25 Mar 2015

Ms Boitumelo Mbaakanyi, a Youth Development Fund (YDF) beneficiary, is living proof that endurance bears fruit.

The 29-year-old has gone through tough times to finally own a successful textile business through the YDF. It was not a smooth journey for the Nswazwi born Mbaakanyi to go through the application process and eventually get approval.

After the successful application for funding to the tune of P77 000, she went for a boot camp at Pandamatenga where she and other beneficiaries were taught how to run their own business, write reports, bookkeeping and ways to market the business. 

Ms Mbaakanyi told BOPA in an interview that the workshop, which ended with them receiving certificates, really helped her to understand the meaning of being an entrepreneur.  She used the funds to buy three straight sewing machines, over lock machine, embroidery machine, hemming machine, cutting machine, two tables and four chairs. 

Ms Mbaakanyi also managed to rent a room where she operates her business which specialises in making men, ladies and children wear, German and African attire, alterations and bedding. 

The graduate in sewing from Ramatea Vocational Training Centre in Kanye stated that the business started operating in February 2014 with two employees and the youth department paid her rent for three months. 

She said locating the business in Nswazwi was a way of taking advantage of less competition in the village, indicating that many people used to travel to Tutume to get textile services. 

The youth said that for one to be a successful designer, they have to have a wide array of skills, including drawing, an eye for color and texture, an ability to visualise concepts in three dimensions, and the mechanical skills involved in sewing and cutting all types of fabrics. She also noted that one needs to learn from existing designers, not just who they are, but their backgrounds, their signature style, the learning that they undertook and where they studied,

Furthermore, she explained that knowing this will help one to be a better designer as they can borrow and build on their ideas. To market her business, she has made business cards, wears her designs whenever she attends functions and also does a good job when designing clothes for her customers so they can bring in new customers. 

Challenges, she face include late payment by customers, which results in shortage of fabric, adding that some customers place orders then fail to collect them and she is forced to sell at a cheaper price to other customers.

Despite the challenges, the ambitious woman expresses optimism that the business will grow and she will be able to open another branch in Makuta village, which is five kilometres from Nswazwi.

Ms Mbaakanyi stated that she has managed to open a savings account and the profit made has helped to improve her state of living. ENDS