With just under 5 000 Instagram followers, the student-owned business Gosh Nails has become the go-to place for any student to get a new and unique set of nails. Stellenbosch students have always been on the lookout for an affordable nail grooming service that can top any Pinterest nail inspiration board, according to Telvina Samuels, an accounting student and the proud owner of Gosh Nails.
The Stellenbosch student-owned business Gosh Nails has become a great success since it was opened by Telvina Samuels (22) in 2018. Telvina, who has a degree in BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology is currently busy with her BAccounting degree. And even though she was faced with minor challenges when just starting out, she still manages to juggle the role of being a successful businesswoman and student.
Telvina Samuels (22) – a postgraduate BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology student who is currently with a degree in BAccounting at Stellenbosch University – is the owner of Gosh Nails a nail salon that started in her residence room in Irene Residence. PHOTO: Marianne Francis Stewart
A side hustle born out of frustration
Telvina started Gosh Nails in her room in Irene Women’s Residence after realising that students do not seem to get the quality nails that they pay for. “Being on a student budget you want quality, because it is money that you could’ve spent on something else,” Telvina says.
Since she was a little girl the art of doing nails fascinated her. She always used to do her own nails and eventually students in res started noticing that she was good at what she was doing. Even though she had no formal nail training up until that point – students relied on Telvina for picture perfect nails.
Her side hustle really started out of frustration. “I never wanted to start a business, it was never the plan to start a business, it just wasn’t my goal,” Telvina reflects on her journey up until now.
Telvina Samuels (22), the owner of Gosh Nails, says that they only use the best quality products. Telvina feels that because students work so hard that they deserve to spoil themselves and therefore deserve to receive quality treatment with quality products. SCREENSHOT: Instagram/@goshnailsstellies
“But then I thought I am good with nails, so I started small in Irene and when Huisdans came I started to do nails for residents of Irene as well as Sonop. Eventually, I became known as the nail lady – I even had to do nails during and after classes and during lunchtime,” Telvina laughs.
“My vision in 2018 was to create a student-friendly salon, so I created Gosh Nails. Gosh Nails provides professional quality salon nail service on a student budget.”
– Telvina Samuels
But doing nails was still just a hobby, and never to make a profit – it was just for the love of doing nails which eventually naturally turned into a registered business.
A business is born
With the money Telvina earned from working part-time at the university’s NARGA computer lab, she bought some nail supplies that she would need to start serving more clients. “I wanted the business to grow naturally by itself – so I loaned myself the money to fund Gosh Nails and as Gosh Nails started making money, I paid myself back,” she says about her initial funding.
Telvina Samuels (22) – a postgraduate BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology student who is now busy with her second degree, BAccounting at Stellenbosch University – make sure that every client gets the treatment that they deserve. “Because we are students we aren’t always treated the same at nail salons, that is why Gosh Nails are there for students to get great nails at affordable prices, ” Telvina says. PHOTO: Marianne Francis Stewart
One of the challenges was finding a budget friendly location to do business from (after she moved out of res). She was looking for a spot that would charge her per hour per day, and “it was a problem, especially in Stellenbosch where everything is so expensive”, Telvina says.
She also struggled to separate her business from her personal life. She said a valuable lesson she learned was for her to dedicate time to do business admin, time for her personal life, and time for academics.
Telvina Samuels (22) – a postgraduate BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology student who is now busy with her second degree, BAccounting at Stellenbosch University – and her sister Gabriella Samuels (21) run Gosh Nails from Groomed Men & Ladies in the Neelsie Student Center. PHOTO: Marianne Francis Stewart
Juggling a business and studies
“The Covid-19 pandemic actually helped take my business to the next level, because I did not have to physically attend classes, so now I can listen to lectures online early in the morning before I go do nails,” Telvina says.
Telvina is not an advocate for procrastination, “because when I have five hours to study I only have five hours to study”. Therefore she is quite strict on her time and wakes up early to ensure that she gets through her daily allocated lectures.
“I watch my lectures at three times the speed, so my lectures become like 35 minutes each […] I can watch four hours of lectures in about two hours,” Telvina says on maximizing her work efficiency.
A lot of salons, especially in Stellenbosch, are lacking because I always felt that we were treated differently because we were students, but I always believed that our money is just as good as someone else’s. So, why can’t we get the same quality and experience?
– Telvina samuels
After working through four hours of lectures she goes to the nail desk that she is renting at Groomed Men & Ladies, situated in the Neelsie Student Center. Where both Telvina and her sister, Gabriella Samuels (21), work from nine to five.
“By the time I get home around seven, I go through the next day’s bookings and then work further on my academics until around 12. It is a constant balance between academics and my business so every minute counts,” Telvina says.
“[She is] honestly one of the hardest workers I know,” says Tayla Juliet, who was one of Gosh Nails’ first clients – when it was still operating from Telvina’s room in Irene.
A dream team of two
After Gosh Nails became so popular and accumulated a client base that bursts at the seams, Telvina had to get her sister Gabriella, a qualified nail technician, onboard to help with the growing client base.
Telvina Samuels (22), owner of Gosh Nails, and her sister Gabriella Samuels (21) are both running the business on their own. “It’s really an amazing feeling to be part of something like this with my sister and helping her grow the business into something bigger, I’ve always said my sister and I have our differences but we make a great team,” Gabriella says on working with her sister. PHOTO: Marianne Francis Stewart
“It really is an amazing feeling to be part of something like this with my sister and helping her grow the business into something bigger, I always said my sister and I have our differences but we make a great team,” Gabriella says about her and Telvina working together.
It is a family business that grows day by day and with two sisters that share a vision, it is a business bound for success.
“If we branch out one day, I will still have a branch here in Stellenbosch – because students will also be close to my heart and I will always be of service to them,” Telvina says.
“My vision for Gosh Nails is to see it grow into something amazing where we can open more branches in different areas and offer more beauty treatments at affordable prices. I see Gosh Nails not just a place where you do your nails but a place where every client is part of our little family,” Gabriella adds to Telvina’s vision.