Beauty on TApp, an app that aims to promote local small businesses

The debate on hair is one that has been going on for a very long time. Whether you decide to keep your hair natural or add on extensions, locating the perfect place to “fix your crown” is an issue that most ladies always deal with. Mathebe Molise a qualified Chartered Accountant saw a gap in the market and came up with a solution. CEO and founder, Mathebe, through the app, aims to empower small business owners without capital to market their businesses.

“The whole objective of the app was to give small beauty businesses in South Africa a platform to showcase their work. “A lot of beauty businesses e.g. mobile braiders are informal businesses. Beauty on TApp affords these businesses a platform to formalise their operations”, says Mathebe.

Launched in 2015, the start up is slowly becoming the go to guide for the South African beauty industry. The app provides a detailed profile of the business including contacts, a short bio and a gallery. Another feature to the app is the online store where users can find naturally produced products for their hair and skin. Also popular is the feedback feature which allows users to rate the salons listed on the app.

Mathebe says “if a user finds a product on the app that they love, all they have to do is click on “shop online now” and the app then redirects the user to the shop site, where users can find hair, skin and make up products”.

The app which initially started as a beauty directory has evolved, adding on multiple features and one that’s aimed at those visiting a new city is the request Uber function. Mathebe says, “ As time went by, we started getting feedback from users on how to improve the app. this started off with us adding an Uber functionality to the app. This feature speaks to traveling component of the app idea. If a user is in an unfamiliar city, the app user can click on “Get an Uber” which then inputs the beauty salon address on Uber and redirects the user to Uber”.

A tool that helps small business owners connect with their clients, this startup app creates a database of beauticians across South Africa. Beauty on Tapp is currently running a hair growth challenge (BoTHairBoom) with 130 participants which is being run from the shop site and app. The challenge is conducted over 3 months tackles hair challenges and provides tips on how women can maintain their hair.

“We want Beauty on TApp to become a travel buddy and to offer users a directory of beauty salons wherever they go. We want users to recognise that there are other small and local beauty businesses out there that offer affordable and quality beauty services. More so, we want people to buy local and support Proudly South African businesses, which we have been able to achieve so far”, says Mathebe.

Beauty on TApp is also looking to expand to other African countries and wants people to embrace and support locally produced products and businesses.

Fundisiwe Maseko