 (25:42):
Are these monsters that you have encountered? Girl, come here
again for another session of here because I deal with
it every single day. And there's a book carriage I
guess a couple of years ago called Field the Fear
and do anyway? Oh okay, yeah, I can't try my
(26:02):
woods by I'll check then I'll let you know. But
it really showed me that everyone has fear. I think
that changed my perspective and mindset to the said in
the sense that sometimes you can see someone doing something
you're like, wow, they're so confident in you, so whatever,
Like someone like will Smith, but he's always chasing that
thing that gives him that fear because it helps him conquered.
(26:26):
And then it makes you realize that you you it's
not something that you confort once and then now you're
done with it. Yeah. So I have felt a lot
of self doubt to date. I feel self out imposter
syndrome is always like could you think you are? And
you know you're failing and you're doing that wrong, and
you're doing this wrong, and you look do you help?
(26:48):
But I think affirmations have really helped me. I'll say
that I pray a lot and just believing in yourself
and the more you practice it, it's like a muscle
that you build, the more you do things that you're
scared to do, the more you're willing to do more
things you're scared to do, and the more you realize
it's not that that's serious, Like you like, what's the
(27:09):
worst that could happen?
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Yeah? Yeah, this is so interesting, and I want you
to start thinking of your favorite affirmation that you can
share with us. But the funny thing with fear is that,
like you give your your mind or your brain data. Right,
so once you conquer this thing that you feared, it's
almost giving your brain data like, huh that you know, son,
(27:32):
you now we can go for bigger because that that
we were so scared about is actually not a big deal.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
So now let's go for bigger. And so it's so
interesting to hear you like what you've said about it
being a muscle, which it really is.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
As you're thinking about your affirmation, like is the imposter
syndrome more like I'm not good qualified or good enough?
Speaker 1 (27:55):
And so people are going to find out is it that, yes,
I think a bit of everything. Because there's also comparison
a place to it, and comparison is the thief of joy. Yeah,
so when you maybe go on social medium. You see
everyone is striving. Hey that who has opened a business,
who's done this, has done that. There's that in addition
(28:18):
to you seeing yourself grow from back in twenty thirteen
when you're in a suitcase. Now you you know, you
have a shop, you have employees. Yeah, they're looking at
you as their leader. I'm like, they're gonna they're gonna
see that I'm not even a leader. I think I'm
not even said what are you doing? I really don't,
I really don't care. But I think what you said
(28:40):
is sutra about the subconscious, because the more you do affirmations,
the more it affirms that this is who I am,
not the cowboys. It's like there's a devil and there's
an angel, and ninety percent of the time there's that
cable telling you, yes, this this, this is about yourself.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
Yeah, one hundred percent, and you give it the information.
I think Lingo Gi is the one who taught me that.
Just like you tell your brain what to think, because
if you leave it, it's gonna tell you you're worthless.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
You know, let's not do this, let's not do that.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
So we're going to close with your favorite affirmation before
we get to your favor. I'm giving you time to
think about it so that you can give us a
good one. To the woman who's watching this and wants
to get into business, and maybe around her there's no
one in business. Maybe she's going on social media. You
(29:33):
see everybody starting. Maybe you want to to open a
beauty store. You're like, everybody has a business, so I
shouldn't do it. I'm not good enough to do it,
or I'm too scared to start. From your journey, what are.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Some things you can tell her that she needs to
listen to or here now I would like to think
of when I started. But top of mind is believe
in your idea. Believe the idea so much it has
no choice but to materialize. Be passionate about what you're doing,
(30:13):
start up a missions today, and pray, pray, pray until
something happens. And the last one, I think it's trust
your instinct. Yeah, trust your instinct. I love the first one.
Speaker 2 (30:30):
The last one because the first one I've never heard
it said like that before, and so it's just like, yeah,
you have.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
To believe until it has no choice. It just has
to materialize.
Speaker 2 (30:39):
Right. And the last one is also quite powerful, I
think because a lot of the times you're kind of
like made to think that business is clinical, but there's
a room for emotion.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
There's a room for intuition to.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Be like yeah, askating saying yeah, literally that supplier you.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
Lean into it. It's the power that we have.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
And so what is your favorite affirmation or the affirmation
that you would want to share with us, the one.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
That's coming to my spirit? Yeah, yes, is everything is
working out for me?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Oh wow?
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Yeah, that is powerful, especially in challenging times. It can
how you look at it right, And I can give
a backstory, it's a short one. I remember when I
was opening Village Market. It's felt like a big leap
for everyone around me, like are you sure? Blah blah blah.
And I remember thinking that this is what I feel
(31:46):
is the right thing to do. Obviously. I reached out
to my mentor from the incubut can you do the financials?
Makes sense? And she said yes. I said, I'm going
to Village Market and I really hope it works out,
but even ifing it doesn't, it's still working out for me. Yeah,
And that really helped me take that big leap of
step of faith in my head.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
That is really power because most of the times we
don't do it because we're saying when first we decide
that it's not going to work out, so we say,
when it doesn't work out.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
I will be a failure and instead of like, in the.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
Event it doesn't work out, it's still it's working out
for me, right, this is part of this journey is something.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
Yeah, So I'm looking at success as an end goal,
like a place you reach and then you're like, now
that's the yeah, because life is so like unpredictable and
I'm very open to the journey God has chosen for
me and the path I'm meant to take. So I
think hopking closely with him as well has helped me
realize that we don't know how the day is going
(32:50):
to go, We don't know how tomorrow is going to go,
but we stay faithful and stay hopeful and just exactly
trust our instinct and just take the next step, take
the next step until yeah, you're done.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
This is so incredible. I'm so thankful you came on.
Is there anything you wanted to share about Zia specifically
that we need to be looking out for. Black Friday
is coming up?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Yeah? Yeah, okay, okay, sales yeah, last sales. It's gonna
be our best Black Friday. Really, Okay, I'm I'm ready ready.
I hope you.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Because I still I'm coming into a store, so I
know exactly where your store is. I've been there, I
think two to three times, so we're we're definitely going
to be following up on that. But thank you so
much for coming on the show and sharing about your journey.
They so much too, that we've gotten from it in
a very humane way, and it's affirmed even me, like
(33:53):
I'm like, okay, I'm taking that afflication, taking the advice
you told us.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
To carry with us, and so we wish you all
of this.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah, thank you for having me anytime, anytime, and thank
you for watching this episode. Of course, if you check
out the show notes or the description, there's links for
you to check out Zia Africa, to connect with Zia
as well on social media and shop and get ready
for those sales that are coming your way.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
And if you're about to start something, I hope that
this episode.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Spoke to you and gave you that push for you
to just start it, do it afraid, And if you've
enjoyed this episode, share it with all the mannalists or
almost manneralist women in your life. Make sure you subscribe
so that you do not miss the next episode.
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