How Tess Chauke Turned DIY Passion into Ramina Creatives, a Sentimental Gifting Brand
How Tess Chauke Turned DIY Passion into Ramina Creatives, a Sentimental Gifting Brand. Tess Chauke is a Tsonga creative and qualified quantity surveyor from Giyani in Limpopo. Her love for working with her hands and crafting heartfelt gifts sparked the creation of Ramina Creatives. Inspired by sentimental and meaningful gifting, she identified a gap in the market for personalized, creative gifts, so she decided to fill it. Her business allows people to express love and thoughtfulness through custom items that resonate emotionally.
Discovering Her Entrepreneurial Spirit in University
Her journey as an entrepreneur began unexpectedly at age 21 while still in university. Starting with typing assignments for a working student, Tess discovered her business drive and capacity for responsibility. This early experience planted the seed for Ramina. Reading Why A Students Work for C Students by Robert Kiyosaki further sparked her confidence to pursue entrepreneurship instead of a conventional career.
Pricing Missteps and the Value of Worth
One of her earliest challenges was underpricing her products, a common pitfall for passion-driven businesses. She learned the critical lesson that customers pay for value, not just for the product, but for the sentiment behind it. Over time, she confidently adjusted her pricing to reflect both her creative effort and the emotional value her products provide.
Celebrating Personal Strength Amid Adversity
Tess reflects with pride on surviving early university struggles that once made her question her future. Launching Ramina Creatives marked a turning point. For Tess, the brand embodies her own resilience, transforming personal hardship into creative expression and entrepreneurial success. Naming the business after herself reinforces its foundation in authenticity and personal storytelling.
Staying True to Self as a Business Strategy
Authenticity remains central to Ramina’s identity. Being herself means staying honest, honoring her values, and not yielding to external opinions. This principle guides her creative choices, client relationships, and business voice. By staying rooted in her truth, she attracts clients who resonate with her sincerity, turning authenticity into a competitive advantage.
Expanding with Purpose and Creativity
Though initially launched as a gifting service, Ramina Creatives plans to expand thoughtfully. Tess is preparing to launch an online store and introduce a section for plants, combining greenery with personalized creativity. This evolution extends her brand into lifestyle ambiance and thoughtful living, without straying from core values.
Marketing Through Consistency and Connection
Tess believes consistency and continuous learning are key for online businesses. Rather than flashy ads, she relies on heartfelt storytelling and consistent engagement, whether via social media, informal gifting networks, or creative communities. This low-cost, high-authenticity approach strengthens trust and builds a loyal following over time.
Actionable Lessons for Entrepreneurs
- Turn passion into purpose: Find what you love and build a business around genuine interest.
- Start small, test pricing early: Valuing your work fairly preserves both quality and sustainability.
- Be your brand: Authentic personal identity can serve as a magnetic business persona.
- Scale thoughtfully: Expanding in alignment with brand values ensures coherence and maintains trust.
- Stay consistent: Regular engagement and storytelling can be more powerful than expensive advertising.
- Keep learning: Grow continuously, even small efforts compound toward long-term momentum.
Why Ramina Creatives Resonates
Ramina Creatives is more than a gift brand, it’s a testament to Tess Chauke’s creative heart, resilience, and authenticity. From typing assignments in university to crafting personalized gifts, her journey demonstrates how personal values can translate into business value. Ramina may be rooted in sentiment, but it thrives on strategy, connection, and integrity. For aspiring entrepreneurs, especially creatives, Tess’s blueprint is clear: let your passion guide your purpose, and your purpose power your progress.
