David joined from the farm near Cape Point, while partner Flo was out running errands and dropping stock at the brand’s new Kalk Bay store and its city store. It has been a “wonderful autumn” with some slowdown, but steady movement overall with new fragrances and products in development and several collaborations lined up for the winter.

On the financial side, the team is beginning the VAT registration process with their accountant, as the South African threshold has changed and they expect to meet it this year. Encouragingly, the accountant believes they can claim back VAT expenses from the past five years, which would mean a significant sum for the business. David and Flo are still working out precise per-product costing and are leaning on a tax practitioner to handle the business requirements while the team stays focused on the creative side.

David mentioned a potential partnership with someone involved in conservation storytelling and animal communication, while being honest that the students’ specific suggestions remain on the back burner for now, given a busy schedule. The deliberate priority has been to align the books and business operations first, before layering in a social-impact dimension - exactly what the team wanted!!

Trade is healthy with sales on par with, or slightly ahead of, last year, and the new Kalk Bay store is performing beyond expectations, reaching a new community. David confirmed the business is on track for growth compared with the same point last year.

Workshops have emerged as a successful new income stream, including a scent-and-sound event for private guests and an interactive scent-bar commission for an H&M event. These have been well paid, with another event lined up for a wellness-focused audience in Johannesburg next month.

David also explained why a donation option at checkout has not been added yet: any social project needs to feel “born within Très” and directly linked to the brand’s own operations and garden.

David offered a huge thank-you to the students, describing their time together as an “energising boost” and a fresh perspective that encouraged the team to think outside the box. He expressed real excitement for the future, meeting new opportunities with a renewed sense of connection.