chpter. champions
chpter. Champions is the official chpter. podcast where successful entrepreneurs and e-commerce experts share their experiences and practical advice for growing their businesses online. Each week, hosts Tesh Mbaabu and Mark Kiarie invite successful founders to share their inspirational stories.
chpter. is an African technology company. We enable businesses who sell through social platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to manage their inventory across multiple channels, collect orders and payments seamlessly and grow their revenues through better customer engagement.
chpter. champions
#025 Theo Baloyi of Bathu Group | I Built a Million-Dollar Sneaker Empire Rooted in African Heritage
Join us on Season 3 of #ChpterChampions, as we take you on an inspiring journey Down South 🇿🇦. In first episode, Theo Baloyi shares his journey as the founder of Bathu Group, an African footwear brand that has become a symbol of hope and creativity, detailing his path from a South African township to building a globally admired brand. He delves into the challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned while creating a business that embodies African heritage and innovation.
Highlights
🌍 From Township Hustles to Global Recognition: Theo recounts his journey from selling perfumes door-to-door to founding one of Africa’s most admired sneaker brands.
📈 Balancing Corporate Life and Entrepreneurship: He explains how he conducted 18 months of research and development while still working full-time at PwC.
👟 Bathu Shoes: A Brand with a Sole: Theo shares the vision behind Bathu—a sneaker brand that represents African culture and competes on a global scale.
💡 The Science of Money: Theo highlights the importance of understanding financial systems and building an intellectual relationship with money.
🤝 Giving Back to the Community: Driven by gratitude, Theo discusses how Bathu creates jobs and inspires hope in South African communities.
🎨 Designing with African Heritage in Mind: From the brand name to its storytelling, Bathu celebrates African creativity and culture.
Key Insights
🛠️ Sales vs. Branding: Theo emphasizes the need for a strong vision and authentic branding to compete in global markets while ensuring a customer-first approach to drive sales.
📊 Learning from Mistakes: Challenges like navigating corporate exits and overcoming resource limitations taught Theo resilience and strategic thinking.
👥 Building a Dedicated Team: Theo discusses how empowering his team and cultivating a shared vision have been critical to scaling Bathu.
🌱 Impact-Driven Business: Bathu isn’t just a sneaker brand; it’s a platform for creating jobs and uplifting communities, aligning purpose with profit.
🌍 Competing Globally: Theo highlights the lack of African representation in global footwear markets and his mission to change that narrative.
🧵 Creative Control: By designing products rooted in African stories, Bathu stands out in a competitive market while fostering a sense of cultural pride.
📱 Digital and Community Engagement: Leveraging social media and grassroots marketing has been key to building Bathu’s loyal customer base.
🔑 Paying It Forward: Theo’s philosophy of gratitude and giving back to those who supported him has shaped Bathu’s ethos and success.
Vision for the Future
Theo Baloyi envisions Bathu as not just a sneaker brand but a movement that represents Africa’s potential on the global stage. By empowering communities, celebrating African culture, and delivering world-class products, Bathu is a beacon of what African entrepreneurship can achieve.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a sneakerhead, or someone passionate about uplifting communities, Theo's story will inspire you to dream big, act boldly, and make an impact.