26 Jun 2022

 Stories of people turning hobbies into businesses often times sound like fairy tales or abstracts from a movie. 

It is until you meet the likes of Mr Onkemetse Motsiri that you realise that such is possible. 

After completing Cambridge at Swaneng Hill School in 1999, Mr Motsiri could neither proceed to tertiary because of his unfavourable grades nor get his dream job of being a soldier.

With a lot of time to while away, he started checking on his friend Mr Onalethata Motopo at his barbershop. 

During the boys talk, he developed interest in the skill of shaving and grooming hair. 

While it started with Mr Motopo asking him to help him here and there, he got piece jobs from his friend who seemed to attract a number of customers.

With time, the coiffeur buck beat him and the rest is history, as they say.

He found himself sharing a ‘piece of cake’ with saloons in Serowe.  

With customers appreciating the works of his hands, Mr Motsiri decided to open a barbershop. 

The make shift barbershop is situated beside the Serowe/Orapa bus stop. 

The place has become popular among men in need for a e haircut or shaving. 

Probably his reasonable prices and convenient location could be a contributing factor to popularity.    

When Mr Motsiri  started, there were three of them and now there are six with him being the most preferred barber because of a special skill he carries and his good customer service.

He described himself as a people’s person, therefore he had a number of loyal customers and even allowed some customers to cut hair on credit.

 Mr Motsiri said such as their counterparts in saloons, they had customers on credit, adding they experienced influx when schools re-opened.

The budding barber said around those times, they offered credit as schools resumed when most parents were broke. 

Mr Motsiri said people who honoured their dues kept him going. 

He saids most of his customers were walk-ins while some were recommendations from previous customers.

He was upbeat about the business’s viability and making decent living.

He often engaged extra hands to help him attend to all his customers. 

The hairstylist said such as any other business, he had a bank account to save his returns. 

The 40 year-old barber said, through proceedings from his craft, he had managed to buy goats and cattle.

 Mr Motsiri said, despite his desire to move to a saloon to give his customers a more secure and relaxed environment, financial challenges had rendered that mission impossible.

He said a saloon  would compel him to upgrade and acquire more equipment, something he cannot afford.

Speaking of other challenges, he said weather conditions such as winter and train always left a strain in his business as customers come in small numbers.

Another thing that had since proven to be a challenge to his craft was the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Motsiri urged young people to explore their God given talents for survival especially given the rate of unemployment. 

One of Mr Motsiri ‘s customers, Mr Bagomotsi Ramontsho, who was present during the interview, spoke highly of Mr Motsiri.

He said they played football together back in the days and he loved his sense of humor and botho.

“The moment I heard that Mr Motsiri has opened a barbershop, I did not look back. His gentleness is what is making come here every, I know that I get the cut I want without being intimidated. He has been my barber for the past 20 years and he also cuts my children too,” he stressed. 

The customer has recommended Mr Motswiri to a lot of people.  ENDS