12 Aug 2018

Ms Refilwe Phofedi is one of those youths who can testify that any business project that is driven by passion, determination and focus can penetrate the market.

Her business project entails making fat cakes as well as scones and the outcomes are way much better than to sit home and keep crying about lack of employment opportunities.

The 32 year-old trades as Loapi and Sempheteng Investments, and started operating early this year with her fat cakes selling at P1 each while the scones sell at P2 each, and she has made  notable achievement.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Ms Phofedi said the profits she generates did not only sustain her livelihood but had enabled her to create jobs for two other youths she had engaged to help with the daily activities of the business.

Talking about her choice of business, she said bakery was a convenient idea, especially that she clearly understood the basics. She believes she has settled well as most of her customers keep coming to her workplace at Satellite location so as to buy and collect their items.

“The fact that most of my customers come over for their orders gives me confidence that I will pull through and this saves me the cost of transportation and deliveries of orders,” she said.

Ms Phofedi also shared that having the right equipment such as electric dough mixer and electric oven stove made her job easier.

Although most of her customers are individuals from the vicinity who usually come over for their morning tea, she also supplies a number of reputable supermarkets locally. Ms Phofedi also shared that she sometimes got engaged to cater during weddings, funerals and other social gatherings.

She said she gained exposure and recognition through word of mouth and her customers always left her bakery satisfied, as such she kept receiving referrals.

Other aspects that help her to keep winning hearts of more customers is that she upholds customer care.

Ms Phofedi further shared that the business was continuously gaining the desired momentum, saying this was evidenced by quantity of flour bags she used in a day.

She said when she started, she would only use five bags per day but now the number of bags had increased to more than 10. .ENDS