Oryx Desert Salt’s founding CEO, Samantha Skyring, scooped the Small Business Entrepreneur award at this year’s 36th annual Business Partners Limited Entrepreneur of the Year® awards, celebrating leaders of businesses with annual revenues of up to R30 million.
Her enterprising spirit was evident even at age 13 when she held down two jobs – delivering newspapers daily and working weekends in the bakery of her local Pick n Pay. Later, she founded Kayak Africa, an expedition-style kayaking company near Lake Malawi, and 20,000 Drums, a non-profit organisation facilitating drumming circles across South Africa.
Skyring’s most recent business venture was born out of the necessity to provide for herself and her young son after breaking free from an abusive relationship. She made the bold decision to sell her home and purchase 34 tonnes of salt from the Kalahari Desert, launching her business from her dining room table.
Fast forward thirteen years, and Oryx Desert Salt has evolved into a renowned brand, gracing tables in restaurants and homes throughout South Africa, while also establishing a growing international presence. Oryx Desert Salt sachets are now available on various local airlines, with plans to expand into more carriers and duty-free shops around the world. What began as a one-woman operation has transformed into a global business with a dedicated team of 35 employees.
Key factors contributing to Oryx Desert Salt’s success include Skyring’s resilience and commitment even in challenging times. Despite a 60% drop in sales during the COVID-19 crisis, she continued donating proceeds to support the Khomani San and Mier communities in the Northern Cape. Her creativity also emerged with the launch of a Shwe Shwe gifting range that proved instrumental in sustaining the brand through the pandemic.
“In selecting this year’s winners, we considered a range of criteria such as entrepreneurial ability, resilience, profitability, job creation and retention, and a commitment to social responsibility. Samantha not only met these standards but exceeded them. Her example illustrates that genuine success is measured not just in profits but in the meaningful impact one has on others,” says David Morobe, Executive General Manager for Impact Investing at Business Partners Limited.