Latest news with #Woolies
7NEWS
2 days ago
- Business
- 7NEWS
Best-selling natural deodorant available at Woolworths: No Pong
Shoppers are switching over to natural deodorants — and for good reason. Helping to reduce odors when you're excessively sweating, natural deos are free from nasties such as parabens and aluminum. There's one brand Aussies keep stocking up on during their Woolies shop; No Pong. The fastest-growing, best-selling deodorant of its kind, shoppers are loyal supporters and fans of the brand, saying they would 'definitely recommend,' to fellow customers. Founded back in 2015 by Aussie duo Chris and Melanie, they are proud to have created an effective, plastic-free natural deodorant that shoppers actually love to use daily. Currently on sale for just $6.95 (usually $9.95) there's a wide range of refreshing scents to choose from in this cream formula. No Pong prides itself of being a brand that listens, learns, and improves. Constantly looking for new ways to give back to their loyal fan base, the Aussie brand is committed to surprising and rewarding customers with something extra special. Whether it's the launch of a new and exciting product, a gift in the mail or supporting a great cause, No Pong is determined to give back to shoppers. ' Biggest fan of No Pong over here! Their customer service is the best I have ever encountered. I purchased three different scents and liked two of them, but one didn't work for me at all,' one shopper recalls. 'I emailed No Pong and let them know what was happening, and they listened, valued my experience, and sent me a new tin of a scent that worked for me at no charge.' No Pong is a cream product, generally applied with your fingers. Midwife and Co-Founder of No Pong, Melanie McVean, says although many think it's strange to touch their armpits with their fingers, she is 'encouraging everyone to make touching their armpits part of their daily routine'. 'We apply moisturisers, sunscreens and many other products with our hands, so why not touch our armpits to apply deodorant the same way?' she tells Best Picks. Over the years, many customers say they have discovered lumps as a result of checking their armpits, thanks to No Pong. 'They've found lumps that they otherwise wouldn't have found,' Melanie says. 'Some of these turned out to be sliding door moments.' Melanie says lymph nodes play an important role in our body's immune system. 'Normally you can't feel them but when they're swollen, they're more noticeable,' she says. 'It is a great marker that our body is fighting or reacting to something and if it persists, it is a sign that it should be checked out by a healthcare professional.' Shoppers are loving No Pong's line of natural deodorants, calling them 'absolutely amazing'. 'Great product, lovely scents and convenient tins to carry in your bag,' one shopper commented. 'I am grateful I discovered No Pong as I do not like the nasties in commercial deodorants. It's amazing,' another added. amazing stuff,' a third shopper wrote.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Behind the scenes of entrepreneurship lurks struggles with mental health issues
A global survey of 227 entrepreneurs representing 46 countries, reveals that a staggering 87.7% admitted to struggling with at least one mental health issue. Image: AI LAB Entrepreneurship in South Africa, particularly within its vibrant townships and sprawling rural areas, often gets spray painted with a smooth airbrush of unwavering resilience and boundless innovation. Rightly so, because the grit it takes to build a business from the ground up in these communities is nothing short of heroic, an audacious act of the KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Yet, beneath the inspirational headlines and promise of radical economic development, there's a solemn whisper, a silent groan, "Ooh, I'm done with this!" that often goes off in broad day light. It is a lament of the mind and soul where a friend once said, 'I'm in pain, but I can't identify the part of the body that is experiencing this excruciating agony'. This unforgiving pain has no medical remedy, yet it lodges freely in our fragile souls. Entrepreneurs are not just battling balance sheet numbers; but they are wrestling with extremely apprehensive anxiety, miserable depression, and sheer exhaustion of carrying the weight of their dreams and that their entire families are on their shoulders. In a society where endurance is often seen as the only option, admitting defeat, is unthinkable, feels like a total betrayal. According to the Founder's Report, Navigating Entrepreneurial Mental Health: Insights from the Trenches published this year, a global survey of 227 entrepreneurs representing 46 countries, reveals that a staggering 87.7% admitted to struggling with at least one mental health issue. That's not a glitch. That is nearly nine out of 10 entrepreneurs swearing in the shower before heading to a business pitch event. Big respect to entrepreneurs, neh? These legends are out here catching business and pain like it's a buffet with no side plates — just anxiety served extra hot. The report notes that 50.2% of founders are walking bundles of anxiety and 45.8% are struggling with high stress. Not because they're weak, but because entrepreneurship in South Africaoften means managing unreliable cash flow, municipality load reduction, and dealing with unscrupulous clients. Look, it's not shocking that 39.2% of entrepreneurs are stressing about money 24/7 — and no, it's not because they went wild at Woolies — it is because month-end in a small business is like Survivor: MSME Edition. Who gets paid first — the reputable supplier, the devoted employee, or the benevolent landlord? And just when you think you're getting your acts together, here comes 34.4% of entrepreneurs waving the burnout flag, with no 'Mchunu' benefits of a special leave. On top of that 31.7% feel like frauds, (a.k.a Thabo Bester launching a business behind prison walls). Yes, even the founder with the killer elevator pitch sometimes Groks 'how to not ruin your life with your own startup.