07 Apr 2014

Mr Derek Derek, 33, a businessman from Kasane refuses to follow convention.

He enjoys challenges and when he took a decision to venture into a non-traditional business of glazing, observers doubted if he would succeed, mostly because glazing was not common in the area.

Today, Mr Derek, originally from Pandamatenga, a village famed for its fertile land where large scale commercial farmers produce cereals to ensure the country’s food security, is Kasane’s one and only glass glazer. What makes his business unique is that together with his wife, Ms Obakeng Derek, they are business partners.

The father of three explains that they were fortunate to be amongst a handful of youngsters that the department of youth selected to receive grants in 2006.

His glassworks business, which goes by the name, Navigate Glassworks, has helped to transform his family life for the better. Through the success of the business, he explains that he was able to marry and build his children a decent home that every parent may desire for his family.

Mr Derek says that his work which he fondly describes as art involves cutting glass or mirrors into various shapes. He praises his ability to produce any shape with ease.

Fitting glass or mirrors into frames is also part of his day to day vocation and he says that this requires meticulous skills. He highlights that working from his homestead allows him to work odd hours without worrying about paying rent.

His day is characterised by visits from clients from as far as Parakarungu and Pandamatenga who walk in to place orders from his one roomed office which has become the most important place in his life. He also emphasises that stock taking is the core activity of his business success.

He adds that the secret of his success cannot be complete without the three men in his employ, who have been with him through difficult times during the formative years of the business. “We used to go from door to door in Kazungula trying to market our skills,” says Mr Derek.

Now, he looks back with glee as he is the proud owner of two vehicles, a personal vehicle and a delivery truck. Also, he explains that expansion is in the horizon as he has opened a branch in Kachikau.

Mr Derek mentions that he services cars, households and even a few lodges owned by locals and foreigners in Kasane and Kazungula.  One thing that sets him apart from the rest of the crowd, he says, is that he is able to tailor make his glasswork to suite his customer’s needs.

He goes on to say that even though vehicles screens are not in high demand as home items such as windows and mirrors, he never hesitates to place a special order for them.

One of his main challenges, he highlights, is that most people are quick to criticize his work because he is a small businessman while they prefer large and established glasswork companies with recognised brands in the market.

However, he is quick to mention that this does not bother him as he is confident of the quality of what he produces and that his talent is impeccable as evidenced by feedback he receives from his clients.

Another challenge which he feels is beyond his control, is the poor state of roads in and around Chobe which affects his ability to supply, as on several occasions glass breaks during deliveries which affects his business.

Owing to his booming business, he complains that his residential plot is now unable to cope with his business growth. “I fell in love with glazing the first time I had an encounter with the trade,” Mr Derek says, crediting his former employer Builders World Kasane for his glasswork skills because he never enrolled for any formal training in glazing.

The highlight of his success is that his supplier, PG Glassworks, have promised that once he has acquired a plot, they will upgrade his stock list and use him as their base in Kasane, he says proudly.

The businessman also says that the perks of his trade are that he does not have to pay rent for the premises and that he is located beside the Kasane/Kazungula road, which makes access easy.

He believes that if his business moves to a bigger plot, it will indeed be rags to riches tale looking at where he comes from. ENDS