As owner of Spaar on Spares, Nadia Mahomed has redefined what it means to lead with passion and purpose. She shares the highs and lows of her career in the auto parts industry and how the holidays bring her back to what matters most – family, gratitude and giving.
As the holiday season is upon us, many reflect on what truly matters – family, tradition and the joy of giving. For Nadia Mahomed, owner of Spaar on Spares in Johannesburg South, the holidays carry a deeper meaning, one forged not only by festive cheer but also by the resilience and determination that have shaped her journey from the ground up.
From humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry, Nadia’s journey is a testament to resilience, hard work and the power of community. She opens up about the challenges and triumphs of balancing family, business and her commitment to giving back, especially during the most wonderful time of the year.
Journey as a female entrepreneur
Originally from Durban, Nadia Mahomed grew up in the south of Johannesburg. She attended Rosettenville Central Primary School then went on to attend high school at The Hill and Forest Hill High School. Nadia then attended Joubert
Park Technical College and after completing her tertiary education, she got married and had two children then got divorced.
Although Nadia remarried and divorced again, she compares her life to that of Elizabeth Arden – a true pioneer in the way she approached life and business. Nadia expresses: ‘And an equally smart businesswoman who had the drive to make her dreams come true. I have been happily single for nine years now.’
When Nadia first came into the motor spares industry 35 years ago, she never imagined her passion for the industry would grow so radically. Her ex-husband owned a motor spares shop and from there her interest was triggered.
‘I felt challenged to buy the Spaar on Spares business as most women and elderly people are taken advantage of when buying car parts. When venturing into the industry, I faced many challenges. My first challenge was stepping into the business with zero stock,’ says Nadia. The bad economy posed another challenge but the support of her family and her drive for providing people with the best quality products and services drove her to keep pushing forward toward success. Spaar on Spares is an auto parts shop where a wide variety of motor spare accessories are stocked and sold. It is also a mechanical, alignment centre workshop.
Her journey in the motor spares industry has shaped her into a tougher version of herself. ‘Dealing mostly with men has given me some insight which has helped me understand and perfect the business,’ she shares. ‘People who often meet me say that I am still who I was many years ago.’
Throughout her journey, Nadia has learnt to put herself in her customers’ shoes but to keep her heart out of it, which is almost impossible according to her.
Giving back
Nadia highlights that she and her team do a lot for the community. For the past four months, Nadia and her team have been running a soup kitchen every Thursday. Additionally, they hand out food parcels to families in need. They’ve extended their passion for giving back to areas as far as Alexandra.
They also provide the children in the community with stationery, school uniforms and sanitary pads. ‘The people in the community know that whenever they are in need, they can come knocking on our door and we will be there to help wherever we can,’ emphasizes Nadia. ‘I’m very proud of the team of staff members I have. We are like one big family.
‘Our year-end party is usually held in the local park where we spend time and take care of the children from the community,’ she adds. Additionally, the Spaar on Spares family participates in an annual Christmas Run hosted for the community where they often sponsor Christmas hampers to hand out.
Their good work extends to the up-keeping of the local park because they believe every child deserves a safe and clean environment to play in.
‘The park is a place I used to play in when I was a little girl and it fills me with great joy to see the smiles on the little children’s faces when they can enjoy themselves like I once did,’ shares Nadia.
The driven entrepreneur highlights the importance of giving and her motto by saying: ‘You spend most of your life giving. You must become selfless and consider the needs of those around you, sometimes even before your own.’
Family holiday tradition
Coming from a Portuguese background, Nadia’s favourite holiday tradition is when the family comes together on Christmas Eve where they enjoy delicious codfish and all their traditional sweets.
‘It’s always nice to have my family around the table,’ she expresses. Christmas Day is usually a peaceful one for
Nadia and her family where they sit back, relax and enjoy all the leftovers.
‘My most cherished holiday season memory is going back home to Durban with my parents and siblings for the festive season and playing in the ocean,’ shares Nadia. She comes from a big family and Christmas time has always been a very special time for them because they had a house full of children and family. To keep the festive spirit alive in her home Nadia keeps a cinnamon candle burning.
‘Although this time of the year is dedicated to family and giving, it is also dedicated to work. Being in retail means we work every single day except the important days like Christmas Day and New Year’s Day,’ says Nadia.
Her message this Christmas is, ‘Times are tough and it’s tough for everyone but together we can make it’.
Nadia emphasizes how we should never give up on ourselves and we should continue fighting forward. ‘Family is everything. When you lose a loved one, that’s when you truly feel the importance and the role family plays in your life. Family is in every part of you, it’s what you’re made of,’ shares Nadia.
Text and photo: DESNAY PETERSON
