Cape Town entrepreneur Carin Rhoode has gone from homeless to hopeful with help from Sunlight

Cape Town entrepreneur Carin Rhoode has gone from homeless to hopeful with help from Sunlight

50-year-old Carin Rhoode is from Cape Town understands better than most what it means to lose everything and yet, she has risen above every challenge with determination and ingenuity. It’s this incredible spirit that has seen the woman, who was once homeless, rewarded by Sunlight, who will now be investing in her small business and empowering her with new skills to improve her livelihood.

As a brand that has been part of South African lives and homes for generations and believes in offering better value, better quality and products that make the rand stretch further, Sunlight has decided to step up during this difficult time and offer support to some of the country’s hardest working and most important economic contributors – female small business owners.

Carin is one of three Sunlight More Than You Expect Heroes to receive business support to the value of R200 000 from the brand. A further 5 women will be selected from entries received by the brand in the coming months.

“I was in disbelief when I heard I was selected. Nothing like this had ever happened to me, so it was really big,” she recalls.

After her husband’s death in 2008 and the death of her father in 2010, Carin, says her world fell apart, leading to her being homeless for the following 8-10 years.

Recently Carin had made contact with an organization called Souper Troopers who assisted her to begin making jewelery to sell at markets. But when the pandemic hit, all the markets closed, and Carin was forced to adapt her business model. She quickly transitioned to an online marketplace and added hand-sewn masks to her offering, following YouTube tutorials to teach herself how to make the masks.

“I’d like to say thank you to Sunlight. Prior to this happening, I actually gave up and felt like everything was such a huge struggle. Because of Sunlight, I am able to stay off the streets and am able to build a successful business, so I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”

Carin has received an investment package that includes; a Brownsense business training course, market selling space for 6 months, sewing and jewellery-making courses and materials plus a host of marketing services. She has also received a new phone and accommodation for 6 months.

“I have already grown somewhat financially due to having more cash to invest in more stock, which means more stock to sell. Going on the sewing course and jewelery-making course will definitely inspire me and enable me to create more and the business course will help me to manage my business better, so I’m really looking forward to that!”

Sunlight is inviting South African women who own their own businesses to share their stories and stand a chance of taking their place alongside Carin, Bontle and Ncumisa as More Than You Expect Heroes. Five additional Heroes will be selected. Each will benefit from business support and resources to the value of R200,000. This includes market access opportunities, training and mentorship through Sunlight’s partners, BrownSense. As in Carin’s case, a tailored approach will be adopted to meet each winner’s unique business needs.

To stand a chance of receiving more than you expect, enter the competition at https://www.sunlight.co.za/gives-you-more

Read T’s & C’s.

How can women entrepreneurs enter the competition?

1. Visit the Sunlight website https ://www.sunlight.co.za
2. Click on the enter and win tab in the website menu.
3. Complete the form on the Gives You More page and submit in order to have a valid participating entry for the competition. Participants must complete the required fields on the competition application page (by submitting all the required information including their name and mobile phone number) as well as the answer to all the questions.
4. Once they’ve submitted their entry, share a post on social media, tag @sunlightza, and tell their followers they’ve just entered using #MoreThanYouExpect

Participants stand a chance to win R200 000 worth of resources, support, training and cash to support their business venture. Each winners profile will be looked at individually and support will be tailored for their business needs.

Competition Duration

This promotional competition runs from 1st September 2020 to 31 November 2020 at 12pm (the closing date). Any entries received after the closing date will not be considered.

How will the winners be selected?

The finalists will be selected by the promoter based on how interesting and worthy their story and entry is, as well as if they meet the above criteria mentioned in section 8a of the T&C’s. Winners will be notified telephonically by the 15 December 2020 where the Winner will be required to verify their details.

T&C’s https://www.sunlight.co.za/sunlight-gives-you-more-terms-and-conditions

Criteria for winning entries includes:

• Did this entrepreneur pivot their business offering in light of COVID-19 restrictions?
• How is she helping her community and those around her?
• Does her business need support to take it to the next level?
• Can Sunlight support her efforts in a way that aligns to their brand purpose?

Find out more by visiting: https://www.sunlight.co.za/gives-you-more or follow the brand on social media: https://www.facebook.com/SunlightZA and the hashtag #MORETHANYOUEXPECT

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Issued on behalf of Sunlight South Africa

For additional information please contact:

The Hardy Boys PR Department (formally known as Verve):

Sihle Mthethwa: 031 533 9000 | 078 019 8374 | [email protected] / [email protected]

*Stats SA Reference: http://www.sbp.org.za/uploads/media/SBP_Alert_-_Understanding_Women_Entrepreneurs_in_SA.pdf.