Founder of Milli Distributions, Chantelle Goliath went from cleaning people’s homes to becoming an import businesswoman. She was born and bred in Klipfontein and is the middle child of five children. Goliath grew up poor with limited resources hence she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 11. “I remember cleaning people’s homes or going to the shops for them and they would pay me. After I got married, I would start a business every month and every time it would fail miserably, but the next day I would be back planning yet another business” says Goliath.
Goliath also leads the New Heritage Foundation which is based in the Western Cape. The Foundation provides remodelled, clean and healthy infrastructures and enhances the internal and external aesthetics for learning environments like Educare centres and primary schools.
She was invited to a networking event in 2017 where she met the Founder of Glory Pad, Hyasintha Ntuyeko who is originally from Tanzania. She partnered with Ntuyako early in 2018 and registered Milli Distributions. The two ladies distribute the Glory Pad and are on the verge of adding more organic products to their portfolio. The Glory Pad and packaging is different from the conventional sanitary pads because they are biodegradable, free from chemicals and perfumes, embossed with charcoal, made with 100% natural cotton, reducing menstrual cramps, removes odour and aims to keep you dry.
According to Goliath, “along with key corporate partnerships, community involvement and local volunteers, we plan, facilitate and implement short-term aesthetical remodelling, repairs and maintenance projects to improve the structure or assist in the maintenance of facilities”. The main beneficiaries are Educare centres and primary schools in marginalized communities. The aspiring business owner battled to get funding but her applications were being turned down by the government numerous times because the business did not qualify but she didn’t give up. She continued to apply until her funding was approved by ABSA who also decided to be a partner.
The other challenging part was getting retailers on board to stock the product and entering an industry of which she nothing about. She decided to persevere and now has a purchase order from a reputable retailer. She has always been passionate about having an import business; hence she got the attention of smaller outlets and has convinced them to have the product in the shops. Her short-term plan involves manufacturing locally and creating over 1,000 job opportunities within South Africa.
