04 Feb 2014

It has since proven to be true that the business fraternity does not belong to the faint hearted especially those who give up when they are about to reach their gold.

For those who go into business they need to understand that patience during hard times of low turnover always pays at last. The young men who trade by the name Men at Work situated at Pilane industrial site in Kgatleng District knows that patience pays.

Though still young, you will confuse Mr Kagiso Sentsho, a 32-year old, with an elderly person for he speaks with knowledge and wisdom of what he and his partners have gone through to be where they are today. He said when they began their trade at home, it was out of mere interest and wanted to pass time, little did they know that this shall be a business that earns them a living.

Mr Sentsho said after they started their clothing label from home called ‘S’khokho’ they saw potential in the business as their products received warm reception from their customers. This urged them to expand their label into serious business and “that is when we approached the department of youth in Mochudi and applied for the youth development fund”.
He added that they were not disappointed by government as they received funding in 2011 amounting to P100 000 with which they bought printing equipment to develop and grow their business.

He stressed that it was not easy to venture into this business, as they have to learn the hard way up the market. Mr Sentsho said one has to spend money in order to grow his or her business, adding that there is nothing for free.

He said his partner, Mr Goitsemang Maembolwa, 31 years old, who at the time of interview has gone to purchase material for business, is one man they share their vision and dream together. He said together they have seen the ups and downs of business adding that like the Setswana idiom motho o tshela ka mofufutso wa phatla ya gagwe, they have gone through difficult times for their business to see the light of day.

Mr Sentsho said the fact that their business was not making money first taught them patience and monetary discipline as what they made was panted back to grow the business. “There times when we made very little money even buy ourselves toiletry but we held on until we got our breakthrough.”

He said their desire was to see their business grow big enough to sponsor national teams and support the communities they live in. His advice to other young Batswana who want to go into business is that financial literacy plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of a business.

Mr Sentsho said how you use money and what you buy with company money matters as that may determine your downfall or your rising. Given their determination, nothing is impossible for Sentsho and Maembolwa; the sky is the limit even as they plan to diversify their investment. For now, the only challenge is lack of equipment for expansion and also lack of transport which at times create setback for them.  They want to buy a digital printer to be able to print complex designs, including embroidery.  ENDS