About Us

Welcome to Sharon's Factory Shop

Our story began almost 30 years ago with my parents, two hardworking people selling preloved clothing from a patch of grass on Buffalo Street in East London. For a long time, that was their shop. Through years of hard work and perseverance, it eventually grew into a store selling branded factory overruns.

I never planned to join the family business, but somewhere along the way, I found my own niche. I wanted to create something East London didn’t quite have yet: a quirky South African shop filled with local gifts, souvenirs and those familiar little things that remind us of home.

My name is Candice, and my middle name is Sharon, after my mom. Keeping the name Sharon’s Factory Shop felt like a natural way to honour her and the foundations my parents worked so hard to build, while creating something that is also uniquely mine.

At 26, I’ve been running my business independently since December 2023. What started as an idea has grown into an extensive collection of proudly South African goods, from vellies, Meelbroeke and Braaibroeke to locally made bags, jewellery, home décor and quirky keepsakes.

And here I thought finishing my degree was hard. Running a business has been a whole different ball game! I run the shop six days a week, with two incredible staff members, Mali and Athi, by my side. They bring so much life to the store, always ready with a smile and happy to help you find something special.

Behind the scenes, I’m essentially a one-woman show. From choosing and buying stock to managing our socials, WhatsApp group, website and accounts, I’m the person behind it all. There are days when juggling so much leaves me overwhelmed and unsure of what comes next. But something always brings me back to why I started.

It’s the laughter that fills the shop when someone discovers a hilarious gift or spots something that takes them straight back to their childhood. It’s the stories customers share, and hearing how something from our shelves will travel across the world to someone who misses home.

Those moments remind me how much a small gift can hold. A familiar saying, a favourite pattern or a uniquely South African keepsake can carry memories, feelings and a connection to home. Sometimes, it says something as simple and lovely as, “I thought of you while I was in South Africa.”

Alongside our South African collection, we continue to offer branded factory overruns for men, women and children in-store. These arrivals are shared through our WhatsApp group, while our website showcases our South African gifts and locally inspired range.

Today, the shop brings together my parents’ beginnings and my own vision, but my mom remains my greatest inspiration. I owe so much of who I am and what I have built to her love, support and guidance. Carrying her hard work forward, while putting my own heart into the business, is my way of celebrating her and everything she continues to do for me.

Whether you’re visiting East London, sending a little taste of home overseas or treating yourself to something lekker, thank you for being part of our story and supporting my small business.

Visit us at Malcomess Park Shopping Centre, Southernwood, East London, next to Debonairs, behind the BP Garage, or shop with us online.

With love,
Candice