12 Apr 2016

 “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go,” wrote American writer, Dr Theodor Geisel in his work: Oh, the places you’ll go.

Perhaps these were the words the young entrepreneur, Mr Mmoloki Gaokobelwe had in his mind when he finally decided to use his brains, put on his shoes, and start steering his business to success back in 2010.

Narrating his story Mr Gaokobelwe said just like many of his peers, after completing junior secondary school and failing to make the grade into high school, he struggled with employment which seemed to be rising each year.

“I could go for about three months or more without either feeling the texture of money nor the smell of it, and it was getting too much for me and life was getting tougher by the day,” he said.

He said in 2002 lady luck smiled upon him and he was able to secure employment at Lobatse Canvas for seven years, working as a labourer and later promoted to a machinist, a role that involved designing and producing canvas products such as bags and tents.

As fate would have it, that is when trade was ingrained into him even after parting ways with his employer. He said in 2010 he decided to start his own business to put what the learnt to good use, and with the help of his parents, he managed to open a small business in Letlhakeng called Gaokobelwe Canvas which specialises in canvas products such as bags, chairs, stretchers and tents.

He struggled from the beginning. “It was very challenging as an amateur in the market, and at the same time having to face stiff competition from established competitors in the industry.

When I started I specialised in designing and selling school bags to students and it was a baptism of fire having to face competition from Chinese shops. Batswana said my bags were too expensive, but I knew that slowly but surely I will one day win them over,” said the 35-year-old entrepreneur.

Mr Gaokobelwe said one thing that amuses him about Batswana is that they value quantity over quality, but said as an entrepreneur he believed it should be otherwise, and that patience was his key to changing their mindset.

“I realised that the Chinese bags do not last long, and that was my competitive advantage as my bags are of high quality, made from highly durable material suitable for children,” he said.

After a long struggle of over five years, Mr Gaokobelwe, who had long been leaning on his parents for funding, was then forced to find other sources of funds because he wanted his business to expand.

Having gotten wind of the availability of government funding for youth projects, he said he finally approached the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture for funding under the Youth Development Fund initiative where he was funded to the tune of just over P97 000.

“The funding was like releasing a stopcock that has been hindering the flow of much needed water. Since then it has been blooming for my business as I was able to buy more material and equipment necessary for my production without a struggle.

That’s then I could afford offering a wide variety of products,” he said. He said unlike in the beginning, the availability of funds even enabled him to increase the size of his bags from small school bags to large travel and sporting bags.

He said among other products that he now makes are chair covers, repairing tents, designing canopy canvas and camping chairs. He said even his target market has also expanded from only school children to youth and adults including tourists who travel to Khutse who usually come to his business to buy tents, camp chairs and car canopy canvas.

He said he is even marketing his business in an effort to supply bigger retailers. Mr Gaokobelwe said one thing he is even more grateful and proud of is the fact that he has been able to create employment for one youth in Letlhakeng and that he is aiming at opening another stall in Molepolole and create more employment.

He also said was proud that now he was able to sustain himself and his family, and is able to provide a salary to his employee every month unlike when he would struggle even to buy material.

“I am very thankful to the government, I am now able to help others through employment creation, and I am also able to feed my family. Being broke is a thing of the past and I hope that with time I will be a millionaire,” he smiled.    

As for his last words, Mr Gaokobelwe said he wishes every youth could be open minded and hardworking as he is, as that will take them out of the streets. He also said that if the youth could actively participate in diversifying the economy, Botswana will be the richest country in Africa. ENDS