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading While others snore like a tractor at night, 21.6% of entrepreneurs barely close their eyes. Forget lullabies — small business owners are kept awake by delivery vans that vanish off the radar, customers who ghost, and suppliers who only reply on the 5th reminder. Running an SMME isn't a job, it's a 24/7 emotional rollercoaster where sleep is optional, but panic attacks are order of the day. Who needs horror movies when you've got fleet signals disappearing into the night? Most SMME owners don't have a VIP section in high society — if they did, the entrepreneurial grind wouldn't feel like a solo midnight stroll through Lonely Street Avenue. With 26.9% of entrepreneurs saying they feel isolated, it's clear the hustle life isn't as social as those networking brunches make it seem. Between juggling invoices, chasing clients, and pretending you understand tax law, there's barely time for friends unless you count your laptop and that overused coffee mug. Meanwhile, 26.9% of entrepreneurs are stuck in a wrestling match with work-life balance — and mood spoiler alert: work's winning by a TKO. Can you really blame them? For most SMMEs, the only 'me time' they get is when the Wi-Fi crashes and Joburg does the honourable thing throttling water forces an entrepreneur to do passport photo wash. According to the report, 13.7% of entrepreneurs say their business is putting their relationships on the rocks — and honestly, who's surprised? Missing bae's birthday dinner because you're stuck pitching to a client who still hasn't paid your first invoice? Yoh. You're not just missing dessert — you're inviting to be served silent treatment for the whole week. Meanwhile, 12.3% of founders say they feel hopeless, which is a bit rich considering most of us make a living selling hope. Mental health for entrepreneurs isn't just a 'nice-to-have,' it's a survival tool. You can't build the next big thing when your brain's running on 5% with no charger in sight. We don't need more hustle quotes on Instagram, we need proper support: real check-ins, peer-to-peer vent sessions, and funders who get that 'resilience' doesn't mean carrying the whole business on your back until you pass out by the coffee machine. Because let's be honest — behind every slick pitch deck is a sleep-deprived founder running on caffeine, and a half-eaten Gatsby from three days ago. So the next time someone says, 'Just push harder,' send them this article and say: 'I'm not lazy, my bru. I'm just trying not to die while building generational wealth.' Bongani Ntombela is the Programmes Director at 22 On Sloane, Africa's Largest Entrepreneurship Campus. Image: Supplied Bongani Ntombela, Executive: Programmes at 22 On Sloane. *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL. BUSINESS REPORT
7NEWS
14-07-2025
- General
- 7NEWS
Lepa Flaiban shares how to make delicious Balkan cheese burek the easy way
Lepa Flaiban is the owner of Burek On Wheels. It's a Balkan food truck and catering business. Today, Lepa will be making cheese burek which is a traditional Balkan dish. Recipe below: 🧀 Cheat's Cheese Burek – Lepa Style Make a delicious, flaky burek in under 40 minutes using store-bought filo pastry. Let's be honest, perfecting the traditional dough takes time and practice, and I get it. Today we're making a quick and easy cheese burek using filo pastry. It's the shortcut my mama approves of when time's tight! 🛒 What you'll need: • 1 packet of filo pastry (any brand – I love Art of Pastry from Woolies) → Tip: Let it thaw for at least 2 hours before using. • Your favourite round or square baking tray (traditionally, burek is round) • Vegetable oil (or any oil you like) • Baking paper (optional) 🧀 Cheese Filling (my mum's mix, always): • 100g ricotta • 100g feta • 1 tub cottage cheese Mix all three together in a bowl until creamy and well combined. 👉 Tip from me to you: Don't overdo it with the cheese — too much filling can make your burek mushy and heavy. But hey, it's your kitchen! Add as much or as little as you like depending on your vibe. 🥄 Let's build the burek: 1. Prep your tray: Drizzle oil and brush it across the base and up the sides. You can use baking paper too if you prefer. 2. Base layers: Layer 8 filo sheets into the pan, letting the edges hang over (these will fold over at the end to lock in your burek). Drizzle a little oil between the sheets, using a brush or your hands. 3. First cheese layer: Spread a generous spoon of your cheese mix evenly. 4. Repeat: Add 4–5 more sheets of filo, then cheese. Repeat until your filling is used up. Each layer can criss-cross - don't stress, it's rustic and perfect that way. 5. Final fold: Finish with a few sheets on top, then fold over the hanging edges to close it up nicely. Brush with oil on top. 🔥 Bake it up: • Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (fan forced) for around 30 minutes or until golden brown top and bottom. • Once baked, flip it carefully onto a cooling rack and let it rest for 10 minutes.
