13 Jun 2016

 Ms Botshelo Ako (31) of Moshupa owns a business that is mostly perceived as men's domain.

She is managing director of Ako Motor Spares Shop. Though she studied fashion design at Gaborone Technical College, she chose to set up a business different from her line of study.

Ms Ako said in an interview that after completing tertiary education, she ended up working at a spares shop for five and a half years, which convinced her to change her line of profession.

She explained that it is where she gained the love and expertise of running a spares shop.

She further explained that she learnt so fast about customer service and satisfaction and also got interested in learning about cars and what is needed to repair them.

She challenged herself to be an employer and a business owner by opening her shop in August 2015.

Ms Ako said she applied for a Youth Development Fund from the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture in 2014 and they responded to the affirmative where she got financed on February 2015.

She was financed to the tune of P100 000 which she used to buy shelves, stock and pay rentals.

Although there is a lot of competition, she manages to beat the odds because she mentioned that she built a clientele while she was working as a motor spares shop assistant and that her business is located along the main road where drivers often pass and stop by to purchase her products.

Ms Ako said that in the first month of operation, there was a burglary in her shop but it did not discourage her from pursuing more of her business.

She further said her business made her more resilient and taught her patience even during times when the business is not doing well.

“I encourage more youth to utilise available government programmes to better their lives,” Ako said. ENDS