14 May 2014

Many companies across the globe continue to shape and grow their business through market research and customer satisfaction surveys because they have realised that a happy customer is a loyal customer.

Some take the stakes to retain their customer base even further by offering freebies of all sorts. Well, that is possible for big companies and organisations as they can splash huge sums of money on their customer-retention tactics.

For new companies that are looking forward to prosperity, it is imperative to learn the way of becoming big. A young entrepreneur, Ms Abueng Mothulwa, has found a niche in the graphic design business and is continuing to make strides in Mochudi.

Ms Mothulwa could not hide her excitement as she has always dreamt of starting her own business. The chance presented itself. As the managing director of Lily Bud Investments, it’s a dream come true for the visionary young entrepreneur.

She said her business was started at home a year before she completed her degree with Limkokwing University where she studied graphic design. She had always liked graphics and arts, even from a young age.

The 32-year-old said when she started it was trial and error but things began to fall into place as she liked what she was doing Ms Mothulwa said she began to work towards realising her dream and met someone who wanted to close his business, citing lack of profit. She took the opportunity and bought the port cabin from him and steered her business the right way.

She also said it was not easy as she was renting the space which was expensive and did not make business sense so she decided to move her cabin to the council market where she was able to connect electricity despite the hiccups that prevailed.

Ms Mothulwa said when she moved to the council market she still owed the money she borrowed to buy the caravan and had to work hard to pay back the debt.

“At the time I began to brand my company and that was last year March,” she said. “Luckily my business proposal for the Youth Development Fund was approved and that helped a lot as I managed to buy the necessary machinery and equipment needed for my business.”

She further said the fund, which stood at almost P100 000, helped her took advertising to another level and customers began to come to her for services. She said among some of the services she provides are logo design, business cards, adverts, brochures, signage banners, cartoons and billboards.

Lily Bud Investments, like many companies, understand the importance of customers hence Ms Mothulwa prides herself in the way she treat her customers. While waiting to be assisted, customers are treated to coffee or tea with biscuits and this makes them fall in love with the company, enough to return for more service and business.

“Understanding a customer is very important in any business environment,” she said. “What I do here has really worked miracles for me.” She said her greatest challenge has been hiring professional workers due to lack of funds but remains hopeful that as the business grow, she will be able to get the right people.

Ms Mothulwa also said she was cheated by some consultants when she was preparing trading licenses and tax clearance certificates but emphasised that it was an eye opener for her. She said even though her business is based in Mochudi, most of her suppliers are in Gaborone which means she travels often to the city and that means money for fuel.

Apart from Mothulwa, Lily Bud Investments has two employees: a temporary graphic technician and a part-time architect. She believes that she has God’s support in her business. She thanks the government for giving her the opportunity to realise her dream. ENDS