Red Cedar is a small women owned business, located in the mountain village of Wupperthal, Western Cape, South Africa. The area is known for its wildflowers and the production of rooiboos (pronounced “roy-boss”, Afrikaans for “red bush”), a plant used to make an herbal tea which is the primary beverage in South Africa. Initially, the women there saw an entrepreneurial opportunity to cultivate the rooibos plant and use the by-products to make soap. That small beginning has grown to a number of products, developed in part with funding from USAID through the VEGA South Africa APS Grants Administration (SAAGA) program. MK Cope of IESC is the Chief of Party for the VEGA SAAGA program.

While Red Cedar is small, the market it serves has grown significantly under the VEGA SAAGA project and the tutelage of a larger company, Natural Botanicals. Red Cedar products now range from high quality hand made soaps and body products such as liquid hand wash, shampoo, shower gel and environmentally-friendly room spray. The all female Red Cedar team innovatively includes other natural ingredients like honey, shea butter, aloe and plant-based only essential oils. Rooibos contains antioxidants that fight ageing and dry skin Red Cedar has introduced a special product: a roobois and aloe gel which treats eczema, insect bites and burns.

Red Cedar provides cosmetic products to a number of South African hotels, health and gift shops and the general public and also exports internationally. Improved product diversity and quality have been an important part of the story, but so has improved management of the business. Further, it is an example of how one small business has a multiplier effect on the local economy by its increasing demand for services as its sales increase and profits grow.

VEGA used Red Cedar products as promotional gifts at the VEGA Showcase event on April 30, 2008 and the products were received very well. VEGA thanks the Red Cedar team for their hard work and encourages their entrepreneurial spirit and future success!