The South African artist who built a global business empire

Carrol Boyes went from a fine arts student and teacher to one of South Africa’s most successful businesswomen, owning one of the strongest brands in the luxury market.

Carrol Heather Boyes was born in Cape Town on November 21, 1954, the oldest sibling of her two brothers, Charles and John.

They grew up on a farm in Limpopo and were community-driven with a passion for local entrepreneurs and artists.

After completing school, she attended the University of Pretoria and graduated with a fine arts degree.

She wanted to become a sculptor and make a mark in the art world after her studies, but this career was not feasible in South Africa.

Instead, she decided to become a teacher, where she taught English to high school students and art to juniors.

After 15 years of teaching English and art, at the age of 35, she decided to start her own functional art business.

“After 11 years of teaching, I followed my childhood dream of being an artist and a designer,” Boyes said in an interview.

She realised that she needed to make art that was aesthetically pleasing but also functional, accessible, and useful to everyone.

She found her niche in home décor accessories and kitchenware. She launched her business in 1989 from her home in Cape Town, focusing on cutlery and flatware.

For the first three years of her career in design and artwork, she worked with copper, silver, brass, and pewter.

She created Verdigris candlesticks, jewellery, and assorted brass works, and the public loved the quirky and functional items.

Boyes’ ethos was to produce high-quality, unique, quirky, and collectable pieces of art that could be used daily.

“Each of her designs is a statement in itself, completely personal, fresh and different,” art dealer Peter Visser said.

By 1991, as her brand grew by word of mouth, many people flocked to her stall in Greenmarket Square to buy her products.

“Being the first person to do something is a huge advantage. I was lucky to get to the market first with the products I produce,” she said.

Growing the business and the Carrol Boyes brand

The rapid business growth meant that Boyes needed to increase production to keep up with the demand for her homeware pieces.

Her father solved the need for a large-scale manufacturing plant by offering an empty building on their family farm.

Her brother, Charles, who had just graduated from university, took this opportunity to assist her in setting up the factory and became a significant role player in the brand.

She opened a manufacturing plant in Limpopo Province, near Tzaneen, with 12 staff members. However, the higher demand saw it grow to over 350 employees.

“Employing people has always been very stressful for me. The idea of having someone’s life in my hands was nerve-racking,” she said.

Two years after setting up her factory, she received her first international order, and her pieces were catapulted into the limelight.

In 1999, she moved from her home office in Llandudno to her new office in Rose Street, Cape Town, where she did all the administration and planning.

Four years later, she launched her first retail store at the tourist mecca, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town.

This flagship store began the brand’s retail footprint, which now includes 25 stores nationwide and an online shop.

In July 2004, she opened a store in Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, and in December 2004, Carrol Boyes opened a shop in Soho, New York.  

“Our retail footprint has ensured that our brand is widely recognisable locally and abroad,” the company said.

After more than 30 years, the Carrol Boyes business is continually growing, with over 1,000 products available.

More than 27 countries currently stock the Carrol Boyes brand, including Bloomingdales and Nieman Marcus in the USA and David Jones in Australia.

Boyes died in August 2019 after a brief illness at the age of 65. “Carrol will be remembered for her love, her story, and her quirky creativity,” the company said at the time.

Carrol Boyes shops

Carrol Boyes products