Herald Sun
09-07-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Qantas cyber hack proves it's time to get real about your points
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A lot has been happening with Qantas lately between a cyber incident and an upcoming points devaluation. Both serve as a timely reminder: your points are as valuable as cash. In the last week, Qantas confirmed it was the victim of a data breach impacting up to six million customers. The breach stemmed from unauthorised access to a third-party customer service platform used by one of its call centers in the Philippines. Compromised data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and frequent flyer membership numbers. Qantas has reassured members that credit card details, personal financial information and passport details are not held in this system. While some Frequent Flyer numbers were accessed, no Frequent Flyer accounts were compromised, nor have passwords, PINs or log in details been accessed. Your passwords weren't accessed in the breach, but your name, email and phone number could well have been. A few weeks before this incident, Qantas announced it is increasing the number of Frequent Flyer points required to secure a Classic Reward fare. Not uncommon among airline loyalty programs, this effectively moves the goalpost and requires more points for the same fare. As I woke up to news about the breach – and being points obsessed – my first instinct was to double check my points balance. Do you know your points balance? It made me wonder how many Frequent Flyers actually know their points balance. If any went missing, would you know about it? How often do you check your Woolies grocery runs are trickling in? What are your plans for your points? If you have to think about the answer to all of these questions, it's time to pay more attention. Hackers treat them like currency and it's time you did too. Here's how to protect your balance. Monitor your points like you would your bank account Frequent flyer points are as good as cash. Every month, log in and check everything is in order. If your points are auto converting from BP Rewards or Everyday Rewards, check they are landing. If something doesn't look right, report it immediately via the Qantas support line. Be aware of scams Scammers are likely to ride the coattails of the breach and send phishing emails or texts that look like they are from Qantas. Avoid clicking links in messages and double check the sender's email. Instead, call or go to the Qantas website to verify any communication. If you're worried about the breach, keep an eye out from scammers pretending to be Qantas, and set up two factor authentication on your account. Use unique and strong passwords Qantas123 as a password doesn't cut it. While passwords and PINs weren't compromised, and Qantas reassures members there's no need to change either of them, it is a good reminder to make sure you are using strong and unique passwords. If you haven't already, set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your Qantas Frequent Flyer by logging into your account. Have a plan for your points If you've been hoarding points without a goal, it's time to rethink that. Your points have no value until you cash them in. And as of August 5, just like a foreign currency can suddenly lose value, their buying power is about to drop. Whether it's a flight redemption or an upgrade to business, make a plan for your points and make them work for you! See also: Points Guru: Can I sell my Qantas frequent flyer points? Concerned about your information? All impacted customers over the age of 15 were notified over email – be sure to check your junk or spam folder in case it landed there. Qantas members can contact the airline's dedicated support line on 1800 971 541 or +61 2 8028 0534. Impacted members will have access to specialist identity protection advice and resources through this team. Originally published as Qantas cyber hack proves it's time to get real about your points
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
What is a R2millon Birkin bag? The Ultimate Guide
