27 Jan 2019

Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) need government support to grow and flourish says Mr Kabo Motshelamadi.

In an interview, Mr Motshelamadi, who runs a printing and signage company, said failure to support small businesses by government departments and parastatals could lead to their collapse.

He called for fairness in the awarding of tenders, adding that he was not implying that youth businesses should be dependent on government, but that they needed strong government backing to grow.

He said he was aware that businesses were supposed to compete and market their products and services, but that individual customers and private companies’ support was not enough.

He said he has observed that some businesses relocated from rural areas to towns where their businesses could thrive, and that it thwarted government efforts to grow rural economies.

The 34-year-old said he started his business from his home where he used to do printing and branding jobs like sign writing and drawing cartoons.

He said because he was not fully equipped and skilled in printing and signage, in 2009 he decided to look for a job at a company that specialised in printing where he acquired the skills.

Mr Motshelamadi said in 2012 the company closed and they gave him a computer and a printer and he continued the business at home.

Armed with expertise, he applied for the Youth Development Fund to start a printing and branding company, and his business proposal was approved in 2014 and funded with P98 000, with which he bought equipment and materials to start the business.

Mr Motshelamadi said his business, registered as Lougoh Creations, offered services such as branding T-shirts, caps, sign boards, bill boards and other printing services.

He said business needed love and commitment in order to succeed, adding that in the first four months of operation, he nearly quit because of low customer support, but with the support and motivation of the family he carried on.

“The business was so low that I was not able to pay rent or buy materials, but now the business has grown a bit and I am able to pay bills,” he said.

He stressed that quality of products and services offered was critical for a business to thrive.

Mr Motshelamadi said some of the challenges he was facing included shortage of water, which was needed in other printing services and lack of support.

The visionary entrepreneur said his long term plan was to have a master print, where he could expand to corporate branding.

He thanked the government for the opportunity and advised other youth to turn their talents into businesses. ENDS