How Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs Turned Passion into a Thriving Business

How Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs Turned Passion into a Thriving Business. When Ntombi Twiggy Shongwe started Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs, she was not just pursuing a love for cooking. She was building a business that would create opportunities in her community and show what determination at a young age can achieve. At only 23 years old, the Klerksdorp-based entrepreneur has already transformed a simple idea into a growing enterprise with a clear mission and innovative business model.

A passion that sparked a brand

Twiggy’s journey began with her passion for cooking. She saw that people loved meals that stood out because of unique flavor, and she decided to meet that demand with a product that was both high quality and accessible. From the start, her vision was not just about selling spices but about creating value and empowering others.

Her mission was straightforward yet powerful: deliver exceptional spices and herbs while giving her community a chance to grow through entrepreneurship. That mission became the heartbeat of Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs.

Building a business model with impact

What makes Twiggy’s brand stand out is its three-pronged approach to sales. Instead of relying on a single stream of income, she developed a model that creates opportunities across different levels.

The distributor network allows local entrepreneurs to buy stock and resell, giving them a chance to generate income while expanding the brand’s footprint. Her subscription service ensures customers can receive regular spice deliveries with flexible payment options, providing both convenience and loyalty. On top of that, she caters to household clients with competitive prices and direct delivery.

This mix of distribution, subscription, and direct sales has allowed the brand to scale without needing massive infrastructure, proving that smart business models can fuel growth.

Turning challenges into stepping stones

Like many young entrepreneurs, Twiggy faced the challenge of entering an already competitive market. The spice industry has established players, but she found her niche by focusing on originality and quality. Her product line includes creative blends such as lemon garlic and BBQ, Mexican chicken, Portuguese steak, potjiekos spice, rice spice, and the ever-popular steak and chops seasoning.

Another obstacle was building trust as a young businesswoman. Instead of letting her age hold her back, she used it as motivation to deliver excellence and consistency. By making sure her spices spoke for themselves, she won over customers who came back not just for the taste, but for the reliability.

Growth through marketing and customer connection

Strategic marketing has also been a vital part of Twiggy’s growth. By connecting directly with households and encouraging word-of-mouth referrals, she built a customer base that trusts her products. Her ability to tailor her business model to her market shows the importance of meeting people where they are.

She positioned her brand not only as a spice supplier but as a household essential. This positioning has helped Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs move from being just another small business to becoming a trusted name in local kitchens.

Lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs

Twiggy’s story offers several takeaways for young entrepreneurs:

• Start with passion but build with strategy. Her love for cooking was the spark, but her structured business model is what sustains her brand.
• Diversify your sales channels. By using distribution, subscriptions, and direct sales, she reduced risk and increased growth opportunities.
• Empower others while growing. Supporting local distributors has created loyalty and community impact, which strengthens her brand.
• Stay authentic. Her unique spice blends are not copies of mass-market products, but original mixes that keep customers coming back.

Looking ahead

At just 23, Ntombi Twiggy Shongwe has already laid a strong foundation for future growth. Twiggy’s Spices & Herbs is more than a spice company, it is a story of entrepreneurship, resilience, and vision. For anyone starting out, her journey is proof that age, background, and challenges do not define success. What matters is the ability to take an idea, ground it in purpose, and keep moving forward.