The Hermès Birkin isn't just a handbag; it's a cultural currency, a silent flex, and a mystery wrapped in leather. With million-rand price tags and a waiting list longer than a government tender process, the Birkin has us all asking: are your Instagram favs faking it? : An orange Hermes Birkin bag in grained leather with structured handles, gold-toned hardware, a signature front lock, and tonal stitching is carried. A black blazer with pearl button cuffs is worn. A gold cuff bracelet and a sculptural gold ring with red enamel detailing.2025 in Paris, France. PictureA bag so exclusive it tells you when you're ready to carry it. In the world of luxury, few items evoke obsession like the Hermès Birkin bag, a status symbol so steeped in secrecy that it makes buying property look easy. Forget walking into a store and picking your favourite colour. This isn't Woolies. It's Hermès, darling, and the Birkin doesn't chase you. You chase it. Where did it start? Hermès Paris under construction on the street of kowloon. Picture: Gallo/Getty Images The Hermès Birkin bag was born out of a chance encounter in 1984 between French actress and singer Jane Birkin and then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London. As the story goes, Birkin struggled to fit her belongings into her handbag, prompting a conversation with Dumas about the lack of practical yet stylish bags for women. Inspired, Dumas designed a spacious, elegant tote tailored to her needs and named it the Birkin in her honour. What began as a functional fix quickly transformed into one of the most coveted fashion items in the world, combining exceptional craftsmanship, exclusivity, and timeless allure. The bag with a backstory (and a backlash) A wine-red Hermès Birkin bag with colourful bag chains outside Miu Miu Show during the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024/2025 as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 05, 2024, in Paris, France. Picture:The Birkin's origin story is as glam as its owners. Jane Birkin found herself struggling to keep her belongings from spilling out of her handbag during a flight. Seated next to her was then-Hermès CEO Dumas, who decided on the spot to design a bag worthy of her name, and capable of carrying an entire universe. Thus, the Birkin was born. Named after an icon, made for icons—yet even icons can't always get their hands on one. The price of entry In South African terms, a standard Birkin starts at around R180 000, but can easily skyrocket past R2 million depending on size, material (exotic crocodile or ostrich, anyone?), hardware (gold? diamonds?), and scarcity. Yes, you read that right. Two million rand. For a handbag. But even if your account says 'approved', Hermès might still say, 'Not today, sweetie'. The infamous waiting game Maria Rosaria Rizzo carries an orange leather Birkin bag by Hermes. Paris, France. Picture:Getting a Birkin isn't as simple as swiping your black card. Hermès doesn't advertise them, and stores don't display them. You can't order one online. There's no catalogue. There's no list. There's just… vibes. You build a relationship with your local Hermès boutique over time, buying other items, showing loyalty, and maybe, just maybe, they'll offer you the honour of buying a Birkin. It's the world's most luxurious loyalty programme, with no guarantees and no points. Even Oprah heard 'No.' Here's the wild part: Oprah Winfrey was famously denied entry into a Hermès store in Paris in 2005, allegedly because it had just closed. But many believe it was also a case of the brand's high gatekeeping culture. Oprah. Turned away. What hope do the rest of us have? Which brings us to the next question… How many Birkins are real? A view of Hermès Birkin bags on display. Picture:Take a scroll through Instagram, and you'll be led to believe Birkins grow on trees in Johannesburg and Lagos. But with fakes (and 'superfakes') flooding the market, it's hard to know what's real. Hermès doesn't authenticate bags bought second-hand, and most celebs rarely confirm or deny their Birkins' provenance. So while that influencer in Bryanston may look like she's toting a R500k bag… is she? One study suggests that over 80% of Birkins sold online are counterfeit, making that airport selfie with a crocodile Birkin more sus than stylish. The Power of not being accessible Grey Hermes bag outside Sacai during the Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024/2025 as part of Paris Fashion Week on 4 March 2024 in Paris, France. Picture:Hermès has built a brand where exclusivity is the ultimate marketing strategy. No flashy logos. No TikTok campaigns. No influencer gifting. The mystique is beside the point. The idea that you have to be chosen by the brand to access it has made the Birkin more than just a fashion item; it's now an economic asset. Some even call it a better investment than gold. Still, if you do get your hands on one? Guard it with your life. Or at least a very good insurance policy. Because in the world of luxury, there are the rich. And then there's Birkin-level.
