Founder of Vaya, Themba Makamo, Reflects A Year After Opening The First Store

In November 2021, nine months after launching a Vaya Footwear from a backroom in Katlehong, Themba Makamo officially launched the brand first first-ever store in Newtown Junction Mall, Johannesburg.

“We are excited by the prospect of creating job opportunities for our communities while helping others achieve their goals,”

Makamu during the opening of the store

A year later, Makamo took to his Instagram account to reflect on what has happened since opening the store in late 2021.

“Since opening the store, we have seen people from all walks of life embrace the brand. The store has not only served those that wanted a pair. But it has become a cultural hub. We always joke, that with the Newtown store ‘you must expect the unexpected.’’ And it’s true. So far, a CNN documentary has been shot at the store, a movie, music videos, reality show, podcasts, adverts…and more.”

Makamo, a former journalist turned entrepreneur, began the idea of Vaya back in 2019. Without any funding, he raised his own capital, and with the assistance of others, secured a manufacturing partner, made the first pairs, and its been UP since.

Get South Africa’s latest entrepreneurial or business success stories delivered right to your inbox — Sign up to Entrepreneur Hub SA’s newsletter today ⬇️⬇️⬇️

eBook: 50 South African Entrepreneurs Reveal HOW THEY MADE IT

51 Comments

  • Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with
    us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and
    will be tweeting this to my followers! Exceptional blog and terrific design.

  • Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was once a leisure account it.
    Glance complicated to more introduced agreeable from you!
    By the way, how can we keep up a correspondence?

  • It’s actually very complex in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, therefore I only use world wide web
    for that purpose, and obtain the hottest information.

  • I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my
    difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  • Hello! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay.
    I’m undoubtedly enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.

  • Sweet blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
    I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
    Cheers

  • Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some
    help from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up
    your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to
    start. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? With thanks

  • Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon on a daily basis.
    It’s always helpful to read through articles from other authors and practice something
    from their sites.

  • Wonderful items from you, man. I’ve have in mind your stuff previous
    to and you are simply too magnificent. I really like what you have received right here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which by which you are
    saying it. You are making it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it
    smart. I can’t wait to learn much more from you.
    That is really a wonderful site.

  • Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it,
    you happen to be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will come back very soon. I want to encourage you to ultimately
    continue your great work, have a nice holiday weekend!

  • Definitely believe that that you said. Your favourite reason seemed to be at the net
    the simplest thing to bear in mind of. I say to you, I
    certainly get annoyed while other folks think about issues
    that they just don’t understand about. You controlled to hit
    the nail upon the highest and defined out the entire thing
    with no need side effect , people can take a signal.

    Will probably be back to get more. Thank you

  • I believe what you published was actually very logical.
    However, what about this? what if you added
    a little information? I am not saying your content isn’t good., but
    what if you added a title that grabbed a person’s attention? I mean Founder of Vaya, Themba Makamo, Reflects A Year After Opening
    The First Store – is kinda plain. You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they create post titles to get viewers to click.
    You might try adding a video or a related picture
    or two to get people interested about everything’ve written. In my opinion, it would make your blog a little livelier.

  • Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog
    and wanted to mention that I’ve really loved surfing around your blog posts.
    After all I’ll be subscribing in your rss feed and I
    am hoping you write again very soon!

  • I like the helpful info you provide in your
    articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
    I’m quite sure I will learn a lot of new stuff right here!
    Best of luck for the next!

  • Its like you learn my thoughts! You appear to grasp so much about this,
    such as you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you
    simply could do with some p.c. to drive the message house a little
    bit, but instead of that, that is wonderful blog. A fantastic read.
    I will definitely be back.

  • No matter if some one searches for his required thing, so
    he/she desires to be available that in detail, therefore that thing is maintained over here.

  • I love what you guys tend to be up too. This sort of clever work and exposure!

    Keep up the fantastic works guys I’ve included you guys to
    our blogroll.

  • Thanks for every other magnificent post. The place else may anyone
    get that kind of info in such a perfect method of writing?
    I’ve a presentation next week, and I am on the search for such
    info.

  • I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was
    good. I do not know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  • First of all I want to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind.
    I was curious to find out how you center yourself and
    clear your mind before writing. I’ve had a difficult time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
    I truly do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost just trying to
    figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips? Cheers!

  • Hello! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?

    I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding
    one? Thanks a lot!

  • Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
    it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements
    would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.
    Thanks a lot

  • Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog
    so i came to “return the favor”.I’m trying to find things
    to enhance my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

  • The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad
    and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
    I know this is entirely off topic but I had to
    share it with someone!

  • I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this
    blog. I am hoping to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well.
    In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own blog now 😉

  • Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon everyday.
    It will always be useful to read articles from other writers and
    use something from other web sites.

  • The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see
    if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83
    views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had
    to share it with someone!

  • I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today,
    yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It is pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the internet will
    be a lot more useful than ever before.

  • Great beat ! I would like to apprentice at the same time as you
    amend your website, how could i subscribe for a blog web site?
    The account aided me a appropriate deal. I had been tiny bit
    familiar of this your broadcast offered vibrant
    transparent idea

  • I do consider all the concepts you have presented to your post.
    They’re very convincing and can definitely work. Still, the posts are too brief for
    starters. May you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
    Thank you for the post.

  • Wonderful blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.
    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed
    in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I
    never seem to get there! Many thanks

  • I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
    It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all
    site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be
    much more useful than ever before.

  • At this time it appears like WordPress is the top blogging platform out there right now.

    (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?

  • whoah this weblog is wonderful i like reading your articles.
    Keep up the great work! You understand, a lot of persons are searching
    around for this information, you could help them greatly.

  • Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.

    Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?

  • Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like
    you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do
    with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of
    that, this is fantastic blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be
    back.

  • Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group?
    There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your
    content. Please let me know. Many thanks

  • If some one wishes expert view on the topic of blogging and site-building afterward i
    advise him/her to pay a visit this website, Keep up the nice
    work.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *