05 Sep 2018

Mr Kaelo Barileng defies gender stereotypes in the world of business as he proudly runs a hair salon in Good Hope.

The 36-year-old man from Molepolole said he saved for his hair salon in 2012 when he had a job in Lobatse.

He then applied for the Youth Development Fund (YDF) towards the end of 2013, and he got funded in March 2014 to the tune of P74 586.

Mr Barileng said he used the funds to expand his already existing salon, which operates under the name Smart Lady, by buying such assets as new machinery and furniture.

Smart Lady Salon enjoys pride of place on a rented plot next to the main road in Good Hope.

He said he chose to run his business in Good Hope because it was rapidly developing and has a good road network and landscape.

Mr Barileng said he always had a passion to plait hair and also had the belief that the salon business would always operate because demand does not cease.

“There will always be men and children who cut their hair and women who plait hair. In this business there are times where customers flock in for services, and knowing that makes me hopeful, more especially end of the month,” he said.

He said he was aware that the salon business was dominated by females, but that he did not worry about that as he felt that all he needed to do was to play his part in striving for excellence in service delivery.

Mr Barileng said he has two employees and has employed 10 people ever since he started operating.

He noted that some employees had left for greener pastures while others left because of employer-employee disagreements, revealing that he employed people who had the skills which he lacked.

Mr Barileng said he was mainly responsible for managing the salon and carrying out tasks such as cutting and trimming, retouching, washing, steaming and setting hair.

He said being a hair salon owner had its challenges, one of which was that some of his female customers tended to expect him to not follow them up after failing to pay while some expected him to do their hair for free because he was a man.

He also said some males made harsh comments on Facebook when he advertised his business.

“Sometimes they call me phara meseseng (a man who is always in the company of females) when I upload a photo on Facebook holding a blow drier,” he said.

Mr Barileng said some people had made remarks that it was abnormal for a man to run such a business. However, he remains proud of what he does and would continue because it puts food on the table for him and his family.

He revealed that as YDF had  helped him acquire a plot in Pitsane, he planned to open a beauty parlour which also has the same gender stereotypes.

One of his concerns is the ever increasing competition since more and more salons are opening.

He urged government employees to support small businesses in their work places, especially YDF funded ones to minimise their chances of collapsing. Ends