08 Aug 2018

The passion for arts and handicrafts has driven Ms Phemo Leboa into starting a creative business.

Specialising in what she calls creative crafts, Ms Phemo uses her hands to make various items such as hair pins, lapels, pencil cases, emoji tags, money boxes, face masks and bags, mostly for children.

Ms Phemo, who resides in Tlokweng, said she started her business in 2017 after she did not find her hair pins that she loved to use on her daughter.

She then thought of making hair pins for her similar to the ones she once saw which she said were fun and good-looking.

Ms Phemo found the hair pins she made beautiful and fun as they were in the form of cup cakes and sweets.

“Some other time when there was fundraising at church, I decided to make those hair pins. Most people liked them and that’s when I decided to start selling them,” she said.

Ms Phemo also went to the busy Gaborone station with some samples of hair pins and other items to ask people around to comment on her stuff.

After getting positive feedback, her confidence to continue with the business grew and she increased the range and variety of items and went on to sell at River Walk Mall in Gaborone.

The passion she has in creating items with her hands makes her work even easier and enjoyable though she spends sleepless nights doing them.

“Being a mother and having to do my work at the same time is a bit challenging because I have to give her attention as well as to attend to PTA meetings though my work requires more time,” she said.

Ms Phemo noted that she also had a challenge of space because she used lots of materials as well as tools such as mini sewing machines.

She encountered challenges as she was the only one who made the items and also had to sell them. She ended up training and employing one woman to help her.

Using different materials such as boxes, bottles, tins, cloths, ribbons and many more, Ms Phemo said her creativity and innovation drove her ability to make unique items everyday, adding that she researches to come up with different items.

Ms Phemo’s business is doing well as more people are coming forth to buy her stuff.

Though she started with her own funding, Ms Phemo said she would seek services from financial providers such as YDF and CEDA to expand her business.

She wants to be a manufacturer and supplier to help others sell the items and her target market will be kindergardens as they love her products.

Ms Phemo studied dental nursing in Germany and had a fear to start her own business since some family members and relatives did not understand what she was doing. They encouraged here to apply for white collar, but Ms Phemo continued with her idea since she loves working with her hands. ENDS