17 Aug 2015

Keamogetse Mosiakoko aged 24 of Molepolole is not just another entrepreneur. What makes him different is that he has decided to be engaged in the demanding business of the cosmetic industry.

Not only is it hard to be involved in the cosmetic business as a man in a women’s world, Mosiakoko sees it as a stepping stone since few men can be seen selling cosmetics. 

He explained that this helps him since most of his friends buy cosmetics for their girlfriends from him.

Commonly known as “Radiperfume” among his customers, Mosiakoko started selling cosmetics in 2011. 

Besides having made a shade and selling from it in front of the Choppers Mall in Molepolole, he goes around in government offices, people’s homes  selling his products. He has gone as far as Ramotswa, Lentsweletau and Thamaga trying to expand his market.

Having completed his senior secondary education at Kgari Sechele in 2009, Mosiakoko proceeded to Kweneng Rural Development Association (KRDA) to do Bricklaying for two years. 

Her sister Goitseone Mosiakoko who at the time was selling cosmetics tried to introduce him but he was reluctant at first. 

Shortly after he finished bricklaying course he found it hard to get sponsorship to go do a degree in architecture.

With nothing to do and not finding any employment, he resumed his sister’s cosmetic business which had stopped because she was working. 

Her sister gave her P500 to buy start up stock. From there on he never looked back. All his products were bought and amazingly they were in high demand.

He cautions that the road is not always smooth. He recalls that in 2013 he had bought products to sell the following morning. During the night thieves broke into their house and got away with all his products.

 His sister came to the rescue and gave him money to go and buy the same products all over again.

Besides thieves he says most of his customers take his products on credit so that they can pay at the end of month, but not all of them pay on time. 

Some end up saying they can only be able to pay the following month.

 However, there were rare cases of some customers who never pay at all. 

The challenge he said was to convince people to buy his products. 

He said it is hard since once a person gets used to a brand it is hard to get them off.

His loyal customers include people from his Church who support him a lot and his friends. 

They buy from him almost monthly and pay on time. 

Most of all he is thankful to his sister who has never given up on him and keeps encouraging him.

Her sister’s mentorship has taken him to where he is today.Keamogetse says his brother is more than dedicated to his business. 

He does not sleep most nights thinking about where the business is going. 

She says now that he has started to buy stock in South Africa, he travels a lot because locally is expensive to buy the same products. 

Since his brother started selling cosmetics, she said they both provide for the family unlike when she was the only breadwinner. 

She hopes  to see himself as a distributor in the future. 

He would like to rope in other unemployed youth who then become agents in his distribution business. 

Among his products are perfumes, bath salts, foam baths, hands, face and body lotion and antiperspirants.

One of his customers Tanki Koosimile a 26 year old lady living in Molepolole says she buys Mosiakoko’s products because her body is now used to them. At home she uses the powder to sprinkle in her blankets to make them smell nicer. ENDS