03 Aug 2018

Fear sometimes induces one to take erratic actions that might have an impact on how they perceive situations. 

  If one lets go of fear, they are in a much better position to explore and perhaps do far better. On that note, Mr Thomas Elliot, a publisher, playwright and literal critic once said “only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

  One can thus be forgiven for linking all these sayings to Mr Olebantse Kealwala who relocated from Kanye to Gumare. It was not an easy undertaking but one thing remains indisputable; it had to be done.

  The 37-year-old vendor has all the qualities of a street smart, peculiar and probing businessman, living in the 21st century. 

  Speaking in an interview recently, the resourceful and adventurous entrepreneur narrated his humble beginnings: “I was born and bred in Kanye. After I completed my BGCSE at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School, with no job to fall back on, I passed time playing football at the village showgrounds. As years went by and I was graduating from a boy to a man, I realised I had needs that needed to be fulfilled. That is when I started on my mission of finding a job,” Mr Kealwala said.

  In his quest to attain his mission, he found a job in Francistown as a labourer in a construction company. In 2009, misfortune struck as he and a couple of his mates were retrenched.

  He quickly thought of plan B and acted on it by using part of his savings to buy stock, which entailed cool time, CDs and DVDs to put bread on the table. He prospered and developed love for what he did. 

  However, he had a hunger, an urge to do more and raise money to better his living standard and that was when he came up with a business idea to sell clothes of various sorts, and he also did market research to find out if his business could flourish. 

  He went to places such as Ghanzi, Maun and Gumare and found the latter to be ‘lush’ with business opportunities, and at that moment dream came to pass.

  “When I found out I had to relocate to Gumare, I felt something was pushing me. As much as Gumare was alien to me, I decided to take the risk and follow my heart. In turn my heart proved right,” he explained.

  In 2016, Mr Kealwala opened his stall in front of Pep Stores but later found a spot by the roadside near Shoprite Supermarket where he sold various merchandise including sportswear, caps, rings, phone covers, shoes and Bibles to name a few.

  As days do not come the same, he gives thanks to the Almighty for granting him the business that gives him the ability to take care of his family, rent a house as well as cover his basic needs.

  In terms of hurdles, Mr Kealwala said the market was saturated and that the type of business he was doing arises on a daily basis, explaining that some customers took goods on credit and failed to pay him. 

  He also said if he had a car to go around nearby placessuch as Tubu and Etsha, he could be making more profit.

However, this does not set him off, but rather it is a gateway to better himself, hence, he keeps abreast with his customer’s needs, marking their likes and dislikes, what is trending and what is not, as well as keeping up with seasons. ENDS