About

Kay-T Lifestyle South Africa

Over a decade ago, after relocating from South Africa to Zambia and settling in the small mining town of Ndola, we faced significant challenges in finding everyday items like cosmetics, coffee, and wine. In response to our needs, I started importing these products into Zambia and realised that many others in Zambia shared the same struggle. This led to the birth of Keylayne Trading in 2009.

The Beginning of Keylayne Trading

Keylayne Trading, initially known as KTS, started humbly on a coffee table in a corner of my office. As I gradually expanded the product range and customer base, KTS moved into a small office at the back of our truck repair workshop. After a year of successful trading and increasing demand, I took a bold step and secured a small shop at Jacaranda Mall, Ndola’s very first shopping mall. With KTS’ popularity soaring and our product variety growing, KTS eventually expanded into the neighbouring shop at Jacaranda Mall when it became vacant. This expansion allowed us to offer an even larger range of products not readily found elsewhere in Zambia.

Relocation and Expansion

As shopping malls proliferated in Ndola, Jacaranda Mall, located in an industrial area, became less popular compared to the new malls in town and the suburbs. In 2016, we decided to move the store to a larger shop at Rekays Mall in Ndola Town Centre. There, we continued introducing new and unique products, attracting customers from all over Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Transition to a Residential Business Model

With the growing trend in Zambia of operating businesses from residential houses, we decided to adapt. We secured a house in Northrise, Ndola, and after completing renovations, moved the shop to Kabelenga Road in Northrise in September 2020. We rebranded it as Katies Zambia, trading as Katies International.