Running a business with a spouse is no easy task, but Zandile and Selby Khumalo have mastered the art. Despite the challenges, the pair have found a way to make it work. Their partnership thrives on complementing each other’s strengths. Zandile’s reserved nature balances Selby’s outgoing personality, creating a well-rounded decision-making approach. “I am more reserved, and he is the outgoing one. If we’re meeting a client, he’ll take the lead,” shares Zandile.
Established in 2014 by power couple Zandile and Selby, “Print Heads” has become a prominent branding company, specializing in design, customized printing, signage, and branding. Their business is based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and they have branches at The Pavilion Shopping Centre, La Lucia Mall and Design Hub. They set themselves apart from their competitors by focusing on vehicles, events, and shopfront branding.
Before joining the business full-time, Zandile had been a supportive force, offering her assistance during her free time. During this period, she noticed that clients frequently inquired about services beyond their current offerings. “Flags, banners, gazebos, and more were on the wish lists of numerous customers,” she recalls, and with keen insight, she suggested expanding into this untapped industry, and that’s when their Design Hub business was born.
At the time, she had a demanding role as an ethics consultant for a prominent firm while simultaneously navigating the responsibilities of motherhood. Balancing work, family, and business proved challenging. “At that time, I was like, let me leave this; I want to be a hands-on parent. I saw through Print Heads that I could also help other businesses grow their revenue through branding,” she said.
Running a printing business in the fast-growing digital age can pose challenges. While their kiosk business has taken a bit of a knock, the branding side is on a growth trajectory. “There’s been a rise in the number of businesses, and they all want to appear positively through branding so that they can have business,” explained Selby.
Maintaining a work-life balance can be challenging, especially when running a business with a spouse. To navigate this, Zandile and Selby have set clear boundaries. “When we get home, we try to leave work at the door. Anything business-related should be sent via email. I will look at it the next day when I get to work. We also have a daughter, so from six until half past seven, it is mommy time,” Zandile said.
Selby added that working together has helped resolve conflict in their relationship. “When things are not going well at home, we still need to band together when it comes to work. We have a team looking at us to lead them”.
Print Heads has ambitions to expand and franchise its business. However, after starting a family and having their daughter attend school, Zandile and Selby realized that their mobility had become limited compared to when it was just the two of them. “What we’re doing right now is creating a system that can function without us. So that we can franchise and have sustainable growth,” said Selby.
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Zandile Khumalo is a participant on the SAB Foundation’s Tholoana Enterprise Programme, an 18-month business accelerator powered by Fetola which supports the lasting success of businesses from across South Africa, particularly those owned by women, youth and people living with disabilities, and those in township and rural areas.
