Blessing Muzvongi Mashangwa is a Zimbabwean businesswoman and the co-founder of Oceane Collection Perfumes.
Background: Blessing Mashangwa was born Blessing Muzvongi. She has four children; Tariro, Clive, Emmanuel, and Zoe.
Divorce: Blessing met her ex-husband at a cell group church meeting at Celebration Church. Mashangwa's marriage fell apart in 2018. In a Facebook post she revealed that she was walking away with nothing from Oceane Perfumes, the business that she had toiled over for 15 years.
Education: Blessing told H-Metro that she has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Business Administration from Thames University which she obtained through Milpark Business School in South Africa. In 2017 she said she was working towards her Master’s degree.
Business Career: She launched AVON in Zimbabwe in 2002 which went on to be distributed in many major departmental stores. Blessing founded Oceane Perfumes in 2005 after her former husband Upenyu pushed her towards building their own brand.
She said the name Oceane was derived from her former husband's nickname in high school. Her husband was named Ocean after Ocean Sommers of the 1993 TV mini-series Trade Winds.
She said the name Oceane was derived from her former husband's nickname in high school. Her husband was named Ocean after Ocean Sommers of the 1993 TV mini-series Trade Winds.
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| Blessing Muzvongi Mashangwa |
Emmanuel Makandiwa Lawsuit: In August 2017, Blessing and Upenyu Mashangwa sued Makandiwa and his wife for US$6,5million over alleged false prophecies. However, Makandiwa sought an exception, arguing that matters of faith could not be handled by a secular court and the High Court Dismissed Makandiwa’s Application and said He Must Answer For “False Prophecies”
Controversies
Controversies
Teaming Up With Jay Israel: Mashangwe was caught on camera together with Jay Israel plotting to tarnish the image of Makandiwa and extort money. Evidence Chari said Makandiwa had opened a case against Mashangwa.
Awards: Women’s Top business Leader of the year – Special recognition in Entrepreneurial Excellence from WOLA.
- Megafest Female Entrepreneur (2016)
- Tabitha Foundation.
Mashangwa launched a charity organisation in March 2016 which is fully funded by her and her former husband Upenyu Mashangwa, known as Tabitha Foundation. This foundation helps people in need of food and basic groceries.
Brains behind Oceane Collection Perfumes:
She is the brains behind Oceane Collection Perfumes, the brand which has stood the test of time.
While other entrepreneurs only reward themselves with flashy lives, she has made it a point to reward the numerous distributors who push their products.
In this interview, she talks more about her business, the legality of selling imitation perfumes.
This year alone, she has already scooped two awards, Women’s Top business Leader of the year – Special recognition in Entrepreneurial Excellence from WOLA and a second one from Megafest were she became Female Entrepreneur of the year 2016.
H-Metro’s MUNYARADZI DOMA (MD) spoke to BLESSING MASHANGWA (BM) on these and other issues.
MD: Who is Blessing Mashangwa?
BM: I’m a mother, wife, daughter, sister but above all a child of the most high God. I’m a mother of four -Tariro 19, Clive 18, Emmanuel nine and Zoe who is five. I’m married to Mr Upenyu Mashangwa, who is also my business partner and BOSS.
MD: How do you cope being a mother, businesswoman and wife?
BM: Technically I have two children the other two are already grown up and very independent. I have a very supportive system of sisters and friends. I don’t change maids that often, which helps bring stability in the home, none of my maids have been with me for less than four years.
MD: How did the journey of Oceane Perfumes Start?
BM: What started was my passion in cosmetics when I launched AVON in Zimbabwe in 2002 which went on to be distributed in many major departmental stores. When I met my husband he then pushed me towards building our own brand and Oceane Perfumes was born in 2005. We are celebrating 12 years in business
MD: What are your qualifications and your position in the company?
BM: I have a bachelor’s degree in business and working towards my Master’s degree. I’m the Operations Director, responsible for strategic planning as well as sales and marketing.
While other entrepreneurs only reward themselves with flashy lives, she has made it a point to reward the numerous distributors who push their products.
In this interview, she talks more about her business, the legality of selling imitation perfumes.
This year alone, she has already scooped two awards, Women’s Top business Leader of the year – Special recognition in Entrepreneurial Excellence from WOLA and a second one from Megafest were she became Female Entrepreneur of the year 2016.
