A different way to live: This is Kico Life

Meet Courtney - founder of Kico Life - and discover the story behind the Ballito's newest health hub.

We didn’t just talk wellness at Kico Life - we jumped right into it. After a cold plunge and a boxing class that left us breathless, we sat down for a conversation with founder Courtney (mid-IV drip, might we add).

Kico Life, based in the heart of Ballito, is a wellness space that’s as considered as it is calm. And whilst it is very beautiful,it’snot just about aesthetics. This is a business built on community, clarity, and the belief that good health is a foundation, not a luxury.

We spoke to Courtney about the journey so far, what it takes to grow a purpose-led business, and why Kico is more than just a wellness studio.

Tell us a bit about where we are right now.

You are here with us at Kico Life in Ballito. I thought we’d kill two birds with one stone and get my immune-boosting drip for the month whilst we tackle this interview together.

We originally opened in the late stages of 2022, so we’re quite a new brand. But the intention going into it was to create something that combined science-based therapies together with your everyday holistic health practices. Also, a place that was beautifully aesthetic and curated, with a lot of intention in mind and, first and foremost, community based.

We really want to create a space where people can come and find community or just rest and recover. But first and foremost, we wanted a place people could call home.

What’s been one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced since launching Kico?

Whilst we’re growing Kico, what I’ve found to be the biggest challenge is finding the middle ground between vision and scalability — which goes hand in hand with profitability. This was a very passion-driven project, so I think it’s about finding that perfect middle ground between a very vision-based business and something that is scalable and ultimately profitable, so that we can continue running, growing, and expanding for our community.

You’ve created such a beautiful space. What makes you feel most proud of what you’ve built?

I think the people are what make me proudest. The community and the people that walk in here. You know, we have our regulars that are here every day, but every person that walks in here — I think that’s my proudest moment.

When people love Kico as much as I love Kico, that, to me, feels like I’ve succeeded.

Tell us about your personal journey. What led you to start Kico Life?

I don’t think I ever saw myself in this profession, ifI’m honest. I studied law, I studied fashion, and then I went into corporate fashion and was unfortunately diagnosed at 25 with breast cancer.

That changed the whole trajectory of my whole life, and it really made me realise how important our youth is. And our health. Without our health, we really don’t get to live out the youth that we’re so blessed to have, and to live out this life that’s filled with so many amazing things.

I think it comes with a lot of sacrifices being a young person and going into business. You sacrifice a social life, a lot of friendships, maybe having a family when you’re younger. And there are a lot of sacrifices I’ve made to build this business. I’ve taken an alternative route in life to people that I grew up with.

As much as it is sad, it’s also allowed me to really grow as a person. I think who I am is so much stronger, and what I’ve learned through this is incredible — and it’s solidified that health really is the most valuable thing you can own. To be young and healthy? How lucky are we.

How does social media fit into the Kico Life brand?

Social media for Kico is like our digital front door. It gives people the feeling of what Kico is about before they even come here. We’ve used it to build a community and build brand awareness. It is the best tool for us - where people can find connection and where they fit into Kico Life - because it is such a vast offering.

I spearhead all our social media and online marketing, so I’m trying to juggle it all, but always trying to create something that is fresh and that people can engage with.

What’s your experience been like using iKhokha?

Every day, every payment that gets done gets done through iKhokha. It’s super easy and convenient for customers, and it’s very little admin on our end. The admin functionality available on the iKhokha machine is user-friendly, and you guys are forever updating and listening to your audience really well.

We started off using your payment gateway, and now we use the catalogue feature because we’ve started Kico Life Pop Ups - so that then allows anybody that’s working that pop-up to utilise our catalogue without having to know the price of everything off-hand. That in itself has been a really cool feature. Everything for the event gets done on the machine, so if we bring in external parties, they don’t need anything from us.

I joined iKhokha because of the alignment with what Kico Life is trying to do - you support small businesses and encourage local businesses’ growth and success.

We’ve integrated iKhokha’s Payment Gateway into our financial system. It’s incredible to know that you guys do accounting and funding, and moving forward it’s really good to know for when Kico grows, because you are such a comprehensive brand.

Go take the plunge

If your mind, body or soul need a bit of a kickstart – now you know where to go. You can follow Kico Life’s journey on Instagram and Facebook (@kicolife) to see what’s new, explore their packages, or simply soak in the good energy.