23 Jan 2017

Mr Mooketsi Maruping’s business is driven by passion for woodwork.

In an interview, Mr Maruping said he used to work for Bakgatla Bolokang Matshelo in Mochudi, an organisation that encouraged the youth who wanted to venture into the world of business and equipped them with practical skills and also helped them to generate employment.

The youthful entrepreneur said working with his fellow youth at Bakgatla Bolokang Matshelo stirred his interest of owning a business.

He explained that he started doing his work before registering his company, Maruping Creations in June 2015.

Since he did not study carpentry, he explained that he got his ideas from researching in the internet, reading magazines and travelling.

Mr Maruping said he specializes in products like bucket seats, mirror ironing boards and chair flower pot. Since his business is still in its infancy, he is still operating from home, but also hawks because the machines are portable mainly drilling machine and hacksaw.

The designer said his product, mirror ironing board is high in demand as compared to the bucket seats which are seasonal, and mostly bought in summer because it is an outdoor equipment.

Mr Maruping said the production of mirror ironing board is expensive sighted that since it’s a new product he is not more into profit making adding that a new product is always costly.

He said he wanted to focus more into doing mirror ironing boards and explained that bucket seats is something that he did and to him it was a fashion statement and to learn more about business, that in time he will stop doing them but explained that he will do them based on orders.

He revealed that lately, corporate companies are patronizing his bucket seats for corporate gifts and personalize their products.

Some of the companies that bought from him include, Barclays Bank, Pinnacle Geometics, Geovision Enterprise among others.

He explained that he received a lucrative order from the Botswana Democratic Party during their last year party congress. Mr Maruping explained that he is also looking into something, still woodwork to go with mirror ironing boards.

He said although Serowe market is low for his products, he is currently based in Mochudi as it is encouraging.

Passionate as he is about his work, he said he has actually considered imploring his skills on others for free, such as Motsweding Rehabilitation students, a centre for the disabled and also on any other individual who has interest.

Asked if he is not looking for funding to expand his business he said a small business is very fragile, and does not need to be overwhelmed with debts.

Currently he is saving to expand his business and building a big factory to run his business from. BOPA