H-Metro’s MUNYARADZI DOMA (MD) spoke to BLESSING MASHANGWA (BM) on these and other issues.
MD: Who is Blessing Mashangwa?
BM: I’m a mother, wife, daughter, sister but above all a child of the most high God. I’m a mother of four -Tariro 19, Clive 18, Emmanuel nine and Zoe who is five. I’m married to Mr Upenyu Mashangwa, who is also my business partner and BOSS.
MD: How do you cope being a mother, businesswoman and wife?
BM: Technically I have two children the other two are already grown up and very independent. I have a very supportive system of sisters and friends. I don’t change maids that often, which helps bring stability in the home, none of my maids have been with me for less than four years.
MD: How did the journey of Oceane Perfumes Start?
BM: What started was my passion in cosmetics when I launched AVON in Zimbabwe in 2002 which went on to be distributed in many major departmental stores. When I met my husband he then pushed me towards building our own brand and Oceane Perfumes was born in 2005. We are celebrating 12 years in business
MD: What are your qualifications and your position in the company?
BM: I have a bachelor’s degree in business and working towards my Master’s degree. I’m the Operations Director, responsible for strategic planning as well as sales and marketing.
MD: What made you give people your products without capital?
BM: It was mainly my desire for women empowerment, I could see many companies were doing cosmetics but the hiccup for many women was capital. We stepped in because we wanted to cater for those women who have the capacity to sell but they lacked capital. When we started it was mainly for women but now we have realized that both men and women are interest to be part of us. Anyone can now come and get products from us without capital and instantly start to earn a living.
MD: Why the name Oceane?
BM: My husband was nicknamed “Oceane” in high school, named after Ocean Sommers of the 1993 TV mini-series Trade Winds. It’s a brand name that has stuck with him ever since, and now it’s a big brand name known world over. Before the perfume brand was even there he had always been known as Oceane.
MD: Tell me your journey to establishing this company?
BM: I am realising each one of my dreams, slowly and carefully, it has been a long long journey. It has been extremely exciting at times, but mercilessly painful at other times. When I was young I would write a long list of everything I wanted to do and be. Unfortunately, no one warned me how much work, tears, sweat and sacrifice I would have to put into it. So everything I know, I had to learn the hard way.
MD: How has it been ever since you started, challenges you have faced?
BM: Our biggest challenge is always debtors, people think it’s easy but we have people who collect our products and disappear never to be seen again.
MD: When you wanted to set up this business, were you not worried about the competition?
BM: When we started there was no competition. We were the first company to offer generic perfumes through direct marketing. We were the first company to empower women to sale without capital.
BM: It was mainly my desire for women empowerment, I could see many companies were doing cosmetics but the hiccup for many women was capital. We stepped in because we wanted to cater for those women who have the capacity to sell but they lacked capital. When we started it was mainly for women but now we have realized that both men and women are interest to be part of us. Anyone can now come and get products from us without capital and instantly start to earn a living.
MD: Why the name Oceane?
BM: My husband was nicknamed “Oceane” in high school, named after Ocean Sommers of the 1993 TV mini-series Trade Winds. It’s a brand name that has stuck with him ever since, and now it’s a big brand name known world over. Before the perfume brand was even there he had always been known as Oceane.
MD: Tell me your journey to establishing this company?
BM: I am realising each one of my dreams, slowly and carefully, it has been a long long journey. It has been extremely exciting at times, but mercilessly painful at other times. When I was young I would write a long list of everything I wanted to do and be. Unfortunately, no one warned me how much work, tears, sweat and sacrifice I would have to put into it. So everything I know, I had to learn the hard way.
MD: How has it been ever since you started, challenges you have faced?
BM: Our biggest challenge is always debtors, people think it’s easy but we have people who collect our products and disappear never to be seen again.
MD: When you wanted to set up this business, were you not worried about the competition?
BM: When we started there was no competition. We were the first company to offer generic perfumes through direct marketing. We were the first company to empower women to sale without capital.
MD: What makes you unique and how do you outwit competition?
