19 Apr 2018

The thinking of being a master or boss of her own company sunk deep and well in to Ms Mokupi Namayammu’s mind that she was determined to use her professional background to good use. 

Having gone through various courses in clothing, design and textiles, Ms Namayammu started her own business of clothing and fashion design.

Located at Boseja ward in the fast-growing Palapye village, Ms Namayammu’s fashion design business offers services ranging from wedding gowns, suits, bridal clothing as well as many other fashion clothing according to individual taste.

The 47-year-old Ms Namayammu says when starting the business, which is now well-known even in the social media, she wanted to prove that with passion and determination, everything is possible.

Starting her business with the full knowledge that the market for her business was already saturated, she was confident that she would penetrate because her work speaks for itself.

“The whole idea was to start small and end up big and be able to employ other Batswana, especially the youth who are currently struggling with unemployment.

 I started with my two small machines that I bought through my own savings and now I have been able to buy one industrial machine, still from my own savings,” explained Ms Namayammu.

It all started in 2002 when she saw an advert in the DailyNews newspaper seeking people to apply for different courses at Mahalapye Brigade. 

She applied for Clothing, Design and Textiles and got admitted though her age was above the age limit.

Ms Namayammu started sewing course at a later stage because her parent wanted her to pursue Secretarial Studies after finishing her Cambridge.

The Lecheng born entrepreneur added that she did her Trade A and B at Mahalapye Brigade from 2002 to 2004 and later went to Borolong Brigade, where she did her NCC.

After completing her studies, she was employed by a private brigade in Palapye by the name of Royal Professional College, where she only worked for three years and quit to start her own business.

“I was teaching Clothing Design and Textiles at Royal, but because I have always had a passion to own business, I had to quit my job.

Even when I was still teaching there, I did sewing as a part time job. 

In fact, that is what motivated me even more to start my own business because I could make more money as compared to what I was earning at Royal,” she said.

Entrepreneurship dates back to her days as a teacher, she constantly encouraged her students to shun the mentality of looking for jobs after completing their studies, but to start their own businesses to employ other youths.

Ms Namayammu says she has never been funded by government although she once tried the Gender Affairs office, but failed because she did not want to partner with others. 

She was optimistic that on her own she would succeed with a good clientele base.

Her intention this year is to save more and buy another industrial machine and employ at least one person. 

Having one big machine has been a stumbling block in the growth of her business as she can not hire assistants.

“I sometimes get a lot of orders that strain me, so I need assistance.

It is however hard for me to hire someone now because I only have one big machine,” she added.

Although for the past three years she has managed to secure her own clients, Ms Namayammu still experiences challenges.

Some people complain about her pricing. 

She says even if one tries by all means to be reasonable in pricing, it will never please all the customers.

According to her, one has to be prepared for the worst days whereby business would go dry, saying a true entrepreneur must expect that and know that it is just a phase that will pass.

Ms Namayammu appealed to the youth who are currently unemployed to take advantage of the available government initiatives and start their own businesses, noting that believing in oneself was the key to success. 

In her view, the market will never be saturated to an extent that one cannot make enough money to survive. ENDS