22 Jul 2018

In the era where technology is getting more advanced every day with people owning smartphones and taking time online on different social media platforms, entrepreneurs are urged to use the opportunity to their advantage and push marketing for their products and services.

Face On The Door founding director, Mr Vincent Gaosafele stated in an interview that for the business to strive, its online presence has to be felt so that it reaches many potential clients. 

He said unlike other young people who are online just for fun, entrepreneurs should gear in making their online presence business orientated. 

Mr Gaosafelwe who hails from Ngware village said his company which was formed in 2014 does 3D Architectural Visualisation, photorealistic rendering and design solutions. 

He said being able to create a facebook page and consistently updating it gave him referrals to do some consultancy projects for other people.

He said after completing his Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture from Curtin University based in Malaysia he worked for two companies as an interior designer and architectural assistant in Botswana for a period of four years. 

The 30-year-old said with the experience he gained from working in different companies among them Hellenics Geo-Tech Engineering, he was optimistic to start something of his own.

The creative entrepreneur said in 2016 he was funded with an amount of P100 000 through Youth Development Fund to start-up a studio offering 3D architectural designs, saying the business had given him a means of survival and also transformed another youth whom he employed fulltime.

He said 3D modelling or architectural visualization concept was still new to many Batswana as many people were building houses without first drawing house plans or used standard plans without seeing the actual image of the end product.

Mr Gaosafelwe revealed that most of his clientele were from Gaborone doing consultancy for  private companies that were in the construction business or independent contractors.

He said his passion in interior designing gave him the zeal to do more research in his field and come with fresh concepts. 

Among the challenges his company faces, he said were clients who request for services and later disappear while the project was halfway, saying some even disappear without paying. 

He also highlighted that YDF projects monitoring should be looked into and be improved to minimise their collapse.

He said various business management plan courses should be introduced for those who have never been taught any business related course or subject.

Encouraging other aspiring entrepreneurs, Mr Gaosafelwe said having passion in business played an important role and urged them to do business they understand.

 He said market knowledge was also vital for entrepreneurs as well as having a business growth plan. 

Mr Gaosafelwe attested that networking in business was very important as it gave one a chance to meet people who have experience in the field and could share their success stories. ENDS