22 Oct 2026

Ms Phemo Pheko has rewritten the conventional retirement script. The founder of Royal Inspiration has transformed a long-held entrepreneurial ambition into an export-ready enterprise whose products already sit on shelves in curio shops in Botswana.  

What began as a calculated exit from formal employment has grown into a diversified portfolio spanning fabric retail, butchery, apparel manufacturing and, most recently, the canvas-based bag line. Her journey offers a clear case study in disciplined bootstrapping, sequential diversification and deliberate regional market entry.

Born and raised in Moshupa’ at Koo-Tilane ward, Ms Pheko completed her schooling locally before moving to Gaborone for tertiary studies. She holds a Master of Professional Accounting and is ACCA-qualified. Her career began in 1990 at the then Customs and Excise, currently the Botswana Unified Revenue Service, as a tax collector. After completing her postgraduate qualifications, she joined the Ministry of Finance, before spending a decade at the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) as Manager - Capital Markets. She retired as Finance Manager in 2018.

The decision to leave was neither impulsive nor driven solely by money. “A hefty salary could not stop me,” she says. Ms Pheko had planned to retire at 45; but she stepped away at 48, exchanging the comforts of corporate life - luxury office space, quality furniture and gadgets - for the uncertainty and freedom of building her own business. The desire to create something lasting simply outweighed the security of a corporate world salary.

She launched Royal Inspiration as a fabric retailer, regularly travelling to Johannesburg to source textiles for her Fabric Shop. The Fabric Shop Birthed Royal Butchery, then a Sewing and Embroidery Factory (Royal Wear) which has expanded from two to 15 machines. 

Ms Pheko entered each new line without prior technical expertise. Instead, she relied on thorough research, self-directed learning and close attention to customer feedback. By listening carefully and adapting products to meet real demand, every business unit reached break-even and continued to grow.

A significant opportunity arose with school uniforms. When government restricted imports, Royal Wear was already positioned to supply the domestic market. This advantage led to strategic supply agreements with one of Botswana’s largest retail chains, turning a regulatory change into a durable competitive edge and securing steady institutional orders.

The newest addition, Royal Wear, uses canvas to produce travel bags, toiletry kits and school bags.   

The expansion followed careful planning and advisory support from local business development agencies. Nine employees, most of them graduates of Moshupa Brigade, form the core production team. Ms Pheko has invested significant effort into upskilling them, shifting their capabilities from dressmaking to a broader range of products. Every design begins with her own concept; she prototypes, guides and refines each item until it meets her quality standard and is ready for market.

Capital has been deployed in stages. While still employed in 2015, she used part of her salary and savings to cover company registration, and initial stock. After retiring in 2018 she channelled a portion of her package into further growth and joined the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) for training, mentorship and business advisory. Quality Management System certification with the Botswana Bureau of Standards is currently in progress.  

Additional support has come from Tokafala and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC). More recently, collaboration with LEA and Absa Bank is advancing the business toward formal export-readiness certification, strengthening Royal Wear’ path into regional markets.

Pricing remains central to the value proposition. Ms Pheko keeps mark-ups deliberately modest at 20 to 30 per cent. The approach prioritises sustainable margins and long-term customer loyalty over short-term gains, creating a genuine win-win for both the business and its buyers.

Corporate social responsibility is built into daily operations. She has previously accepted interns from Moshupa Brigade and students at Limkokwing University regularly receive practical factory training, turning the production floor into a skills-development pipeline for the community. 

From a tax collector, a chartered accountant, a regulator to a multi-entity founder, Ms Pheko has shown that disciplined capital allocation, continuous skills building and a clear focus on customer needs can turn personal passion into lasting commercial relevance. Royal Inspiration and its Intermediaries stand as evidence that a well-executed second act can outperform the first. ENDS