BM: What makes us unique is we were the pioneers. Others followed because they were either inspired, or it was through envy but I believe there is a God given kind of grace that follows pioneers and visionariesof anything. We don’t do anything to outwit competition. I believe each business is running its own race, no need to outwit each other. However, what I can say is that we are the market leaders and trendsetters and others follow.
MD: What separates you from other perfume companies?
BM: It’s simple, for 12 years we have remained true to what we are able to do and we always deliver. I have seen a lot perfume companies promising their distributors a lot incentives but in the end they don’t even deliver half of what they would have promised. Some have gone as far as promising cars which they fail to deliver. Our other strength is, we never run out of stock and our distributors are our treasure.
BM: What makes us unique is we were the pioneers. Others followed because they were either inspired, or it was through envy but I believe there is a God given kind of grace that follows pioneers and visionariesof anything. We don’t do anything to outwit competition. I believe each business is running its own race, no need to outwit each other. However, what I can say is that we are the market leaders and trendsetters and others follow.
MD: What separates you from other perfume companies?
BM: It’s simple, for 12 years we have remained true to what we are able to do and we always deliver. I have seen a lot perfume companies promising their distributors a lot incentives but in the end they don’t even deliver half of what they would have promised. Some have gone as far as promising cars which they fail to deliver. Our other strength is, we never run out of stock and our distributors are our treasure.
MD: Is it not illegal to sell imitations of popular brands?
BM: Imitation perfumes are legal. Courts worldwide have ruled that fragrances cannot be patented it is therefore legal to develop and sell imitation perfumes. While our fragrances are effectively identical to the original branded perfumes and they last just as long, werecognize the need to respect their trademarks. Our elegant bottle, branding and outer packaging is therefore unique and does not bare any resemblance to the original fragrances in any way.
MD: Oceane Perfumes is associated with class, how did you let your brand become that in the market?
BM: Our excellence has been driven by passion and firm recognition that in the cosmetic industry there is a big value placed on the quality of the product. Since inception we have never dared compromise on it because it is one of the key builders of the brand.
MD: Why do you give away cars?
BM: We believe our distributors are hard workers who push our products with so much zeal and passion, they deserve to be rewarded. We may not be able to reward everyone but to the few who end up winning it’s our way of saying we appreciate you.
MD: What is your secret to success?
BM: It is not in the degrees I have. Our success is without a doubt the Grace of God, you can be hardworking, organized and educated but until you decide to make God your partner you might not go far. My parents taught me to have stubborn faith and confidence in our creator.
MD: Tell me about the charity arm of Oceane.
BM: Tabitha Foundation is my escape, there is nothing as fulfilling as touching other people’s lives. There is something about life that if you don’t stop to take stock of how God has already blessed you, you will never be satisfied. Tabitha is my way of slowing down in the fast lane, stop and say thank you Lord I’m already blessed let me help others.
MD: What would be your advice to other female entrepreneurs?
BM: Hard work, determination and passion will get us there. Women we are now more than ever capable of taking on roles that were previously dominated by men. Always commit yourself fully to whatever you’re doing. Do not be passive, but be humble and consider others.
BM: Our excellence has been driven by passion and firm recognition that in the cosmetic industry there is a big value placed on the quality of the product. Since inception we have never dared compromise on it because it is one of the key builders of the brand.
MD: Why do you give away cars?
BM: We believe our distributors are hard workers who push our products with so much zeal and passion, they deserve to be rewarded. We may not be able to reward everyone but to the few who end up winning it’s our way of saying we appreciate you.
MD: What is your secret to success?
BM: It is not in the degrees I have. Our success is without a doubt the Grace of God, you can be hardworking, organized and educated but until you decide to make God your partner you might not go far. My parents taught me to have stubborn faith and confidence in our creator.
MD: Tell me about the charity arm of Oceane.
BM: Tabitha Foundation is my escape, there is nothing as fulfilling as touching other people’s lives. There is something about life that if you don’t stop to take stock of how God has already blessed you, you will never be satisfied. Tabitha is my way of slowing down in the fast lane, stop and say thank you Lord I’m already blessed let me help others.
MD: What would be your advice to other female entrepreneurs?
BM: Hard work, determination and passion will get us there. Women we are now more than ever capable of taking on roles that were previously dominated by men. Always commit yourself fully to whatever you’re doing. Do not be passive, but be humble and consider others.
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