03 Apr 2019

 Although many people hate death so much, it is understandable because losing a loved one is such a painful experience.  

However painful it is, to some death presents business opportunities because at the end of the day, loved ones need a dignified sendoff to create lasting memories of those who have died.

Mr Shingaboy Malope, the owner of Shingaboy Tombstones, never dreamt that one day he would own a business.  Instead, a series of events landed him in the business arena unwittingly. 

Mr Malope, worked as ‘Rabuka’ at a minibus rank in Gaborone.  One day a good friend of his offered him a job as a truck driver at a local tombstone business in 2014. 

 Mr Malope worked hard and won the trust of his boss to a point where he was entrusted with most of the business operations. 

This meant Mr Malope travelled all over wherever they had business interests at.  This exposed him to clients as well as their suppliers.

Time and again, Mr Malope would come into contact with customers who wanted to buy tombstones, but did not have enough money or could not afford the highly prized tombstones due to financial constraints. This meant that Mr Malope would more often than not assist these customers by purchasing tombstones for them in South Africa with the money they had and transported the tombstones to the customers.  

Mr Malope ended up quitting his job and started operating a similar business at his home in Gabane in 2015.

He said he started the business with no funds at all.  Armed with experience and a rapport he had built with his customers, Mr Malope struggled to establish his Shingaboy Tombstones business.  

In 2016, he designed a unique tombstone and sold it in Kgalagadi.  

The client who bought it loved the unique design, and that alone marketed his business as many customers came from all over the country looking for a similar design.

 The business grew to a point where it attracted customers even in neighbouring South Africa.

Today, Mr Malope prides himself with his business as it has managed to finance some students for tertiary education.

 In 2018, he donated two tombstones to some families and sent two boys to South Africa to learn the business of tombstones.

Mr Malope said patience was key in business. ENDS