Former Egg Seller Who Made Millions By Shining Shoes In Airports Speaks To CNN

(CNN) - Suede slip-ons, elegant high-heels or lace-up brogues, whatever shoes you wear in an important business meeting you want to look your shiny best. Some people apply polish with a brush and others choose a cloth, while those coming from afar often leave the task to the capable hands of craftsmen who can make travel-worn footwear look like brand new. If someone has shined your shoes in a South African airport, it's probably thanks to Lere Mgayiya.

"We're the biggest shoe-shine company in Africa," he explains without sounding arrogant. "In Johannesburg we shine about 350 pairs of shoes a day, and about 120 pairs in Cape Town and another 120 in Durban." In total, Lere's Shoe Shine business has 45 employees across the three major airports, and the boss is now eyeing partnerships in America and UK, as well as expansion across Africa.

On this particularly day, Mgayiya, 40, is wearing Clarks, black slip-ons. With annual revenue nearing 2.5 million rand ($227,000), his demeanor resembles his feet - comfortable. But things weren't always on such a sure footing for Mgayiya. The resourceful South African had to go through a string of failures to get to where he is today - a spectacular entrepreneurial journey of risk, belief and reward.

Airborne beginnings
Long before becoming South Africa's shoe shining king, Mgayiya started his professional career distributing boarding cards for South African Airways. But after five years with the airline and a promotion to supervisor, Mgayiya was made redundant. "I wasn't ready to leave," he recalls. "If the truth be told, I was afraid -- it gave me a push."

Mgayiya stopped handling paper and joined the family livestock transportation business. "I enjoyed being out and about," he says, while explaining his role negotiating with farmers. "I enjoyed setting my own goals and achieving them."

But life in a family business wasn't all plain-sailing. When Mgayiya suggested taking a loan and securing exclusive contracts, his uncle asked him to move on. After a year, he was jobless again.

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